How to Lower My Property Taxes in Florida?

Paying taxes is always unpleasant. Although taxes represent a necessary evil, as they provide funding for public entities and services, it is always hard to deal with them.

In the United States, it is impossible to get rid of paying taxes, especially when it comes to property taxes. In this sense, Americans are more likely to pay their taxes fairly, honestly, and on time in comparison with other countries around the globe.

Florida is a popular destination for retirement because it has no state income tax. However, even the Sunshine state offers no escape for those who do not want to pay property taxes.

Property taxes vary from county to county, and the average property owner pays about US$1700 in property taxes yearly. Nonetheless, there are a few ways that may be helpful to reduce the amount homeowners have to pay in property taxes.

In this article, you will discover how to lower your property taxes in Florida.

Lowering Property Taxes in Florida – Your Property’s Location May Change the Situation

Homeowners in Florida may pay more or less in annual taxes depending on what county they live in and what their property value is.

There are several counties in Florida in which homeowners pay less than $800 on average in property taxes, such as Dixie County, Franklin County, and Levy County for example.

In case your property is not located in one of those counties, that is fine. You can take a more strategic approach and save hundreds (or thousands) of dollars yearly by using some other options.

Feasible Options to Reduce Your Property Taxes in Florida

1.- Look at Real Property Information in Detail

In Florida, all counties must keep records of all existing properties. This record includes detailed information about each property, including land values, property sketches, property history, and more.

We recommend you look at your property record in detail, checking for any unsighted errors or omissions. Any recorded detail about your property could unintentionally affect your property taxes.

Remember to get a copy of your property tax card while you are at your county records, taking it with you to check for errors as well.

2.- Use Independent Appraisal to Check for Unsighted Issues in the Records

In addition to that, you can use an appraisal done by an independent party to confirm the property information that is on record.

This strategy is particularly effective cause assessors tend to rely on a system known as “mass appraisal” while assessing a home. Mass appraisal is the process of valuing groups of similar properties using common data, standardized methods, and statistical testing.

Hence, if your home was assessed using that method in the past, it means you are not getting all the details that should be provided by an appraisal.

Once your independent appraisal can provide proof that something in the property’s record is not right, you can file an appeal for a correction, which will affect your property taxes.

3.- Search for Available Tax Breaks

The state of Florida offers tax reductions for homestead exemption, active duty military, veterans, senior individuals (65 and older), surviving spouses of first responders (e.g. firemen), and others. Hence, look into available tax breaks to check your eligibility.

Individuals who own a property in Florida and make it a permanent residence for them or their dependents may be able to file for the homestead exemption. This type of tax reduction can decrease a property’s taxable value by up to US $50,000, depending on each situation specifically.

4.- Never be Ashamed to Ask the Tax Office

Communication can always make a difference in a situation, even when it comes to lowering your property taxes in Florida.

The tax office is a government agency, so they are not there to take your money and turn their back on you. Talk to the tax office and see if there is something they can do to help you appeal your tax assessment.

In this sense, it is possible to inquire them about the appeals process, how you can report discrepancies in your property’s records to the county auditor or other responsible parties, and what items you can (and cannot) appeal when asking for tax reduction.

As the tax office is a government agency, you must expect plenty of forms and procedures to follow before you get immediate results, but eventually, you will be able to reap from your efforts.

5.- Seek Guidance with an Expert Attorney in Florida

Many people have been successful in reducing their property taxes by doing everything by themselves. Nonetheless, not every case is equal, so the best approach is to seek guidance from an expert attorney when trying to lower property taxes in Florida.

An attorney will sit down and discuss all available options for lowering your property taxes, handling every aspect of the appeals process on your behalf.

In most situations, it is difficult to get a refund for any errors in past year’s tax assessments. Hence, the best approach is to act quickly and do not let any errors go unnoticed.

We Can Help You Lower Your Property Taxes in Florida

At Jurado & Farshchian, P.L. we have attorneys well-versed in the Florida tax system to guide and instruct you on what is the best strategy to lower your property taxes.

Waste no time. Get in touch with Jurado & Farshchian, P.L. today by calling (305) 921-0440 or emailing [email protected] to schedule a consultation.