Two weeks to file for homestead exemption
BY LISA NEWELL Gulf Breeze News lisa@gulfbreezenews.com

Are you missing out on the homestead exemption? Do you read your mail over the wastebasket, tossing anything that's not a bill?

There are only two weeks remaining to apply for a homestead exemption for the current tax year.

Greg Brown, Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser, said he does his best to get the word out that people can save money on their taxes, but many people turn a deaf ear.

"We sent letters to everyone that did not have homestead exemption but their street address matched their mailing address," Brown said. However, he thinks people "deep six" the letters when they realize they are not bills.

Homestead tax exemption is the most common exemption applied for and granted in Santa Rosa County. If a person owns the property that is their primary place of residence on January 1, they may apply for homestead exemption to reduce the taxable value on the home by $25,000, resulting in substantial savings on property taxes.

Brown said one man "about kicked himself" when he discovered that he'd ignored notices since the 1990's that encouraged him to file for homestead exemption savings.

Brown isn't required to chase down homeowners to tell them to apply for homestead exemptions that reduce a home's assessed value by $25,000 and caps increases in assessed value by three percent or the consumer price index, which is set by the Florida Department of Revenue. However, Brown advertises the March 1 application deadline in community papers, opens north end and south end offices on Saturdays to accommodate more people and even send letters to those who don't currently have the exemption.

"" Brown said. "I don't know what else to do."

Some people incorrectly assume that homestead exemptions are applied for at closing on their home's mortgage.

Application for all exemptions including those for senior citizens, widows, widowers, veterans, disabled persons and more must be made between January 1 and March 1 of the tax year. Initial application should be made in person at the Property Appraiser's office and subsequent yearly renewal of exemption status may be made by mail. Failure to make application by March 1 of the tax year constitutes a waiver of the exemption privilege for that year.

Senior Citizens who are 65 or older on January 1 may qualify for an additional $25,000 exemption if certain qualifications are met.

Homestead exemptions reduce the city and county taxes but are not applicable to school or fire taxes.

For more information, call the office of Greg Brown, Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser, at 983-1880 or 934- 8175.