Most states impose real property taxes on their residents. In many states, tax agencies impose property taxes on personal property. Additionally, many states, including Florida, offer some homeowners property tax relief programs that allow them to reduce their annual or semiannual real property tax payments.
The Florida State Constitution gives local government tax agencies the legal rights to assess property taxes on local residents to subsidize local community programs and benefits. All Floridian homeowners receive annual property tax bills based on recent assessments conducted by local tax assessors. Florida’s homestead tax exemption programs offer many different types of homeowners the opportunities to reduce their annual real estate taxes.
The largest exemption available to Florida homeowners is the state’s Total Homestead Exemption Program. According to the rules of this program, qualified homeowners can receive a complete and total exemption from property taxes. The total exemption is available to honorable discharged veterans with permanent and total disabilities caused by war-related or service-related injuries. Only veterans with honorable discharge papers qualify for the total exemption.
More specifically, the total exemption is generally available to quadriplegic war veterans, regardless of income and non-quadriplegic, but totally disabled veterans who depend on wheelchairs for mobility or suffer from legal blindness. Non-quadriplegic veterans must meet annual income limits. All first-time filers must submit proof of their disabilities from two independently licensed physicians.
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