Property Tax Exemptions Index of Exemptions Homestead Exemption Homestead Exemption Portability Senior Exemption Disabled Veterans Homestead Property Tax Discount $500 Widow’s Exemption $500 Widower’s Exemption $500 Disability Exemption $5000 Disabled Veteran $500 Exemption for blind persons Service-connected total and permanent disability exemption Exemption for totally and permanently disabled persons Religious, Literary, Scientific or Charitable Exemption Charter School Facilities Exemption Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Homes for Special Services State statutes define property tax exemptions that are available in the State of Florida. Application for these exemptions must be made between January 1st and March 1st of the year for which you apply. The initial application must be made in person at the Property Appraiser's office.  Exemption Filing Period On-Time Filing                                  for Current Tax Year January 1st – March 1st Late Filing*                              for Current Tax Year March 2nd to the 25th day following the mailing of the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM)                    contact office for details Early Filing                                      for the Next Tax Year March 2nd to December 31st *There are provisions within the statues to allow for a late filing of applications for extenuating circumstances, on or before the 25th day following the mailing of the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM).  This date typically falls in September.  Exemptions do not require annual renewal by the recipient. After the original application approval, you will receive an automatic renewel notice.   ^top Homestead Exemption Section 196.031, F.S. Applications for Homestead and any other exemptions must be filed, in person, at the Property Appraisers Office. (see our Contact Us page for locations) Every person who has legal or equitable title to real property in the State of Florida and who resides thereon and in good faith makes it his or her permanent home is eligible to receive a homestead exemption of up to $50,000. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes. The additional $25,000 applies to any assessed value over $50,000 and only to non-school taxes. First time applicants are required to furnish their social security number, and should have available evidence of ownership i.e., deed, contract, etc. If title is held by the husband alone, a wife may file for him, with his consent, and vice versa.  If filing for the first time, be prepared to provide the following information declaring that you were living in the dwelling which is being claimed for homestead exemption on January 1: A. Property Description (Deed or Tax Bill). B. If a Mobile Home, provide a copy of the registration(s) or title(s). C. If in a Recreational Vehicle Park, provide a copy of the registration or title. D. Florida Driver's License(s), with current address. If married, provide the husband's and wife's. E. Florida Vehicle Tag Registration(s). F. Columbia County Voter's Registration Card(s), or, a Declaration(s) of Domicile filed with the Columbia County Clerk's office, with the current physical address. G. If not an American citizen, we must see the Resident Alien card(s). H. Social Security Card(s) or number(s). If married, both spouse’s numbers, even if the property is only in one name. ^top Homestead Exemption Portability Section 196.031, F.S. Each applicant will have to fill out Form DR-501T, “Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference,” in the office of the property appraiser of the county in which their new home is located. Required information on this form includes the date that the previous homestead was sold or no longer used as a homestead, the address and parcel identification number of the previous homestead, a list of all other owners of the previous homestead, an affirmative statement that none of the previous owners remained in the homestead and continued to receive a homestead exemption, and a sworn statement that he or she received the homestead exemption on the previous parcel. Form DR-501, “Original Application for Ad Valorem Tax Exemption” should also be completed to apply for the homestead exemption on the new homestead. ^top Senior Exemption  Additional $50,000 Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Over. To qualify for the senior exemption: The taxpayer must qualify for and have or file for Homestead Exemption. The taxpayer must be 65 years of age or older on January 1 of the year for which the exemption is claimed. The total annual household income of the taxpayer does not exceed the anual yearly income threshold which is adjusted annually by the percentage change in the average cost-of-living index. The taxpayer must submit a sworn statement of household income to the property appraiser no later than March 1 each year. The county or municipality adopts an ordinance that allows the additional senior exemption, which applies ONLY to the taxes levied by the unit of government granting the exemption. Each Taxing Authority has until December 1 of each year to adopt the ordinance and notify our office. They can keep or drop the ordinance from year to year and they can also change the amount of the exemption as they see fit. If no changes are made, the Department of Revenue, notifies this office in late January of the tax year, as to what the current rate will be for the cost of living increase this tax year. That rate is then applied against the previous years' maximum allowable income, to determine income eligibility. ^top Disabled Veterans Homestead Property Tax Discount Section 193.461, F.S. Any veteran age 65 and older may qualify for a homestead property tax discount if the veteran has an honorable discharge from military service, is partially disabled with a permanent service connected disability that is combat-related, and was a Florida resident at the time of entering military service. The discount is equal to the percentage of the veteran’s permanent service connected disability as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. ^top $500 Widow’s Exemption Section 196.202, F.S. 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 may be asked to file a death certificate with the Columbia County Clerk of Court when filing for the first time. ^top $500 Widower’s Exemption Section 196.202, F.S. Any widower who is a permanent Florida resident may claim this exemption. If the widower remarries he is no longer eligible. If the husband and wife were divorced before her death, the man is not considered a widower. You may be asked to file a death certificate with the Columbia County Clerk of Court when filing for the first time. ^top $500 Disability Exemption Section 196.202, F.S.   