JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County homeowners should keep an eye on their mailboxes this week as the Property Appraiser’s Office sends out annual notices showing proposed property taxes.
The Truth in Millage, or TRIM, notices were mailed Friday, Property Appraiser Joyce Morgan said. Some homeowners have already received them, while others should receive theirs by next week.
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The notices can look like junk mail, but Morgan said homeowners should carefully review the information because errors could affect their property tax bills.
Duval County has more than 400,000 properties that are reviewed by the Property Appraiser’s Office each year, Morgan said.
Homeowners should check their name, ownership information, exemptions and taxable value. That includes making sure a homestead exemption is listed if the property is their primary residence.
The notice also includes the property’s current taxable value, its previous year’s taxable value and proposed millage rates, or tax rates.
Jacksonville City Council approved the city’s millage rate in July, and Morgan said it remains the same as last year. However, homeowners can still see higher property tax bills because of increases in property values.
The notice also includes information about appealing the proposed value or other information.
The deadline to contact the Property Appraiser’s Office is Sept. 8, Morgan said. Homeowners who disagree with something on their notice should first contact the office for an informal review.
If the issue is not resolved, homeowners can take their case to the Value Adjustment Board, where a magistrate reviews evidence from both the property owner and the Property Appraiser’s Office.
Morgan said homeowners should not wait until the deadline to begin the process.
What homeowners should know about homestead exemptions
Homeowners who recently purchased a primary residence also should make sure they have applied for a homestead exemption.
Morgan said homeowners can apply online through the Duval County Property Appraiser’s Office or in person.
Homeowners generally do not have to reapply every year as long as there has been no change in their circumstances. However, they must notify the Property Appraiser’s Office if the property is no longer their primary residence or if other circumstances affecting the exemption change.
The office also sends homeowners a separate notice each year asking them to report changes that could affect their homestead exemption.
Morgan said homeowners who miss the filing deadline may qualify as late filers in some circumstances.
For more information, homeowners can visit the Duval County Property Appraiser’s Office website.
Amendment 3 not on August primary ballot
Morgan also addressed confusion surrounding a proposed property tax amendment.
She said Amendment 3 will not appear on the August primary election ballot. The measure is scheduled to appear on the November general election ballot.
The Property Appraiser’s Office has posted frequently asked questions about the amendment for voters looking for information about the proposal.