MILTON — The deadline to apply for property tax exemption is March 1 Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser Greg Brown says. New homeowners, or homeowners who have never filed, are eligible to receive a property tax exemption of up to $50,000. Homestead exemption does not transfer from the previous owner to the new owner.
"If you own property you use as your primary residence as of January 1, filing for homestead exemption will result in substantial savings on your property taxes," Brown said. "In Santa Rosa County, we offer a safe and convenient, online, homestead exemption application. To file online, property owners should have received a homestead letter with an assigned control number and PIN within six weeks of their real estate transaction."
Additionally, applicants with proper documentation may be eligible for other exemptions including those for seniors, widows and widowers, persons with disabilities, active-duty military, veterans, surviving spouses of first responders, agricultural classifications, historic properties, "granny flats" and more. A complete list of exemptions is available at www.srcpa.org/exemptions.html.
For assistance in determining exemption eligibility, questions about what documentation is required, or to receive replacement copy of a homestead exemption letter, visit www.srcpa.org or call the property appraiser office at (850) 983-1880 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applicants may file for any exemption at the property appraiser's office at 6495 Caroline Street, Suite K in Milton or 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Suite A in Gulf Breeze.
Automatic homestead exemption renewal notices are mailed each January. Income-based exemptions must be renewed each year after Jan. 1. Residents who have purchased a home after Jan. 1 may pre-file for homestead exemption for 2018 after April 1.
According to Florida Statute 196.031, the first $25,000 of homestead exemption applies to all property taxes, including school district taxes. The additional exemption up to $25,000, applies to the assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 and only to non-school taxes.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Property tax exemptions up to $50,000 available for eligible homeowners