Page 8 - Abacoa Community News - January '22

Page 8, Abacoa
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office

Dear Taxpayer, All About Agricultural Land taxes. All businesses are required to file a Tangible Personal
Happy New Year! Property Tax Return (Form DR 405) annually by April 1,
A friend recently said Classification unless the value of your tangible personal property last year
to me, “2021 does not get was under $25,000 and you received notice from this office
enough credit for being as Properties with bona fide agricultural (good faith commercial) that your requirement to file has been waived.
challenging as 2020.” And activity may qualify for the agricultural land classification. The Florida allows an exemption up to $25,000 in value
that struck me as true – the taxable value of the land is based on the annual net income per for tangible personal property assets used by a business.
past two years represent an acre attributable to the land from the agricultural operation. However, you must file an initial Tangible Personal Property
ongoing disruption in our If you had the agricultural land classification on your property Tax Return to receive the exemption. Thereafter, you need
lives. But I am proud that no in 2021, the application will automatically renew for 2022, so not file an annual return unless the value of your tangible
matter what came our way, there is no need to file an application. All 5,146 properties with personal property exceeds $25,000 on Jan. 1.
my office stayed focused on the agricultural classification in 2021 will be reviewed this year. Save time, paper, and postage by filing online. If you do
our goals as public servants: providing essential services and To qualify for a new agricultural land classification, need a paper form, you can download it using our Forms link.
stellar customer service. the qualifying agricultural use must be on site as of Jan. 1. If you have any questions about reporting personal property,
With a new year before us, I look forward to continuing Applications should be submitted by March 1. You will be tangible e-filing, or the $25,000 tangible exemption, please
to leverage technology to both increase our efficiency and notified of the status of your application for the agricultural call our office at (561) 355-2896 or email us at patangible@
improve service. Online filing of homestead exemptions, classification by mail on or before July 1. pbcgov.org.
portability, and business tangible personal property tax For more information, call our office at (561) 355-4577 or
returns (DR-405) show sustained growth as they streamline email myfarm@pbcgov.org. Office Closed
the process for both you and my staff.
Behind the scenes, we continue to implement new tools Business Tangible Personal In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all Palm
and workflows to increase valuation efficiency. Many of these Beach County Property Appraiser’s Offices will be closed
improvements started as suggestions from our appraisers Property on Monday, Jan. 17.
themselves – their ideas drive our progress. We have one of
the finest professional staffs in the industry. Business tangible assets such as furniture and equipment
In this month’s article, I am happy to announce my valued at more than $25,000 are subject to ad valorem
office once again will have a presence at the South Florida
Fair, though our booth will not be staffed. Also included:
reminders about filing for an Agricultural Land Classification Northern Notes from page 7 Atlantic flyway. The bird species in these great bird-rivers
and Business Tangible Personal Property Tax return. in the sky pass specific spots on the map at more or less
Wishing you a prosperous and wonderful year. breeding range and all birds have eaten extra food for the predictable times. For instance, when spring’s first yellow
Respectfully, long journey. Many species double their weight to fuel their warblers, which winter from southern Mexico south to Peru
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS, migration. Purple martins, as an example, eat three times their and Brazil, return northward each year they reach southern
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser weight in mosquitoes in a day in preparation for the trip. California and southern Florida around April 1. By May
Generally, birds migrate when the weather and 1, their “northern front” lies along a line running between
2022 South Florida Fair atmospheric structure are good. This means winds Washington State and New York State. By June 1, they’ve
are blowing in the direction that they are headed, reached the Arctic region of northern Canada.
The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office and tailwinds are available to increase their speeds. Enjoy the cooler temperatures of the Florida winters and
will have a display at the South Florida Fair from Jan. 14 to Navigational options for birds include the use of get out and try to spot some of these transients. There are
30. While we will not be taking new homestead exemption the stars, sun, and internal sensitivity to the Earth’s many preserves and natural areas that attract birds this time
applications on site, there are several filing options and magnetic field as their compass. They also learn routes of year. These areas are rich in food sources and attract birds
our staff are happy to help! Visit pbcgov.org/PAPA to file from other birds. as either a destination or stopover on the way to areas further
online or contact exemption services at (561) 355-2866 or Birds using powered flight that involves continuous south, like the Caribbean or South America; similar to our
myexemption@pbcgov.org for more information. flapping and a level course through the air are often nocturnal cruise ship ports attracting visitors cruising to points south.
migrants. At night the air is calmer or more stable and Happy travels!
Reduce Tax With The predators are fewer. These can be viewed with a telescope NPDES tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
Homestead Exemption as they pass by the light of a full moon. Soaring birds, on waste is washed into lakes or canals the waste decays, using
up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen
the other hand, prefer daylight when they can ride thermals
of rising hot air. (Source: South Florida Audubon Society) levels and ammonia combined with warm temperatures can
If you are a permanent Florida resident, you may be When migrants start moving, they form broad, diffuse kill fish. Pet waste also contains nutrients that encourage
eligible for a homestead exemption, which can save you waves that merge into great “rivers” of birds. The four weed and algae growth. Overly fertile water becomes
generally $750 to $1,000 in property taxes each year. main North American “rivers,” or “flyways,” are known cloudy and green – unattractive for boating and fishing.
Did you receive your pink homestead exemption receipt as the Pacific, Central, Mississippi and Atlantic. Florida Perhaps most importantly, pet waste carries diseases that
card in the mail? If so, no need to refile. Simply keep the card is the southernmost point within the United States on the make water unsafe for humans and animals alike.
as your receipt that you have been automatically renewed
for another year.
A $25,000 exemption is applied to the first $50,000
of your property’s assessed value if your property is your Age is Just a Number...
permanent residence and you owned the property as of Jan.
1. 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 Like a Bank Account Number.
at least $50,000 and $75,000. This exemption is not applied
to school district taxes. In addition, a homestead exemption Have you Protected your
limits any increase to your assessed value to a maximum
of 3 percent each year or the amount of the change in the Children or Grandchildren
Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.
Three ways to apply: from a New Marriage?
• E-file at pbcgov.org/PAPA.
• Visit one of our five service centers to file in person. If Not, Call Us!
• Complete the application online, print it out, and mail
it to our office.
All homestead exemption applications must be submitted
by March 1. Once you qualify, we will renew your homestead
exemption annually as long as you continue to qualify for
the exemption.
Visit pbcgov.org/PAPA to e-file and for information on
other available exemptions for seniors, families, veterans,
and more.

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