June Newsletter on behalf of the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
Taxpayers:
As my office monitors the evolving impact of the Coronavirus, we are implementing ongoing measures to ensure the health and safety of our staff, while also maintaining the highest level of service to the taxpayers of Palm Beach County.
We are keeping up with CDC guidelines and are in contact with county officials, and will continue to adjust our guidance accordingly. Please refer to our website: www.pbcgov.org/PAPA and our social media channels for the most up-to-date information.
On June 1, my office submits the estimated taxable property values for 2020 to all Palm Beach County taxing authorities. These values assist in the groundwork for the taxing authorities’ budgets.
On July 1, my office submits a preliminary tax roll to Florida’s Department of Revenue, the agency that oversees the operations of all Property Appraisers in the state.
During the next few months, the tax roll process will continue and as always, I welcome your comments and questions regarding your property value and exemption amounts. You can email us at PAO@pbcgov.org
In this month’s newsletter, a reminder that the 2020 hurricane season is upon us, information about Vote-by-Mail for the upcoming elections and a memo to those residents who have not yet applied for a homestead exemption on their permanent residence in Palm Beach County. Enjoy reading and stay safe.
We Value What You Value.
Respectfully,
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
Hurricane Season Begins in June
The month of June kicks off the 2020 hurricane season in South Florida, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. As a reminder to all property owners in Palm Beach County, take a moment to review our ‘Report Storm Damaged Property’ information on our website, www.pbcgov.org/PAPA. It offers important details you need to know if your property sustains severe storm damage. If you have any questions, call my office at 561.355.3230. For essential tips on hurricane preparedness, log onto the Palm Beach County Emergency Management website at: http://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/dem/Pages/default.aspx
Vote-by-Mail for 2020 Elections
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there has been a growing interest across the nation to expand Vote-by-Mail this year in order to keep poll workers and voters safe.
Vote-by-Mail refers to voting a ballot received by mail or picked up by or for a voter instead of going to the polls to vote during Early Voting or Election Day. Any registered voter can vote by mail. You can request a Vote-by-Mail ballot for a specific election or for all elections through the next two General Elections. After two General Elections, you will need to make the request again.
For more information on this, go to the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections’ website: https://www.pbcelections.org/ or call them at 561.656.6208.
A Reminder about E filing for a Homestead Exemption and Portability
In 2019, my office improved the Homestead Exemption E file module (on our website: www.pbcgov.org/PAPA) and implemented an online feature which allows you to file for a homestead exemption online the same day you close on a new home even without the deed. We also added an online component for when you’re moving within the state of Florida and filing for a homestead exemption, you can E file for portability.
Remember, a homestead exemption can reduce the assessed value of your property, thereby reducing the amount of property tax you pay.
In the state of Florida, a $25,000 exemption is applied to the first $50,000 of your property’s assessed value if your property is your permanent residence and you owned the property on January 1 of the tax year. This exemption applies to all taxes, including school district taxes. An additional exemption of up to $25,000 will be applied if your property’s assessed value is between at least $50,000 and $75,000. This exemption is not applied to school district taxes.
Portability is transferring all or a significant portion of your cap savings, up to $500,000, from a home with a homestead exemption to a new home within the state of Florida that qualifies for a homestead exemption.
Homestead exemption and portability applications must be submitted by March 1 (of the qualifying year).
Our Exemption Services department which administers all exemptions and portability applications including the E file module on our website, is available to answer your questions. Contact them at myexemption@pbcgov.org or 561.355.2866.
