Frequently Asked Questions
These are examples of questions frequently asked. There are many individual circumstances
which can impact upon the appraisal and filing process. The Property Appraiser welcomes your
inquiries. This office is here to serve you and all residents of Glades County to ensure fair and
equitable appraisal of property.
Appraisal Questions
What does the property appraiser do?
The property appraiser is responsible for identifying, locating, and fairly valuing all property,
both real and personal, within the county for tax purposes. The "market" value of real property
is based on the current real estate market. Estimating the "market" value of your property
means discovering the price most people would pay for your property in its current condition.
What is important to remember is that the property appraiser does not create the value. People
establish the value by buying and selling real estate in the market place. The property
appraiser has the legal responsibility to study those transactions and appraise your property
accordingly. The property appraiser also
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tracks ownership changes;
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maintains maps of parcel boundaries;
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keeps descriptions of buildings and property characteristics up to date;
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accepts and approves applications from individuals eligible for exemptions and other
forms of property tax relief;
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and most importantly, analyzes trends in sales prices, construction costs, and rents to
best estimate the value of all assessable property.
Does the property appraiser levy or collect taxes?
No. The property appraiser assesses all property in the county and is neither a taxing authority
nor a tax collector. The property appraiser has nothing to do with the amount of taxes levied or
collected.
Three separate government entities each having unique and distinct roles in producing your
November tax bill. First, the property appraiser annually appraises all property in your county at
the market value as of January 1. Next, each taxing authority within the county sets their own
millage rate based on the amount of tax dollars necessary to fund their annual budget. Finally,
the tax collector calculates the amount of taxes due in order to bill and collect all taxes levied
within the county.
How is property appraised?
At least once every five years, the property appraiser or a staff appraiser will visit and inspect
each property. However, individual property values may be adjusted between visits in light of
sales activity or other factors affecting real estate values in your neighborhood. Sales of similar
properties are strong indicators of value in the real estate market.
To estimate the value of a property, the property appraiser must identify the properties that
have sold, their sale prices and the terms and conditions of the each sale. Each transaction
must be studied to make sure that it is an arms-length transaction.
An arm's length transaction is a sale involving a willing seller and a willing buyer without any
undue pressure or special incentives (such as family relationships). An arm's length transaction
also means that the property was on the market for neither an excessive nor short period of
time.
Once this is determined, the property appraiser can base the value of a property on sales of
comparable properties. That is why property appraisers maintain an accurate data base of real
estate information, and this is the sale comparison approach to value.
The Florida Constitution has been amended effective January 1, 1995 to limit any annual
increase in the assessed value of residential property with a homestead exemption to 3
percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. This limitation does not include any change,
addition or improvement to a homestead (excluding normal maintenance or substantially
equivalent replacement). During subsequent years, any improvements will fall under the
Constitutional limitation.
Two other methods are used to appraise property - the cost approach and the income
approach. The cost approach is based on how much it would cost today to build an almost
identical structure on the parcel. If your property is not new, the appraiser must also determine
how much the building has lost value over time. The appraiser must also determine the value
of the land itself - without buildings or any improvements. The income approach (usually
performed on commercial property) requires a study of how much revenue your property would
produce if it were rented as an apartment house, a store, an office building and so on. The
appraiser must consider operating expenses, taxes, insurance, maintenance costs, and the
return or profit most people would expect on the type of property you own.
What is market value?
Florida Law requires that the just value of all property be determined each year. The Supreme
Court of Florida has declared "just value" to be legally synonymous to "full cash value" and "fair
market value." The fair market value of your property is the amount for which it could sell on
the open market. The property appraiser analyzes these market transactions annually to
determine fair market value as of January 1.
Can I get a tax exemption?
In addition to determining values, the property appraiser accepts applications for and
administers property tax exemptions. Several types of exemptions are available.
The type of exemption benefiting the largest number of property owners is the HOMESTEAD
EXEMPTION. If you own property which you use as your primary residence as of January 1,
you may apply for homestead exemption. This will reduce the taxable value of your home by
up to $50,000, resulting in substantial savings on your property taxes.
Any new exemption or change in exemption status should be filed as soon as possible, but no
later than March 1.
Besides Homestead, what other exemptions are available under law?
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Widow/ Widowers Exemption ($5000)-
To file for Widow or Widower's Exemption you must be a widow or widower prior to
January 1st of the tax year and bring proof of your spouse's death. (Divorced persons do
not qualify for this exemption.)
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Disability Exemption ($5000)-
In addition to proof of Florida residency, you must provide one of the following:
1.
Proof of total and permanent disability from a licensed Florida physicians, or Social
Security Administration
2.
Present proof of legal blindness.
