Page 10 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - September '20

Page 10, Jupiter Ocean Mile
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office

Taxpayers: After The Hearing
As we h e a d i n t o The VAB must issue all final decisions within 20 calendar
September, my office days of the last day it was in session. You may file a lawsuit
continues to implement in circuit court if you do not agree with the VAB’s decision.
measures to ensure the For more information about the VAB in Palm Beach
health and safety of our staff, County, visit their website at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/
while also maintaining the public-funds/value-adjustment-board-vab or email them at
highest level of safe service vab@mypalmbeachclerk.com, or call them at (561) 355-6289.
to the taxpayers of Palm
Beach County during the Property Appraiser’s Office Receives Award
COVID-19 pandemic. From International Professional Association
Our office is open to the
public however we encourage you to contact us via phone: The Palm Beach County
(561) 355-3230, email: PAO@pbcgov.org or utilize our Property Appraiser’s Office
online services at our website: www.pbcgov.org/PAPA. has been named recipient of
By now, all property owners in Palm Beach County have the 2020 Public Information
received their 2020 Notice of Proposed Property Taxes and Program Award from the
Assessments from my office. Remember this not a bill, but International Association of
rather an estimate of your taxes based on the proposed tax Assessing Officers (IAAO). The
rates, your property value and exemptions. award is presented annually, to
The next stage in the tax roll process is the petition an assessment jurisdiction that
filing period. Property owners have the option to appeal has developed and implemented
their property’s assessment or denial of portability before an effective system for distributing information to taxpayers
the county’s Value Adjustment Board (VAB), which is and other stakeholders.
administered by the Clerk and Comptroller’s Office. Florida The video series submitted – Celebrating Women’s
law sets the value petition filing period, which begins when be an attorney, a licensed real estate appraiser or broker, History Month – March 2019, profiled the contributions of
the notices are mailed and ends 25 days later. This year’s or a certified public accountant. some of the longest serving female employees in the property
deadline to file a petition is Sept. 14. If someone who is not a licensed professional appraiser’s office.
For questions about petition filing, go to the VAB website: represents you, you must sign the petition or provide “We selected the Women’s History Month video series
https://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/public-funds/value- written authorization or power of attorney for your for consideration in conjunction with the recognition of this
adjustment-board-vab representative. year’s centennial of the 19th Amendment,” said Palm Beach
Also highlighted in this month’s newsletter, I am happy During the hearing, a special magistrate, usually a County Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS. “The
to announce our office has been named recipient of the 2020 licensed appraiser or attorney will ask you to present your theme honors the confident women in our office who forged a
Public Information Program Award from the International evidence and testimony in support of your petition. A path toward equality in their careers just as the brave women
Association of Assessing Officers. representative from our office will then present evidence who fought to win suffrage rights for women,” she said.
I hope you and your loved ones remain healthy and safe. in support of the property valuation, denied exemption, “Thank you IAAO for the recognition and a special thanks
We Value What You Value. etc., depending on the issue. You will have another to all the outstanding women who participated in the series,”
Respectfully, opportunity to comment before the end of the hearing. said Jacks.
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS Keep in mind, although the decision of the magistrate To view the series go to: https://www.
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser is binding, the hearing itself is an informal process. The yout ube .c om / pl a yl i st ? l i st = PL ww8Y2vJ_
VAB will mail you a written copy of its final decision. bCmeBqhGq5MdXvs1Fh6g5lAc.
The Value Adjustment Board Process In most cases, to win a reduction in appraised value
before the VAB, you must prove that the county’s Office Closed Due To Upcoming Holiday
Property owners who disagree with the property assessment appraisal of your property exceeded market value and
listed on their notice of proposed property taxes have two explain why. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office
options – contact the Property Appraiser’s Office for an Regardless of the outcome of your hearing, you must (including all of our service centers) will be closed in
informal review of the matter or file a petition for adjustment pay all or the required portion of your taxes by April 1 to observance of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 7. We will reopen
with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB), or both. keep your petition valid and avoid additional cost and fees. on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 8:30 a.m.
The VAB is administered by the Palm Beach County Clerk
and Comptroller’s Office, which is independent of the Property
Appraiser’s Office. The Board is made up of five individuals:
two from the county’s board of commissioners, one from
the county’s school board and two citizen members. They
approve and use special magistrates experienced in property
appraisal techniques or legal matters who conduct hearings
and recommend decisions to the VAB for final approval.
Special magistrates will review property valuation, denials
of portability, deferrals and change of ownership or control
determinations. All final rulings are determined by the VAB.
Prior To Filing A Petition
Our office encourages property owners to contact us to
request a (phone) conference regarding their concerns prior
to filing a petition. In preparation for this discussion, records
on your property are available on our website at www.pbcgov.
org/PAPA or call us at (561) 355-3230.
If the matter cannot be resolved, you can file a petition
with the VAB.
Filing A Petition
Florida law sets the deadlines for filing a petition on or
before the 25th day following the mailing of the notice from
our office. This year’s deadline is Sept. 14. These deadlines Get a second opinion on
do not change, even if you choose to discuss the issue with
our office. The VAB may charge up to $15 for filing a petition. your financial health.
Petition forms are available on our website or you may
visit the Clerk and Comptroller’s VAB website: https://www.
mypalmbeachclerk.com/public-funds/value-adjustment- Schedule a complimentary, face-to-face
board-vab for online petition filing.
Once a petition is filed, you will receive a notice with the meeting with a Financial Advisor.
date, time, and location of your hearing at least 25 days before
your hearing date. You can reschedule your hearing once for
good cause. If your hearing is rescheduled, the clerk will send Kevin Prazenica, AAMS® Terrence Burns, AAMS®, ChFC® Timothy Lynch
notice at least 15 days before the rescheduled hearing. Senior Vice President – Investment Officer Senior Vice President – Investment Officer Financial Advisor
Fifteen days prior to the scheduled petition hearing, you 3399 PGA Blvd., Ste. 400 3399 PGA Blvd., Ste. 400 3399 PGA Blvd., Ste. 400
are required to provide our office with a list and summary of Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Direct: 561-691-5106
Direct: 561-691-5135
Direct: 561-776-4351
evidence that you will present at the hearing. You can submit kevin.prazenica@wellsfargoadvisors.com terrence.burns@wellsfargoadvisors.com timothy.lynch@wellsfargoadvisors.com
your evidence electronically on the clerk’s VAB website. wellsfargoadvisors.com wellsfargoadvisors.com wellsfargoadvisors.com
Seven days before the VAB hearing, our office is required
to provide you with a list and summary of evidence, which
will be presented at the hearing. Investment and Insurance Products: NOT FDIC Insured NO Bank Guarantee MAY Lose Value
The Hearing
At the VAB hearing, you may represent yourself or Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
© 2015 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved. CAR-1018-02593 A1951 IHA-6693524
seek assistance from a professional; some examples might