Available Exemptions
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INFORMATION
What is the Homestead Exemption? Every person who owns and resides on real property in Okaloosa, Florida on January 1 and makes the property their permanent residence is eligible to receive a homestead exemption up to $50,000. The first $25,000 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 represents a substantial savings on the taxes levied against your property by the various taxing authorities.
Why file? Homestead exemption can save you approximately $600 to $650 per year on your annual ad valorem taxes. An additional benefit to the homestead exemption is Amendment 10 (Save Our Homes), which will "cap" your property's assessed value the year following your established first year of homestead exemption.
Who May File: Every person who has legal or equitable title to real property in Florida and who has recorded the title instrument in the public records of the county where application is made. The applicant must reside on the property as of January 1st and must in good faith, make it their permanent residence to be eligible.
When to File: Exemption applications must be made no later than March 1st for the tax year applied for. Failure to make application by March 1st of the tax year shall constitute a waiver of the exemption privilege for that year. Homestead exemption applications may be filed after March 1st, but the exemption will be applied in the next tax year.
Where to Apply: Property Appraiser's Office, 73 Eglin Parkway NE Suite 202, Fort Walton Beach; or Property Appraiser's Office, Okaloosa County Courthouse, 101 E. James Lee Blvd., Room 104, Crestview.
First Time Applicants: First-time applicants must come in person to file their application. You may print and complete the homestead exemption application at the ''Forms'' section of this web site. However, the application and required supporting documentation must be brought to one of the two above listed locations. Only one signature is required for joint owners who are married with the same last name; however, all documentation listed below must be provided. All signatures are necessary if owners who occupy the home have different last names.
The Following Information Is Required:
1. Recorded Warranty Deed or last tax bill.
2. Florida Driver License reflecting current residential address: all joint owners who reside on the property need Florida Driver Licenses. (VALID IN FLORIDA ONLY LICENSES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT).
3. Florida Vehicle Registrations reflecting current residential address. All vehicles owned by the applicants must have resident Florida registrations. This also applies to military personnel. Leased vehicles and nonresident registrations CANNOT be accepted.
4. Social Security numbers are required for all owners listed on the deed.
5. Declaration of Domicile or Florida Voter Registration Card reflecting current residential address. If an owner does not have a car registered in their name, one of these documents will be required as proof of residency.
Renewal: The Property Appraiser's Office will mail you a renewal card each year in January. Please read the instructions carefully and be sure to comply with deadlines.
Our office is currently accepting 2012 Exemption Applications.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If I buy a property, which currently has a homestead exemption, do I get the benefit of that exemption for the remainder of the year?
Do I have to be a citizen to qualify?
What if the property is in a trust?
Can I get a homestead exemption on a mobile home?
If I buy a property, which currently has a homestead exemption, do I get the benefit of that exemption for the remainder of the year?
If the seller had homestead exemption, the buyer may have the advantage of the seller's homestead exemption for the remainder of the sale year. However, the ''carried over'' homestead exemption will be removed as of December 31st of the sale year. The new owner must apply by the deadline for homestead exemption in their name for the following year.
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Do I have to be a citizen to qualify?
Citizenship is not a requirement to file for homestead exemption. However, an applicant who is not a U.S. citizen must prove that they have permanent residency status when they apply. Please bring your INS issued permanent residency photo ID card when filing a homestead application.
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What if the property is in a trust?
The applicant must furnish this office with a copy of the trust agreement. Florida law specifies those situations under which the resident may obtain homestead exemption. The Florida Constitution requires that the homestead claimant have legal title or beneficial title in equity to the property.
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Can I get a homestead exemption on a mobile home?
Yes, if you possess a mobile home Real Property (RP) decal and own the land. When applying, you must bring in the title or registration to the mobile home.
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Senior Exemption
Who may Apply? Florida residents who have a homestead exemption may qualify for an additional $25,000 of homestead exemption if they meet the following criteria:
1. Been approved for the $25,000 homestead exemption.
2. Be at least 65 years of age as of January the 1st of the year they want to file.
3. Have a total household adjusted gross income that does not exceed the limit announced by the State of Florida each January. NOTE: the 2012 limit is $27,030.00.
Household: A ''Household'' is a person or group of persons living together in a room or groups of rooms as a housing unit but does not include those person(s) boarding in or renting a portion of the dwelling.
Household Adjusted Gross Income: The sum of income for all members of the household. For the purposes of applying for this exemption, it is the adjusted gross income figure that is calculated and reported on the Federal Income Tax return of all household members.
The Exemption Does Not Apply to All Taxing Authorities: This exemption only applies to the county and to those municipalities who pass an ordinance authorizing this exemption. This exemption does not apply to agencies such as fire districts, water management and the school district. Listed below are the municipalities allowing the Senior exemption:
Cinco Bayou
Crestview
Destin
Fort Walton Beach
Laurel Hill
Mary Esther
Niceville
Shalimar
Valparaiso
Where to Apply:
Property Appraiser's Office, 73 Eglin Parkway NE Suite 202, Fort Walton Beach; or Property Appraiser's Office, Okaloosa County Courthouse, 101 E. James Lee Blvd., Room 104, Crestview.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must apply in person. Bring with you proof of your age, and copies of any federal income tax returns, and any wage and earning documents for each member of the household.
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Widow/Widower Exemption
$500 Widow Exemption: Any widow who is a permanent Florida resident may claim this exemption. If the widow remarries, she is no longer eligible. If the husband and wife were divorced before his death, the woman is not considered a widow. You will be required to produce a death certificate when filing for the first time. You must file your application in person at one of the two Property Appraiser's Office locations.