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Total exemption from ad valorem taxation on homestead property for totally and
permanently disabled-
Section 196.101, F.S., provides that property owners qualifying for the homestead
exemption on January 1, who are quadriplegic, paraplegic, hemiplegic, or other totally
and permanently disabled persons, who must use a wheel chair for mobility, or are legally
blind and produce certification of that fact from two [2] professionally unrelated licensed
Florida physicians, or the U.S. Veteran's Administration, shall be exempt from ad valorem
taxation. Except for quadriplegics & Veterans, there is also a gross income limitation for
this exemption, governing all persons residing upon the homestead, which is adjusted
annually.
Section 196.081, F.S. , provides that property owners qualifying for the homestead
exemption on January 1, who are veterans honorably discharged with a service
connected total and permanent disability, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation.
Confirmation of the disability from the U.S. Veteran's Administration is required for this
exemption. A surviving spouse could enjoy the benefit of this exemption if the veteran
was a permanent resident of Florida on January 1 of the year he or she died.
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Disability Veteran ($5000) - Any ex-service member disabled at least 10% in war or by
service-connected misfortune is entitled to a $5000 exemption. Please bring certificate
from Department of Veterans Affairs.
When will I know the amount of my tax bill?
Each August, the property appraiser sends a Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice to all property
owners as required by law. This notice is very important -- look for it in the mail! You'll
recognize it by prominent lettering, "DO NOT PAY - This is not a bill."
The TRIM notice tells you the taxable value of your property. Taxable value is the just value
less any exemptions.
The TRIM notice also gives you information on proposed millage rates and taxes as estimated
by your community taxing authorities. It also tells you when and where these authorities will
hold public meetings to discuss tentative budgets to set your millage tax rates.
Fees not related to your property value may also appear on your TRIM notice for garbage
collection, roads, lighting and other government services. These fees are set by your taxing
authority and are not affected by any change in the value of your house or property.
What if I think the appraised value of my property is too high?
If you think the taxable value shown on your TRIM Notice is not correct, you are encouraged to
contact your property appraiser's office to speak with an appraiser. The appraiser can show
you the information used to determine your property's value.
What is an "AG" classification?
An agricultural classification is the designation of land by the property appraiser, pursuant to
F.S. 193.461, in which the assessment is based on agricultural use value.
To qualify for Agricultural classification, a return must be filed with the property appraiser
between January 1 and March 1 of the tax year. Only lands which are used for bona fide
agricultural purposes shall be classified agricultural.
"Bona fide agricultural purposes" means good faith commercial agricultural use of the land.
The property appraiser, prior to classifying such lands, may require the taxpayer or the
taxpayer's representative to furnish such information as may reasonably be required to
establish such lands are actually used for a bona fide agricultural purpose.
The property appraiser may deny agricultural classification to the following lands:
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Lands which are not being used for or diverted from agricultural use;
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Land that has been zoned non-agricultural at the request of the owner;
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Land on which a sub-division plat is recorded;
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Land which is purchased for a price three or more times the agricultural appraisal placed
on the land.
Amendment 10 "Save Our Homes" Value Cap
What is the Save Our Homes amendment?
Section 193.155(1) of the Florida Statutes was enacted to implement an amendment to the
state constitution to limit annual increases in property value assessments on real property
qualifying for and receiving homestead exemption.
How does the amendment limitation apply?
Real property shall be assessed at full market value (just value) as of January 1 of the year in
which the property first receives the homestead exemption. The following year the property is
reassessed and any changes from the prior year's assessed value is not to exceed the lesser
of 3% of that prior year assessed value or the Consumer Price Index percentage change,
(except capital improvements, additions or improvements).
How is my property affected?
The year following the granting of homestead exemption, the property is subject to the
limitation.
What about any changes, additions or improvements to the homestead property?
New construction or additions shall be assessed at full market value as of the first January 1
after the changes are substantially completed. In these circumstances, it is possible that the
assessed value may exceed the amendment limitations. However; after the first year that the
changes are assessed at full market value, they are also subject to the amendment limitations.
What properties are not subject to the limitation?
Residences without homestead, non-residential property, vacant land, tangible personal
property, commercial property, and agricultural property are not eligible for the amendment
limitation.
Why would my assessment increase when my market value stayed the same?
This is probably due to the "recapture" rule. In 1995, the Department of Revenue adopted a
rule, approved by the Governor and Cabinet, directing property appraisers to raise the
assessed value of a qualifying homestead property by the maximum of 3% or the Consumer
Price Index, whichever is less, on all properties assessed at less than full market value (just
value).
What happens if a property is sold or conveyed to a new owner?
Once the property has been conveyed to the new owner, it is raised to fair market value (just
value) January 1st of the following year. However, if the prior owner had homestead property
tax exemption and transfers the exemption to a different property, the property will be assessed
at fair market value that current year. Either way, the new owner must qualify and apply to
receive their own homestead property tax exemption.
