HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DEADLINE IS MARCH 1ST IN MANATEE AND SARASOTA COUNTY!

by Adam Miller

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DEADLINE IS MARCH 1ST IN MANATEE AND SARASOTA COUNTY!

What is homestead exemption?
The homestead exemption is a constitutional guarantee that reduces the assessed value of residential property up to $25,000 for qualified permanent residents.

What is the additional homestead exemption?
Amendment 1 passed in January 2008 providing for an additional homestead exemption of up to $25,000 to homeowners whose homes have an assessed value of more than $50,000. This additional exemption does not apply to the school board millage.

When may a homeowner apply for homestead exemption?
The legal owner is urged to file as soon as they occupy the residence and have proof of Florida residency. The homeowner must establish permanent Florida residency on or before January 1, and apply online or in person at the Property Appraiser’s office no later than the March 1 deadline of the year the exemption is to begin. Our office preference is that the owner applies online. However, the homestead application and instructions may be mailed to the property owner upon request or may be printed from our website at www.manateepao.com. Your initial homestead application will also serve as the application for the additional homestead exemption.

Am I able to file for my homestead exemption online?
Yes, you may file for your homestead exemption using the link provided on our website.

What information is needed to file for the property owner’s first homestead exemption?
a) A deed or tax bill if the property is not yet in the applicant’s name. If you are filing online, the property must be in your name before beginning your online application.

b) All of the following information is utilized to establish proof of residency on or before January 1 for all owners who occupy the property no later than the March 1 deadline:

1) Social Security numbers.
2) Florida driver’s licenses or Florida identification cards for non-drivers.
3) Florida vehicle tag number(s) on all vehicles privately owned.
4) Manatee or Sarasota County Voter’s Registration card or Declaration of Domicile.
5) Resident Alien Card if not a US Citizen.
6) Copy of the entire trust agreement, or a recorded memorandum of trust, if the property is held in a trust.

If the applicant does not possess all these items, they may call us for further information.
Please Note: Our office may request further information to verify an applicant’s status

When a new residence is purchased, is the homestead exemption transferred to the new home?
No. Exemptions are not transferred. For a homeowner to receive the exemption on their new home, they must qualify and apply either online or in person at the Property Appraiser’s office by the March 1 deadline.

Are there other tax exemptions?
Yes. Qualified Florida residents may also apply for medical, disabled veterans, total and permanent disability, quadriplegic, blind, wheelchair confined, service-connected disability, widow’s or widower’s, and low-income senior exemptions.

For more information, please contact your local county property tax division.

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