broward county property appraiser

2019 Florida Property Tax Payment Deadline Extended to April 15

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MESSAGE FROM THE BROWARD COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER: MARTY KIAR

Marty Kiar

During these difficult and  unprecedented times, BCPA is still working to assist property owners with filing for exemptions and answering property related questions. Advances in technology have allowed our staff to continue to provide service to the public while maintaining a safe distance from others. BCPA staff continues to process deeds, permits and property reviews while minimizing unnecessary health and safety risks to our staff, families and community at large.

All communication with our office can be handled electronically via our website, email, fax or phone. You can easily apply for Homestead Exemption online at www.bcpa.net If you need assistance filling out any exemption application or have questions, you may call our office at (954)357-5579 and we can help fill out your exemption application with you on the phone and then mail the application to you with a self-addressed return envelope for you to complete and sign. Additional exemption information can be found on our website at www.bcpa.net If you are unable to find the information you are looking for or need additional assistance, you can email me directly at martykiar@bcpa.net

2019 Property Tax Payment Deadline Extended to April 15

While the Property Appraiser’s Office does not handle the billing or collecting of property taxes, the Florida Department of Revenue has issued a payment extension for the collection of the 2019 property taxes. On March 16, the governor directed the Florida Department of Revenue to extend the payment due date from March 31 to April 15, 2020 to assist those adversely affected by COVID-19.

Broward County’s Records, Taxes and Treasury Division is responsible for the billing and collecting of property taxes and has posted this information on their website at https://www.broward.org/RecordsTaxesTreasury/Pages/Default.aspx Should you have any questions regarding the payment of property taxes, their office can be reached at (954)831-4000.

Take care,

Marty Kiar
Broward County Property Appraiser

Exemptions for Florida (Broward) Residential Real Estate 2019

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It is time to, “File Now for the 2019 Senior Exemption”

Property owners who are 65 years or older may qualify for an additional exemption on their Homesteaded property. This additional exemption – which applies only to the county’s portion of the taxes and city taxes for residents of cities that have adopted this exemption – saves the average Broward senior nearly $300 each year in taxes.

To qualify for this valuable tax-saving exemption, an applicant must be 65 or older as of January 1, 2019 AND have a combined HOUSEHOLD adjusted gross income for 2018 not exceeding $30,174. If you believe you qualify for this exemption, please click on this link for steps to ensure proper filing:
http://www.bcpa.net/senior_instructions.asp

Residents who received the Additional Senior Exemption in 2018 will receive a renewal card in the mail. If you still meet the income requirement, simply sign the renewal card and return it to The Property Appraiser’s office by May 1 so they can ensure you receive this exemption for 2019. Take comfort that there is no personal information listed on the renewal postcard. For questions regarding property tax exemptions, please call (954)357-6830.

2019 Homestead Exemption/Save Our Homes Cap Set by the State

The Florida Department of Revenue has set the 2019 Save Our Homes cap at 1.9%. This cap limits increases to the Assessed/Save Our Homes Value for properties receiving Homestead Exemption to no more than 3% per year or the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) regardless of increases to the just value of the property. This cap results in considerable savings over time for properties with Homestead Exemption. It is important to remember this is not a cap on the actual taxes, but rather a cap on the assessed value of the property.

Important: The Save Our Homes cap begins the year after you receive Homestead Exemption and automatically renews each year. This cap does not cover new construction or construction that was not taxed before the “Save Our Homes” limit applied to a particular property.

Many owners will face a significant increase in property taxes when they purchase a property as the previous owners’ exemptions will be removed and the Save Our Homes (SOH) value reset. Florida law requires the SOH value be brought up to the just value of the property when Homestead Exemption is added or removed from the property. For this reason, The Property Appraiser’s Office offers a New Homebuyer’s Tax Estimator on their website at www.bcpa.net This estimator allows prospective buyers the ability to plan ahead when purchasing a new home.  This is an excellent tool for people who are unfamiliar with the Homebuying process.

The absolute filing deadline for any 2019 exemption is September 18, 2019.

At Khani & Auerbach, we are dedicated to providing as much information to assist you with your real estate needs. Please be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for additional useful information.

Broward County TRIM (proposed real estate tax) Notices and Appeals

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The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office (BCPA) will be mailing out their annual TRIM (proposed tax) Notices some time in mid-August.  The proposed property tax notice will show your 2018 property assessment, exemptions and the proposed taxes along with dates and times for the various taxing authorities’ public budget hearings. Take note that the TRIM Notice is your opportunity to review your property assessment and ensure you are receiving all the tax-saving exemptions you are entitled to. If you have any questions about the TRIM Notice, you can contact BCPA directly using the number provided in the mailing, giving you the opportunity to contact them directly should you have any questions. The most important thing to note is that if you wish to apply for any 2018 exemption or to appeal your property assessment, the absolute deadline for doing so is September 18, 2018.

The first thing to know is your taxes are calculated using this formula:

TAXABLE VALUE x TAX MILLAGE RATES + SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS = TAX BILL

The Property Appraiser determines the market and assessed/Save Our Homes value of your property. Your tax rates and non-ad valorem fees are set by the various taxing authorities (school board, county commission, city commission, hospital district board, water management district, and so on) listed on your TRIM Notice. If you want to question your proposed tax rates, non-ad valorem fees, special assessments or services, you should contact the elected officials who serve on the taxing authorities and attend the public hearings in September 2018.

Important: The Property Appraiser does not set your tax rates or collect your taxes. Your tax rates are set by the city & county commissions, school board, and other taxing authorities. Additionally, any PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) assessments are not included on the TRIM Notice but will appear on the November tax bill sent by the Broward County Tax Collector.

Typical question from property owners:  Why Are My Property Taxes Higher than the Prior Owner’s Last Year?  Florida law requires property be reassessed at market value as of January 1 the year following a change in ownership and/or the year the property receives/loses the Homestead Exemption. After this reset in value occurs, the property will be protected by an assessment cap starting the following year. For Homesteaded property, the Assessed/Save Our Homes (SOH) Value can increase by no more than 3% above last year’s Assessed/SOH Value (or the consumer price index, whichever is less), regardless of the increase in just value. For tax year 2018, the assessment increase is capped at 2.1% for all Homesteaded properties. For non-Homesteaded property, the assessed value can increase by no more than 10% above last year’s assessed value. The 10% cap does not apply to the School Board taxes.

Many property owners ignore their TRIM Notice until it is too late to appeal an assessment, question the proposed tax rates, or file for exemptions. If you wait until you receive your tax bill in November to inquire about your assessment, you will lose your right to appeal. If you are a residential or commercial real estate owner, you may have grounds for an appeal.  For example, construction that has been lingering or is expected to take a while to complete may be a great way to get a reduction.  Call us and find out what you can do to appeal those valuations and get the reduction you are entitled to.

Should you believe that you are entitled to a reassessment for any reason whatsoever, reach out to Khani & Auerbach and we can assist you.  REMEMBER THE DEADLINE, SEPTEMBER 18TH!