Generally, initial application for property tax exemption must be made between January 1 and March 1 of the year for which the exemption is sought. Initial application should be made in person at the property appraiser’s office.
General Exemptions
REQUIREMENTS:
Article VII, Section 6 of the Florida Constitution provides that all property owners who, as of January 1, have legal or equitable title to real estate and maintain it as their permanent residence, are entitled to a $25,000 Homestead Exemption, or a percentage thereof if the ownership interest is less than 100%. Only one Homestead Exemption is allowed to any individual or family unit.
To receive Homestead Exemption, applicants must qualify on or before January 1st and submit an application with the Property Appraiser on or before March 1st of the year in which the benefit will be applied.
IMPORTANT: Homestead Exemption does not automatically transfer to a new residence. Florida law requires property owners to file a new application if they move or if they change the manner in which title is held on their existing homestead.
Required Documents for all Applicants:
- Florida driver’s license, or, if you do not drive, a Florida identification card
- Florida vehicle registration for vehicles owned or leased by you
- Hardee County voter registration card, if you are registered to vote
- If you are not a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident alien card (‘green card’) is needed
- If property is in trust, a copy of the trust agreement or a copy of a recorded memorandum of trust
If the applicant owns property in any other state or country, a letter may be required from the appropriate agency verifying that the applicant does not receive benefits based on permanent residency in that jurisdiction - If the homestead is a manufactured home, registration(s) or title(s) for the manufactured home
REQUIREMENTS:
The Additional Homestead Exemption is automatically applied to any property that receives the original $25,000 Homestead Exemption. To receive the full $25,000 benefit of the Additional Homestead Exemption, the property’s assessed value must be at least $75,000. If the assessed value is less than $75,000, the Additional Homestead Exemption will be less than $25,000. Homestead Exemption is required for this exemption.
Required Documents for all Applicants:
- Florida driver’s license, or, if you do not drive, a Florida identification card
- Florida vehicle registration for all vehicles owned or leased by you, or registered to your business
- Hardee County voter registration card, if you are registered to vote
Social Security card or other official document that includes the social security number. (Social Security documentation is required for the spouse of each applicant even if applicant’s spouse has no ownership interest in the homestead property) - If you are not a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident alien card (‘green card’) is needed
- If property is in trust, a copy of the trust agreement or a copy of a recorded memorandum of trust
If the applicant owns property in any other state or country, a letter may be required from the appropriate agency verifying that the applicant does not receive benefits based on permanent residency in that jurisdiction - If the homestead is a manufactured home, registration(s) or title(s) for the manufactured home
REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be a widow or widower prior to January 1st of the year in which the exemption will be applied
- Cannot be remarried
- Must be a permanent resident of Florida
- Must provide a copy of the spouse’s death certificate
Homestead Exemption is not required for this exemption.
REQUIREMENTS:
An applicant for the $500 Blind Persons Exemption must be a permanent resident of Florida and provide an Optometrist’s Certification of Disability, a certificate from the Division of Blind Services, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or the Social Security Administration, certifying the applicant to be blind.
Homestead Exemption is not required for this exemption.
Homestead Exemption is not required for this exemption.
REQUIREMENTS:
An applicant for the $500 Disability Exemption must be a permanent resident of Florida and provide a Physician’s Certificate from one Florida licensed doctor, or documentation from the Social Security Administration.
Homestead Exemption is not required for this exemption.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Any real estate used and owned as a homestead by any quadriplegic is exempt from taxation.
- Must be a paraplegic, hemiplegic, or other total and permanent disability requiring the applicant to be confined to a wheel chair for mobility, or who is legally blind
- Must have an adjusted household income not exceeding an amount determined annually by the Department of Revenue based on the Consumer Price Index and provided to the Property Appraiser mid-January each year
- Must provide a Physician’s Certificate from two, non-affiliated, licensed Florida doctors
- Must provide an annual affirmation of income to retain this benefit (Quadriplegics do not need to meet the income requirements.) Income limitations
Homestead Exemption is required for this exemption.
Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Florida gives authority to the Board of County Commissioners and municipal governments to determine the benefit amount, not to exceed $50,000.
Hardee County and all municipalities each provide a $25,000 exemption offering between $222 – $436 depending on the tax rates and tax district.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be 65-years old or older on or by January 1 of the current roll year
- Must have an adjusted household income not exceeding an amount determined annually by the Department of Revenue based on the Consumer Price Index and provided to the Property Appraiser mid-January each year
- Must file an initial application with the Property Appraiser’s office
- Must provide a copy of the prior year’s Federal income tax returns – if filed, and include any wage and earning statements (W-2, 1099) Income limitations
Homestead Exemption is required for this exemption.
Veteran & First Responder Exemptions
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be considered totally and permanently disabled due to a service-connected cause, or be the surviving spouse (who is not remarried) of a qualifying veteran, or the surviving spouse (who is not remarried) of a Florida resident veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty with the United States Armed Forces
- Must provide a certificate from the United States Government or a letter from Veterans Affairs
- May be requested to provide additional documents to prove the residency of a deceased veteran
Homestead Exemption is required for this exemption.
