The Florida Constitution provides for a $25,000 exemption in assessed value for Florida home owners. In 2010 the exemption resulted in a savings up to $503 in Leon County. There is an additional $25,000 exemption on Non-School taxes for the valuation between $50,000 and $75,000. According to the Leon County Property Appraiser, this was worth another $302 in savings in Leon County.
You may apply for homestead exemption year round, in the Leon County Property Appraiser's office on the 3rd floor of the courthouse annex, located in the Bank of America Plaza, 315 S. Calhoun Street in Tallahassee, between 8 and 5 on weekdays. March 1st is the deadline for each year's tax roll, but you may pre-file for the following year. They offer Saturday filing in their office, each Saturday in February from 10 am to 2 pm. They also visit several other locations throughout the county on Tuesdays in February from 3pm to 7pm. You can call the office, (850) 488-6102, for locations.
When you visit the Leon County Property Appraiser's office, you need to bring the social security numbers for all applicants and 2 forms of proof of Florida residency, such as driver's license, vehicle tag registration, or voter's registration.
You can access the 2011 homestead exemption application form and filing instructions at the Leon County Property Appraiser's website. In order to pre-file this application for 2011, you may mail the completed, signed application, along with copies of the required documentation to their office. The mailing address is shown at the bottom of the instruction page. Please contact their office if you failed to meet the March 1 deadline for your 2010 homestead exemption.
It is important to understand that exemptions are NOT automatically transferred. In order for you to receive the exemption on your new home you must apply with the Leon County Property Appraiser on or before March 1st.
Once you make application you will receive an automatic renewal so long as you live in that property. However, if you move, or if there is a change of ownership, it is necessary to make a new application with the Leon County Property Appraiser.
You may apply for homestead exemption year round, in the Leon County Property Appraiser's office on the 3rd floor of the courthouse annex, located in the Bank of America Plaza, 315 S. Calhoun Street in Tallahassee, between 8 and 5 on weekdays. March 1st is the deadline for each year's tax roll, but you may pre-file for the following year. They offer Saturday filing in their office, each Saturday in February from 10 am to 2 pm. They also visit several other locations throughout the county on Tuesdays in February from 3pm to 7pm. You can call the office, (850) 488-6102, for locations.
When you visit the Leon County Property Appraiser's office, you need to bring the social security numbers for all applicants and 2 forms of proof of Florida residency, such as driver's license, vehicle tag registration, or voter's registration.
You can access the 2011 homestead exemption application form and filing instructions at the Leon County Property Appraiser's website. In order to pre-file this application for 2011, you may mail the completed, signed application, along with copies of the required documentation to their office. The mailing address is shown at the bottom of the instruction page. Please contact their office if you failed to meet the March 1 deadline for your 2010 homestead exemption.
It is important to understand that exemptions are NOT automatically transferred. In order for you to receive the exemption on your new home you must apply with the Leon County Property Appraiser on or before March 1st.
Once you make application you will receive an automatic renewal so long as you live in that property. However, if you move, or if there is a change of ownership, it is necessary to make a new application with the Leon County Property Appraiser.
About the Author:
Joe Manausa, CRS is a top real estate agent in Tallahassee who produces a daily blog about real estate in Tallahassee, Florida. Joe's article on how to lower your property taxes contains a video that was produced by the Leon County Property Appraiser and is considered to be the best way to lower your property taxes in Tallahassee.. This article, How To File For The Homestead Exemption With The Leon County Property Appraiser is available for free reprint.