Additional Homestead Tax Exemption For Seniors

This is a summary of homestead tax exemptions applicable to senior citizens, excerpted from the local tax assessor’s office website: https://vcpa.vcgov.org/senior.html

$25,000 Homestead Exemption: 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.

Additional $25,000 Exemption: Homeowners who are receiving the homestead exemption will automatically receive the additional $25,000 homestead exemption if the assessed value is $75,000 or greater. If the assessed value is less than $75,000 only a portion of the $25,000 will qualify as an additional exemption.

Additional Exemption For Persons 65 And Older: Every person 65 or older who is eligible for the homestead exemption is eligible for an additional exemption up to $50,000 if: (1) the county or municipality adopts an ordinance allowing it, and the annual household income of the taxpayer for the prior year does not exceed $30,721 (adjusted annually). One must submit a sworn statement of household income annually. Taxing authorities granting the Senior Homestead Exemption are:

• $50,000 Senior Exemption: All County Taxing Authorities, Daytona Beach, Deltona, Flagler Beach, Pierson
• $25,000 Senior Exemption: Daytona Beach Downtown Development, Daytona Beach Shores, DeLand, DeBary, Edgewater, Lake Helen, Holly Hill, New Smyrna Beach, Orange City, Ormond Beach, Ponce Inlet, Port Orange, South Daytona
• $10,000 Senior Exemption: Oak Hill

Other possible exemptions include widow’s or widower’s exemption, disability exemption, and blind person’s exemption ($500 from the assessed value each) and the disabled veteran’s exemption ($5,000 from the assessed value). Also, there is a complete exemption for totally and completely disabled persons and first responders, and another exemption for new construction or reconstruction of living quarters to accommodate live-in parents or grandparents. All applications for exemptions are made at a branch of the county tax assessor.

Attorney Michael A. Pyle, of Pyle, Dellinger & Duz, PLLC, 1655 North Clyde Morris Blvd., Suite 1, Daytona Beach, Florida, 32117  Telephone: 386.615.9007. E-mail: mikep@pylelegal.com or website: www.pylelegal.com