Polk County property appraiser

Table of Contents:

What is property taxation?

Property taxes are taxes paid on a property either owned by an individual or by a legal entity. Some properties are owned by businesses or corporations. These legal entities also need to pay the appropriate taxes. In most counties and areas, the property taxes will be set by the local government and then paid for by the property owner. The value of the property when taxed also involves the value of the land that the property is on.

What is Homestead Exemption Polk County?

Property owners who are residing permanently at their property are eligible to receive a homestead exemption of up to $50,000 in the State of Florida. Applicants wishing to qualify for a homestead exemption will need to provide evidence of ownership; these could include the deed of the property, the purchase contract, and their social security number. First-time applicants are required to furnish their social security number and should have available evidence of ownership, such as a deed. Spouses can apply for exemption for each other so long as the person whose name is on the tile consents. 

If this is your first time filing for a homestead exemption in Polk County, you will need to answer several questions. These will normally include:

1. Whose name is recorded on the title of the property as of January 1st? 

2. What is the exact address of the property?

3. Are you a legal resident of Florida? Proof must be provided as a response to this question. This could include a Certificate of Domicile or a Voter’s Registration dated before January 1st. 

4. Do any of the vehicles you own have Florida license plates? Do you have a Florida driver’s license? 

5. Were you previously living on the property you are filing a homestead exemption for?

All of these questions will help the governing body determine whether you are eligible to receive a homestead exemption for your property. 

What do I need to send to the Polk County property appraiser after applying online?

If you are filing a Tangible Return Online Application, then you will need to submit a number of documents to the property appraiser by April 1st. All Tangible Personal Property (TPP) should be reported annually to the Property Appraiser’s Office. You will need to provide the following: 

1. A valid email address

2. A user profile/ or the credentials associated with your account

3. A list of all of the assets that have changed since the previous year. These can be new properties added or properties removed

You will also be required to answer a number of verification questions. These could include questions about your SSN, Federal ID, the last year you filed a TTP, and the original cost of the account. 

If you plan to file a homestead exemption in Polk County, you will need to provide the following information: 

1. Your Social Security Card/ Number, if married, you must also provide the same information for your spouse. 

2. Florida Driver’s License or ID

3. Permanent Resident Card if you are not from the U.S. 

4. Proof of residency in Florida, these can either include your Florida Voter Registration or your Florida Vehicle Registration

5. Proof of utility payments, these can include Electric, Cable, Gas, Satellite TV, Land Line Phone

6. Pull page statement 

7. Formal declaration of domicile or residency must be recorded in the public record

8. A document verifying the school location for dependent children. The address of the students must also be shown

9. Proof of employment

10. Bank statements

For the documents provided to be valid, they must contain the following information and be up to date: 

• The name of the applicant or the applicant’s spouse
• The address of the homestead property 

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What property is taxed in Polk County?

Properties are taxed in Polk County on an annual basis, which means that every property owner will have until May of the following year to pay off all of their taxes. If the property taxes are not paid on time, a tax certificate is issued and sold to a Tax collector. After the certificate has been held for a minimum of two years and a maximum of seven, the certificate holder is able to request the sale of the property in question. This is why it is very important to always pay property taxes on time in Polk County. 

All properties are taxed under the property taxes in Polk County, Florida. However, if you are also a Florida resident and you are living in the property that you are paying taxes for, you may be eligible to request certain exemptions that will allow you to pay less on property taxes. The main one of the exemptions that you may be eligible for is known as the Homestead exemption. As a Florida legal resident, you can apply for this exemption online through the Polk County property appraiser website. Once you submit all of the required documents, they will assess your application and determine whether the property taxes that you will need to pay can be reduced. 

What if I disagree with the Tax Assessors’ value?

The property taxes you will be required to pay are assessed by the property appraiser in Polk County. Each year you’ll need to file the required forms for each of the properties you own. You will also have the opportunity to apply for certain exemptions. All of your property tax filings will need to be completed by April 1st of each year. The property appraiser will then be responsible for determining what the taxable value of your property will be.  

A few things are important to understand when it comes to the Tax Assessor’s decision about the value of your property.

1. Market value and assessed value are different

While in Florida, the market value is always considered when deciding on what the property value for a property will be, many other factors are also taken into consideration. This means that the appraiser will also be looking at the cost approach to determine the value of your property and the land that you own. Once they have determined what the value of your property will be for taxation, they will also apply for any necessary exemptions. Therefore, in the end, the tax value of your property will end up being different than the market value of your property. 

2. Understand the exemptions that you are able to get 

Depending on your current situation could include homestead, veteran, and senior citizen exemptions. These are exemptions that you will individually need to apply for usually. As such, if any of these exemptions are not granted, you are able to appeal that decision. 

3. Property classification

All properties in Florida will fall under a classification, whether that is agricultural, historical, or a number of other classifications. These classifications could really affect the amount that you are going to be paying in property taxes; therefore, it is important that you always apply for the right classifications for your home. This will help you ensure that you are not paying more than you should when filing your taxes. 

If you think that the assessment made by the property appraiser is incorrect, then the first thing you should do is discuss the appraisal with the property appraiser’s office. There you will also be able to file a petition for the county’s value adjustment board (VAB). This will be the first step to appealing the assessment as the VAB will be able to see whether your concerns are correct and whether the value of your property should be reassessed. You can also file a lawsuit in circuit court to challenge the appraiser’s assessment, or if the VAB’s decision is still not in your favor, you can file a lawsuit to appeal the VAB’s decision. 

To appeal, you have the following options:

1. Informal conference with the Property Appraiser responsible for your property’s appraisal

This informal conference can help you discuss any concerns that you have, as well as discuss the exemptions and classifications you applied for. In some cases, this measure could be enough to solve any problem that you might have regarding your property’s appraisal. This is also much faster than having to go to court or arrange a hearing. 

2. Petition the Value Adjustment Board 

If the evidence that you presented during your informal conference were not enough to convince your property appraiser that your taxes need to change, then you can proceed with a petition to the Value Adjustment Board. They will then take all of the information that you are presenting and will reassess your case. This assessment may require extra costs on your part, so it may only be worth it if you are certain that you are correct regarding a mistake having been made. 

3. File a lawsuit. 

If none of the above methods are successful, you may want to file a lawsuit with the circuit court to challenge the decisions made by the previous officials. This can be a lengthy process, so it might be best to always try the other methods before resorting to this one. 

What is the difference between fair market value and assessed value?

The fair market value of your property is the value that it is assumed your property would be sold for if put for sale in the current market. The assessed value of your property is the value that the property appraiser has determined your property is worth for taxation purposes. Usually, the assessed value has been adjusted to include certain exemptions, costs, depreciation, and other factors that relate to the value of your property. 

What is and how do I file for homestead exemption?

All Florida legal residents who reside in the property that they are filing property taxes for may be eligible for a homestead exemption. Those wishing to apply for the exemption will need to have their name shown in the title deed of the property. This means that they will need to be able to prove ownership of the property. Apart from ownership, evidence that they are indeed residing in the property and that they are legal Florida residents will also be required. 

In Polk County, applications for a homestead exemption can be filed online through the Polk County property appraiser website. Alternatively, the forms can also be filed in person or through the mail. All property exemptions will need to be filed by April 1st. 

Summary

Polk County follows a similar property taxation system to the one found in the rest of the state. This means that they use a millage rate and have a homestead exemption that residents of Florida are eligible for. The taxable value of the property you own in Florida will be assessed by the property appraiser.