Every Florida resident who is totally and permanently disabled qualifies for this exemption. If filing for the first time, please present at least one of the following as proof of your disability: A certificate from a licensed Florida physician, or a certificate from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or documentation from the Social Security Administration. ^top $5000 Disabled Veteran Section 196.24, F.S.   Any ex-service member who is a permanent resident of Florida and is disabled at least 10% in war or by service-connected misfortune is entitled to a $5000 exemption. If filing for the first time, please present a certificate from the United States Government. Under certain circumstances the benefit of this exemption can carry over to the veteran’s spouse in the event of the veteran’s death. Consult your appraiser for details. ^top $500  Exemption for blind persons Section 196.202, F.S.  Every Florida resident who is blind qualifies for this exemption. If claiming exemption based on blindness, a certificate from the Division of Blind Services of the Department of Education or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Federal Social Security Administration certifying the applicant to be blind is required. “Blind person” is defined as an individual having central vision 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 twenty degrees. Florida Statute 196.011(11) mandates that Social Security numbers of the applicant and the applicant's spouse, if any, be provided on new exemption applications for them to be deemed complete. For exemptions already granted, Social Security numbers must be furnished by January 1, 2000 for the exemptions to remain in effect for year 2000 and beyond. This information is safeguarded as CONFIDENTIAL. ^top Service-connected total and permanent disability exemption  Section 196.081, 196.24 F.S. Applies only to Homestead Property 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 an 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 this state as of January 1st of the year of assessment.  Under certain circumstances the benefit of this exemption can carry over to the veteran’s spouse in the event of the veteran’s death.  The unremarried surviving spouse of such a disabled ex-service member who, on the date of the disabled ex-service member's death, had been married to the disabled ex-service member for at least 5 years is also entitled to the exemption. 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. ^top Exemption for totally and permanently disabled persons  Section 196.101, F.S.  Applies only to Homestead Property 1. Any real estate used and owned as a homestead, less any portion thereof used for commercial purposes by any quadriplegic shall be exempt from taxation. 2. Any real estate used and owned as a homestead, less any portion thereof used for commercial purposes, by a paraplegic, hemiplegic or other totally and permanently disabled person, as defined in Section 196.012(11), F.S., who must use a wheelchair for mobility or who is legally blind, shall be exempt from taxation. Persons entitled to the exemption under number two (2) above, must be a permanent resident of the State of Florida as of January 1st of the year of assessment. Also, the prior year gross income of all persons residing in or upon the homestead shall not exceed the amount of income, set forth in section 196.101(4), F.S., adjusted annually by the percentage change of the average cost of living index issued by the United States Department of Labor. Gross income shall include United States Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and any social security benefits paid to the person.  A statement of gross income must accompany the application.  If filing for the first time, please bring a certificate from two (2) licensed doctors of this state (for the legally blind, one of the two certificates may be from a licensed optometrist of this state) or a certificate (per s. 196.091, F.S.) from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. ^top Religious, Literary, Scientific or Charitable Exemption Sections 196.195, 196.196, 196.197, 196.2001, 196.2002 F.S. Applicants requesting exemption shall supply such fiscal and other records showing in reasonable detail the financial condition, record of operation, and exempt and nonexempt uses of the property, where appropriate, for the immediately preceding fiscal year as are requested by the property appraiser or the value adjustment board. Specific criteria has been established for determining whether an applicant for a religious, literary, scientific, or charitable exemption under this chapter is a nonprofit or profit making venture or whether the property is used for a profit making purpose. For a complete description of these criteria and the associated determining factors, please see the referenced Florida Statutes. No application for exemption may be granted for religious, literary, scientific, or charitable use of property until the applicant has been found by the property appraiser or, upon appeal, by the value adjustment board to be nonprofit as defined in this section. ^top Charter School Facilities Exemption Sections 196.1983 F.S. Charter school exemption from ad valorem taxes. The owner of the property shall disclose to a charter school the full amount of the benefit derived from the exemption and the method for ensuring that the charter school receives such benefit. The charter school shall receive the full benefit derived from the exemption through either an annual or monthly credit to the charter school's lease payments. ^top Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Homes for Special Services  Sections 196.197 F.S. Additional provisions for exempting property used by hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for special services. (1) The applicant must be a Florida corporation not for profit that has been exempt as of January 1 of the year for which exemption from ad valorem property taxes is requested from federal income taxation by having qualified as an exempt organization under the provisions of s. (2) In determining the extent of exemption to be granted to institutions licensed as hospitals, … Go to our Download Forms page to download the appropriate application form. For filing deadlines, see our Important Dates page.