Siesta Key,  and Longboat Key
Information on Moving to Florida.....yea, yea!

Moving to Florida

If you are planning on moving to Florida it is important to take care of all the necessary paper work before you move. Florida residents pay no state income tax, no inheritance tax or estate tax. There is an intangible tax but usually it is minimal when compared to all the taxes other states have. You should have a Florida registered financial advisor to help you along with an an attorney who your financial advisor can recommend.

Transferring your funds to Florida can help save you inheritance taxes and income taxes from other states.

File a Declaration of Non-Domicile with the state and county of former residence. Established procedures may be absent and improvisation required.

• File a Florida Declaration of Domicile in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the Florida county in which you reside. If a residence is also maintained in another state, a Special Declaration of Domicile should be filed.

• Declare in your Will that you are a legal resident of the state of Florida and execute all estate planning documents in Florida.

• Transfer bank accounts, safe deposit boxes and securities to Florida institutions (safe deposit boxes in Florida are not sealed upon death of a lessee or a co-lessee).

• Register to vote in Florida and actually vote in all elections.

• Register your boat and/or automobile in Florida and obtain a Florida Drivers License.

• File your Federal Income Tax return with the District Director of Internal Revenue where prescribed for filing by Florida residents.

• State that you are a resident of Florida and use your Florida address in all business transactions.

• Change social, religious and other national organization memberships to Florida affiliations or branches and use your Florida address in all correspondence and/or membership data.

• Own a home or lease an apartment in Florida, move in and furnish this home or apartment more extensively than any other residence.

• When traveling out of Florida, register as being from Florida and give a Florida address or post office box.

• Pay Florida Intangible Taxes, if required by law.

• File non-resident state income tax returns in state of former residence if you continue to have local income from sources within that state.

• Relinquish the return trip portion of any round-trip airline tickets to destinations in your former state of residence.

• Refrain from referring to any northern residence as your ‘home’ in estate planning documents.

• Reduce charitable contributions to northern organizations in favor of increased donations to Florida charitable entities.

• Relinquish telephone number listings and all other utility billings in your name in your former state of residence.

• Apply for Florida Homestead Exemption, if qualified.

• Keep stays in nursing/retirement homes in other states to a minimum and only if authorized or required by a Florida physician.

 

Motor Vehicle Registration

What is a registration?

A registration is evidence of having paid the registration tax on a motor vehicle. It consists of a metal license plate, a serially numbered validation decal and a registration certificate.



Why must I register my motor vehicle?

In the State of Florida, a motor vehicle is required by law to be registered within ten days of the owner either becoming employed, placing children in public school, or establishing residency. Registering your motor vehicle goes hand in hand with the titling process.



How do I register a vehicle if I am out of state?

If registering a vehicle from out of state, refer to the rate sheet (you will need Acrobat reader) and complete the application for certificate for title. Mail the completed form to the individual's local county tax collector or license plate agency in Florida.

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How do I register a vehicle if I am in Florida?

If registering a vehicle in person, submit the original title, proof of Florida insurance to the local county tax collector or license plate agency.



What are the basic registration fees?

The 12-month registration period begins the first day of the owners birth month. Company owned vehicles use the month of June. Full amount is charged for the registration period regardless of when during the registration period the vehicle is registered.

Classification Weight Annual Tax
and Other Fees
Automobiles, private use thru 2499 pounds $27.60
Automobiles, private use 2500-3499 35.60
Automobiles, private use 3500 45.60
Trucks, private and commercial thru 1900 pounds 27.60
Trucks, private and commercial 2000-3000 35.60
Trucks, private and commercial 3001-5000 45.60
Additional Fees
Transferring a license plate from another vehicle 4.60
When a new metal license plate is issued 10.00
Initial Registration fee 100.00

This is charged when applicant does not have a Florida registration to transfer.

State of Florida Community Links

Florida Homestead Exemptions

When to File
Generally, initial application for property tax exemption must be made between January 1 and March 1 of the year for which the exemption is sought. Initial application should be made in person at the property appraiser's office.

