Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Property Appraiser Angela Gray is reminding anyone who is a new homeowner in Jefferson County as of Jan. 1, 2021, that they may be eligible to file for a homestead exemption and realize a significant savings on their property taxes.
Gray points out that the homestead exemption can reduce the assessed value of a home by up to $50,000 and provide a tax savings of approximately $400 to $600 annually on average, depending on the taxing jurisdiction and the millage rate.
To qualify for the homestead exemption, a person must own and occupy the home as their permanent residence as Jan. 1; and they must submit an application to the Property Appraiser’s Office no later than March 1 of the year that the exemption will be claimed.
For property owners who have already qualified for the exemption and continue to live in the same home, the exemption renews automatically every year. If, however, a resident changes his or her permanent residency, even if it’s within the county, he or she must apply anew for the homestead exemption on the new home.
“Homestead exemption does not automatically transfer,” Gray says. “Our office will take care of removing the former exemption and applying a new exemption for the appropriate tax year.”
In order to apply for a homestead exemption, certain documentation is required. By law, all applicants must submit their social security number as well of that of their spouse, even it the latter is not listed on the title nor lives on the property.
Applicant must also include no less than two forms of Florida identification, such as a Florida driver’s license or ID card, Florida vehicle registration, Jefferson County voter’s registration or recorded affidavit of Florida residency.
Non-citizens must additionally provide a copy of their permanent residence card (Green Card).
Gray notes that some additional requirements may apply, depending on the circumstances.
For example, if a home is held in the name of a trust, the applicant must have equitable title or beneficial interest to qualify for the homestead exemption, she says. It may be that her office also requests a copy of the trust agreement after the application is filed, she says.
What’s more, the homestead exemption is not the only savings that homeowners may qualify for.
“You may be entitled to an additional tax savings with Homestead Portability, also known as Save Our Homes Portability,” Gray says.
Portability, Gray says, allows homeowners to transfer up to $500,000 of existing Save Our Homes benefits from one homestead to another homestead anywhere in Florida.
“To be eligible, you must have a ‘portability’ benefit, complete the Save Our Homes Portability Application, and include it with your Homestead Exemption application,” Gray says.
She further reminds homeowners that the time period to apply for the portability exemption has been extended from two to three years.
Gray notes that individuals can lose their homestead exemption if they commit homestead fraud, which occurs when a person receiving the exemption is found not to be a permanent Jefferson County resident or claims a homestead exemption elsewhere.
Among the reasons for disapproval or removal of the homestead exemption are the following:
• Renting property for more than 30 days per calendar year for two consecutive years.
“Don’t be misinformed,” Gray says. “You cannot rent your property for a few months every year and continue to qualify for the homestead exemption.”
It doesn’t mean, she says, that one can’t own a second home and spend time vacationing there, or that one can’t travel in a motor home for months at a time.
“There is no requirement that you reside in Jefferson County for six months and a day,” she says. “You must, however, in good faith reside on the property and it must be your primary, permanent residence.
• Maintaining or obtaining an out-of-state residency based tax exemption, reduction, benefit, credit or the like.
“This requirement applies to jointly held property by a husband and wife even if only one person applies for the exemption here and the other applies for the out-of-state tax credit,” Gray says.
• Claiming more than one homestead exemption, even it it’s a married couple and each owns land separately.
“You and your spouse can claim only one location for the purpose of homestead exemption,” Gray says.
She adds the caveat that under certain special circumstances, married persons can claim separate exemptions, but it requires a specified process.
• Filing an income tax return in another state, where one claims permanent residency, or registering to vote elsewhere than Jefferson County.
For more information, or to learn of other available exemptions, call the Property Appraiser’s Office at (850) 997-3356 or visit jeffersonpa.net.