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be a Florida Resident
- Must have a service-connected disability rated between 10% – 100%
- Must provide a certificate from the United States Government or a letter from Veterans Affairs
Homestead Exemption is required for this exemption.
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be 65-years old or older on January 1 of the year in which the exemption is to be applied
- Must have a service-connected disability of 10% or higher that is combat related
- Must be honorably discharged from military service
Homestead Exemption is required for this exemption.
REQUIREMENTS
- Must have been deployed during the preceding calendar year on active duty outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in connection with a designated military operation*
- Must file an application with the Property Appraiser’s office on or before March 1st of the year following the qualified deployment
- Must provide documentation proving deployment dates
Homestead Exemption is required for this exemption.
REQUIREMENTS
- The military veteran must have died from service-connected causes while on active duty.
- The first responder must have died in the line of duty.
Homestead Exemption is required for this exemption.
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be a First Responder of Florida as defined in § 196.081.
- The First Responder must have been permanently disabled while serving in the line of duty in this state or during an operation in another state authorized by the state or a political subdivision of this state
- First Responder must complete an Employer’s Certification of Injury
- First Responder must complete a Physician Certificate of Total and Permanent Disability from two licensed doctors of this state or provide documentation from the Social Security Administration stating that the applicant is totally and permanently disabled
Non-Profit Exemptions
REQUIREMENTS
The organization must file an original application for exemption with the Property Appraiser between January 1st and March 1st.
The organizations must fit certain definitions and meet criteria of Chapter 196 of the Florida Statutes, such as:
- Must have legal title on January 1st
- Must use the property for an exempt purpose on January 1st
- The organization using property for religious, literary, scientific, or charitable purposes must be non-profit § 196.195 (4)Property Appraisers look at financial information provided and look at the reasonableness of salaries, charges for services rendered in relation to value of services, and other items to determine whether property is used for profit making purposes § 196.195 (2)
Documents Required for All Organizations Applying for a Tax Exemption:
- A copy of the organization’s federal tax return (if filed), and an annual income & expense statement or annual budget
- A copy of a valid 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Service determination (churches without 501(c)(3) exempt)
- A copy of a valid Consumer Certificate of Exemption from the Florida Department of Revenue (a/k/a sales tax exemption certificate)
- A copy of the Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization, and by-laws
REQUIREMENTS
Requirements for Churches are the same as requirements for all non-profit organizations, with the addition of the following:
- A copy of determination letter for religious organizations that have obtained an IRS 501(c)(3) designation
- A copy of the Church Charter, if one exists
- Copies of Church bulletins if they assist in establishing how the property was used on January 1st of the year in which they are applying
If there is no actual use on January 1st because the building is in need of renovation or the land is vacant, then the religious organization must show that affirmative steps have been taken to prepare the property for use as a house of public worship. Documents required to be submitted to the Property Appraiser may include environmental or land use permitting activities, creation of architectural plans or schematic drawings, land clearing or site preparation, construction or renovation activities, or other similar activities that demonstrate a commitment of the property to a religious use.
REQUIREMENTS
Requirements for Charter Schools are the same as requirements for all non-profit organizations, with the addition of the following:
- Must file application form DR-504CS if the charter school rents space
REQUIREMENTS
Requirements for Homes for the Aged are the same as requirements for all non-profit organizations, with the addition of the following as governed by Florida Statute § 196.1975
- Must file application form DR-504HA instead of filing the DR-504 application
- Must provide affidavits form DR_504S, which includes each tenant’s income, age and disability, if any, and affirms the tenant is a permanent resident of Florida, and considers the unit their permanent resident. Tenants cannot retain a homestead exemption on any other property
- Must provide a spreadsheet or letter that summarizes the contents of the tenant affidavits.
REQUIREMENTS
Requirements for Affordable Housing are the same as requirements for all non-profit organizations, with the addition of the following as governed by Florida Statute § 196.1978
- Tenant Spreadsheet that includes the unit number, tenant name, original lease or move-in date, household income verification date, total number of household occupants, total annual gross income for entire household, monthly rent, monthly rent contributed by tenant, utility allowance, whether they receive section 8 subsidy, and number of bedrooms.
- Tenant Spreadsheet that includes the unit number, tenant name, original lease or move-in date, household income verification date, total number of household occupants, total annual gross income for entire household, monthly rent, monthly rent contributed by tenant, utility allowance, whether they receive section 8 subsidy, and number of bedrooms.
Conservation Exemptions
Florida law provides two methods of property tax relief for conservation land. In both cases, the land must meet the requirements of a conservation easement as defined in § 704.06.
It prohibits any or all of the following activities and uses:
- Building
- Dumping
- Clearing
- Excavation
- Surface Use
Agricultural use may be allowed, if it is a current or historic use of the land. Buildings and other improvements on the land will be assessed separately at market value.
The Application deadline is March 1.