Page 14 - Talk of Tequesta - April '20

Page 14, The Talk Of Tequesta

loCal governmenT

Property Appraiser’s Office

Dear Taxpayers: pension and annuities, unemployment compensation, and • Census data is also used to determine the need
Happy Spring! taxable Social Security benefits. for additional social services, including community
At the office, we continue For questions, please contact Exemptions Services at development block grants and other grant programs
to work on the 2020 tax roll (561) 355-2866 or myexemption@pbcgov.org. essential to many communities.
and make preparations for • Every 10 years, the census data affects your voice in
the release of the estimated Palm Beach County Congress by determining how many seats each state will
taxable property values (for have in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2020) to the Palm Beach Census 2020 For more information, go to 2020census.gov.
County taxing authorities.
These preliminary By April 1, every home Short-Term Rental Of A
estimates (which are in Palm Beach County
officially released at the end will receive an invitation Homesteaded Property
of May of each year) assist the county, its municipalities by mail to participate
and other taxing authorities in projecting their budgets in the 2020 Census. If You may rent your homesteaded property for 30 days or
and tax rates and also provide a benchmark as to what you live in the United less per calendar year and maintain a homestead exemption.
revenue they can expect to receive from property taxes in States, you are required Rental for more than 30 days for two consecutive years
the coming year. Stay tuned. by law to complete the or for more than six months constitutes abandonment of a
A reminder about renewal applications for the Limited 2020 Census. You will homestead exemption.
Income Senior Citizen exemption (persons age 65 and have three options for Exempt property rented after Jan. 1 of any year does not
older) – this renewal form must be returned (postmarked) responding – online, by affect the homestead exemption for that particular year. If the
to my office no later than May 1. Qualifications and phone or by mail. property is rented on Jan. 1 of the following year or the terms of
statutory requirements are listed in this month’s newsletter. Your participation in the 2020 Census matters: the lease are six months or more the exemption will be denied.
Also, in this month’s article, what you need to know • An accurate count of Palm Beach County in the 2020 Property owners are required to notify the Property
about the Palm Beach County Census 2020 – April 1 and census is vitally important to the county’s future. Every Appraiser’s Office when their property no longer qualifies
why it’s important to participate and say, “I count!” year, more than $675 billion in federal funds is awarded for exemption. Failure to do so could result in a Homestead
In addition, as “snowbird” season is coming to a to states and communities based on census data. That is Tax Lien with substantial penalty and interest. Be aware of
close, property owners who benefit from the homestead more than $4 trillion over a 10-year period. the law before deciding to rent your property. (Florida Statute
exemption and are considering renting all or a portion • Census data guide local decision-makers in important 196.061 and 196.011 (9) (a)).
of their homesteaded property, should review important community planning efforts, including where to build new For more information, go to our website: www.pbcgov.
information on short-term rentals on a homesteaded roads, hospitals and schools. org/PAPA or contact Exemption Services at (561) 355-2866.
property.
I hope you find this information beneficial. Enjoy
reading.
Respectfully,
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS,
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
Palm Beach County Property

Appraiser’s Office Service

Centers

My office has 50 qualified staff members spread out
over five Service Centers, conveniently located throughout
Palm Beach County. They administer the homestead
exemption and additional property tax exemptions, as
well as execute mailing address and ownership changes,
process portability applications, and more.
Typically, some of our busiest months occur in the
beginning of the year, for filing deadlines for property
tax exemptions and portability.
2020 Customer Service By The Numbers:
• Phone calls: 17,210 (as of March 2) CAMPBELL AND KARLIK, P.A.
• Counter service: 10,538 (as of March 2)
• Homestead Exemption applications filed for the 2020 ATTORNEYS AT LAW
tax roll: 26,054
Senior Exemption Renewal Of Adjusted Household
Income For Persons Age 65 And Older
Earlier this year, my office mailed out renewal Wills • Trusts • Estate Planning • Probate
applications for those senior citizens who qualified for the
additional exemption for persons age 65 and older. The Taxation • Real Estate • Corporations
renewal form must be returned (postmarked) to the Palm
Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office, 1st Floor, 301
N. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33401, no later than
May 1.
In order to qualify for an additional homestead
exemption of up to $50,000 for persons age 65 or older,
the “household income” (cumulative “adjusted gross
income”) of all persons living in the home cannot exceed
$30,721. This exemption applies only to the property taxes
levied by the taxing authorities granting the exemption
for 2020.
Section 196.075, F.S. – Additional Homestead
Exemption For Persons 65 And Older
(a) “Household” means a person or group of persons
living together in a room or group of rooms as a housing
unit, but the term does not include persons boarding in
or renting a portion of the dwelling.
(b) “Household income” means the adjusted gross Diane L. KarLiK
income, as defined in s.62 of the United States Internal
Revenue Code, of all members of a household.
If you file a tax return, this is the amount reported on
IRS Form 1040, line 7. If you do not file a tax return, Tel: (561) 625-5220
adjusted gross income includes but is not limited to wages, 3450 Northlake Boulevard Suite 210 Fax: (561) 625-5201• Mobile: (561) 797-5004
salaries, tips, taxable interest, ordinary dividends, capital Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33403 EMail: dlkarlik@aol.com
gain distributions, taxable IRA distributions, taxable