$25,000 Homestead Exemption
Every person who has legal or equitable title to real property in the State of Florida and who resides on the property on January 1 and in good faith makes it his or her permanent home is eligible for a homestead exemption. If title is held by the husband alone, a wife may file for him, with his consent, and vice-versa. If property is held by the entireties, one spouse may file as agent for the other.

If filing for the first time, be prepared to answer these questions:

In whose name or names was the title to the dwelling recorded as of January 1?
What is the street address of the property?
How long have you been a legal resident of the State of Florida? (A Certificate of Domicile or Voter's Registration will be proof of date before January 1.)
Do you have a Florida license plate on your car and a Florida driver's license?
Were you living in the dwelling on January 1?

$500 Widow's and Widower's Exemption
Any widow or widower who is a bona fide Florida resident may claim this exemption. On remarriage, the widow or widower is ineligible for the exemption. A person who is divorced before the spouse's death is not considered a widow or widower.

$500 Disability Exemption
A Florida resident who is totally and permanently disabled may qualify for this exemption. In addition, a serviceman disabled at least 10% in war or by service-connected misfortune may be entitled to a $500 exemption.

$500 Exemption for Blind Persons
A Florida resident who is blind may qualify for this exemption. If claiming exemption based on blindness, the applicant must have a certificate of blindness issued by the Division of Blind Services of the Department of Education, the Federal Social Security Administration, or the Veteran's Administration.

Service Connected Total and Permanent Disability Exemption
An honorably discharged veteran with service-connected total and permanent disability may qualify for total exemption of homesteaded real estate used and owned as a homestead, less any portion used for commercial purposes. An existing exemption can be transferred to a new qualifying residence.

Under certain circumstances the benefit of this exemption can carry over to the surviving spouse.

If filing for the first time, bring proof of your service connected disability: such as, a letter from the United States Veterans' Administration.

Exemption for Totally and Permanently Disabled Persons
1.Real estate used and owned as a homestead by a quadriplegic, less any portion used for commercial purposes, is exempt from taxation.

2.Real estate used and owned as a homestead, less any portion used for commercial purposes, by a paraplegic, hemiplegic, or other totally and permanently disabled person, who must use a wheelchair for mobility or who is legally blind, is exempt from taxation.

A person seeking exemption under number 2 above must meet gross income limitations. Gross income includes veterans' and social security benefits. The gross income of all persons residing in the homestead for the prior year cannot exceed $14,500. However, beginning January 1, 1991, the $14,500 limitation will be adjusted annually. The adjustment will be based on the percentage change in the average cost-of-living index of the immediate year compared with the prior year.

If filing for the first time, a certificate of total and permanent disability from two licensed doctors of this state or from the Veterans' Administration is required.

Additional homestead exemption for persons 65 and older
In accordance with s. 6(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution, the board of county commissioners of any county or the governing authority of any municipality may adopt an ordinance to allow an additional homestead exemption of up to $25,000 for any person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, who has attained age 65, and whose household income does not exceed $20,000.

Beginning January 1, 2001, the $20,000 income limitation shall be adjusted annually, on January 1, by the percentage change in the average cost-of-living index in the period January 1 through December 31 of the immediate prior year compared with the same period for the year prior to that. The index is the average of the monthly consumer-price-index figures for the stated 12-month period, relative to the United States as a whole, issued by the United States Department of Labor.

Homestead Tax Deferral
A person who is entitled to claim homestead tax exemption may elect to defer payment of part of the combined total taxes. The combined total includes ad valorem taxes and any non- ad valorem assessments that would be covered by a tax certificate sold by the tax collector. An annual application for tax deferral should be filed with the county tax collector on or before January 31, following the year in which the taxes and non-ad valorem assessments are assessed. Approval of an application for tax deferral will defer the portion of property tax that exceeds 5 percent of the applicant's household income for the prior year. If household income for the prior year is less than $10,000, all ad valorem taxes plus non-ad valorem assessments will be deferred.