$500 Widower Exemption: Any widower who is a permanent Florida resident may claim this exemption. If the widower remarries he is no longer eligible. If a husband and wife were divorced before her death, the man is not considered a widower. You will be required to produce a death certificate when filing the first time. You must file your application in person at one of the two Property Appraiser's Office locations.
Where to Apply:
Property Appraiser Office, 73 Eglin Parkway NE Suite 202, Fort Walton Beach; or Property Appraiser's Office, Okaloosa County Courthouse, 101 E. James Lee Blvd., Room 104, Crestview.
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Military Homestead Exemptions
Active-duty military members may retain their homestead exemption when stationed out of the area on official PCS orders. Applicants must meet homestead eligibility, maintain Florida residency, maintain a valid Florida driver license, and the homestead must have been in place before leaving the area.
The homestead must be renewed annually. Our office will mail you the appropriate forms to the latest address that we have on record.
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Deployed Military Property Tax Exemption
In November 2010, Florida voters approved a property tax exemption that benefits certain deployed military service members. A service member who currently receives a homestead exemption on their residence may receive additional savings on their property taxes. The new exemption is available to service members who were deployed during the preceding calendar year on active duty outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of:
•Operation Enduring Freedom
•Operation Iraqi Freedom
•Operation New Dawn
The exemption is equal to a percentage of the taxable value of your homestead property. The applicable percentage will be calculated as the number of days during the preceding calendar year that you were deployed.
To apply for the Deployed Military Exemption, you will be required to complete and return a Deployed Military Exemption Application, along with a copy of your deployment orders and travel vouchers, to our office.
Applications with proper documentation must be submitted to our office by March 1st of each year..
Non Service Connected Total & Permanent Exemption
1. $500 Disability Exemption: Applicants must submit a statement a statement of disability from one licensed, Florida physician on the state required form or letter issued by Social Security Administration. See the ''Forms'' section of this website. You must file your application in person at one of the two Property Appraiser's Office locations.
2. $500 Blind Exemption: Every Florida resident who is blind qualifies for this exemption. To claim this exemption you must bring in either:
a. A certificate from the Division of Blind Services of the Department of Education or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or
b. Letter issued by Social Security Administration or
c. A DR416 form from one Florida physician certifying the applicant to be blind. See the ''Forms'' section of this website. ''Blind person'' is defined as an individual having central visual acuity 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting glasses, or a disqualifying field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter or visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees.
**Note: The above information is pursuant to the Florida Statutes 196.202
196.202?Property of widows, widowers, blind persons, and persons totally and permanently disabled.-Property to the value of $500 of every widow, widower, blind person, or totally and permanently disabled person who is a bona fide resident of this state shall be exempt from taxation. As used in this section, the term "totally and permanently disabled person" means a person who is currently certified by a physician licensed in this state, by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor, or by the Social Security Administration to be totally and permanently disabled.
Where to Apply: Property Appraiser Office, 73 Eglin Parkway NE Suite 202, Fort Walton Beach; or Property Appraiser's Office, County Courthouse, 101 E. James Lee Blvd., Room 104, Crestview.
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Non Service-Connected Disability Exemption
1. $500 Disability Exemption: Applicants must submit a statement a statement of disability from one licensed, Florida physician on the state required form. See the ''Forms'' section of this website. You must file your application in person at one of the two Property Appraiser's Office locations.
2. $500 Blind Exemption: Every Florida resident who is blind qualifies for this exemption. To claim this exemption you must bring in either:
a. A certificate from the Division of Blind Services of the Department of Education or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or
b. A DR416form from one Florida physician certifying the applicant to be blind. See the ''Forms'' section of this website. ''Blind person'' is defined as an individual having central visual acuity 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting glasses, or a disqualifying field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter or visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees.
Where to Apply: Property Appraiser Office, 73 Eglin Parkway NE Suite 202, Fort Walton Beach; or Property Appraiser's Office, County Courthouse, 101 E. James Lee Blvd., Room 104, Crestview.
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Veterans Disability Exemption
$5000 Veterans Disability Exemption: Any honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected disability, less than total and permanent, is entitled to this exemption. If filing for the first time, present a certificate from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This certificate must prove your disability compensation of 10 percent to 100 percent related to wartime or service-connected disability. You must file your application in person at one of the two Property Appraiser's Office locations.
Total and Permanent Service-Connected Disability: Any honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability, surviving spouses of qualifying veterans and spouses of Florida resident veterans who died from service-connected causes while on active duty as a member of the United States Armed Forces are entitled to exemption on real estate used and owned as a homestead less any portion thereof used for commercial purposes. Persons entitled to this exemption must have been a permanent resident of the state as of January 1st of the year of application.
Under certain circumstances, the benefit of the exemption can carry over to the veteran's spouse in the event of the veteran's death. Contact us for details. If filing for the first time, please bring a certificate from the United States Government or United States Department of Veterans Affairs as your proof of a service-connected disability or death of your spouse while on active duty. You must file your application in person at one of the two Property Appraiser's Office locations.
Where to Apply: Property Appraiser's Office, 73 Eglin Parkway NE Suite 202, Fort Walton Beach; or Property Appraiser's Office, Okaloosa County Courthouse, 101 E. James Lee Blvd., Room 104, Crestview.
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