A permanent resident of Florida 65 years old or older may defer that portion of the tax that exceeds 3 percent of the applicant's household income for the previous year. The property taxes may also be deferred entirely for persons between 65 and 69 years of age, whose household income for the previous year was less than $10,000. Or, the taxes may be deferred for persons 70 years old or older whose household income was less than $12,000 for the previous year.

For additional information as to the number of years, total amounts that may be deferred, and interest on deferred taxes, contact the local tax collector.

Installment Payment of Property Taxes
Taxpayers who want to prepay property taxes on the installment plan should file an application with the tax collector by May 1 of the year in which the taxes are assessed. After submission of an initial application, a taxpayer is not required to submit annual applications as long as he continues to elect to prepay taxes by installments. For additional information as to discounts and payment dates, contact the local county tax collector. Effective January 1, 1993, county tax collectors may accept an installment payment of property tax on the next business day following the due date, if the last day for payment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.

Personal Property
For purposes of property taxation, personal property is divided into these categories:

Tangible Personal Property - All goods, chattels, and other articles of value capable of manual possession whose chief value is intrinsic to the article itself. "Inventory" and "Household Goods" are expressly excluded from this definition.
Household Goods - Apparel, furniture, appliances, and other items usually found in the home and used for the comfort of the owner and family. Household goods are exempt from property taxation.
Inventory - Items of inventory are exempt from property taxation. Inventory generally means goods, wares, and merchandise held by a business for sale.
Some items of personal property are not taxable, for example, licensed motor vehicles, boats, airplanes, trailers, trailer coaches, and certain mobile homes as defined by law.

Taxable items are assessed at just value based on an annual return that must be filed by April 1 with the county property appraiser. The year of purchase, original cost, and the taxpayer's estimate of just value is required on the return. The property appraiser has the duty to discover omissions and to place value upon personal property.

The amount of tax due is calculated by multiplying the value of the property by the tax rate set by the taxing authorities. The tax bill is mailed to the taxpayer, usually by November.

The payment must be made to the tax collector by April 1 of the following year. There are specific discounts allowed for early payment and penalties for delinquency, failure to file, and for unlisted property.


 

Veteran Homestead Exemptions

Any real estate used and owned as a homestead by a veteran who was honorably discharged with a service-connected permanent and total disability and for whom a letter from the United States Government or VA or its predecessor has been issued certifying that the veteran is totally and permanently disabled is exempt from taxation, provided the veteran is a permanent resident of the state on January 1 of the tax year for which exemption is being claimed or on January 1 of the year the veteran died.

The production by a veteran or the spouse or surviving spouse of a letter of total and permanent disability from the United States Government or VA or its predecessor before the property appraiser of the county in which property of the veteran lies shall be prima facie evidence of the fact that the veteran or the surviving spouse is entitled to such exemption.

In the event the totally and permanently disabled veteran pre-deceases his or her spouse and upon the death of the veteran, the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead and permanently resides thereon as specified in FS 196.031, the exemption from taxation shall carry over to the benefit of the veteran's spouse until such time as he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property. If the spouse sells the property, an exemption not to exceed the amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may be transferred to his or her new residence as long as it is used as his or her primary residence and he or she does not remarry. FS 196.081

Veterans who are paraplegic, hemiplegic, are permanently and totally disabled, must use a wheelchair for mobility, or are legally blind are exempt from real estate taxation if gross annual household income does not exceed the adjusted maximum allowed. The veteran must be a resident of the State of Florida to qualify. Certificate of such disability from two licensed doctors of this state or from the VA or an award letter from the Social Security Administration to the property appraiser is prima facie evidence of entitlement to such exemption. FS 196.101

Homestead Exemption (10% to 90% Disabled)
Eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities of 10% or more shall be entitled to a $500 property tax exemption. To qualify for homestead exemption a veteran must be a bonafide resident of the state. FS 196.24

Every person who is entitled to homestead exemption in this state and who is serving in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States may file a claim for homestead exemption. Servicemen unable to file in person may file through next of kin or duly authorized representatives. FS 196.071

 

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