Page 10 - Jupiter Spotlight - October '23

Page 10, Jupiter Spotlight
Tax Talk

Dear Friends: Before you visit, perform a free driver’s license Association. This award recognizes the innovation and
Did you know that new checkup at www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/ to automation the team developed for a new process to
election laws mandate that see if you have any stops, holds or violations. Clearances regularly post outstanding or uncashed checks on the tax
voters must renew their can be processed at our office if you bring the required collector’s website so that clients can visit the website
mail ballot requests every documentation. If English is not your first language, you 24/7 to see if they potentially have any unclaimed funds
General Election cycle? have the option of bringing a person with you to your with our office. This new process lists roughly 2,300 to
That means, any Vote- scheduled reservation to assist you with translating. 3,000 outstanding checks on the website at any given time,
By-Mail ballot requests Please note, while they may assist with translation, they which negates the need to mail notices to individuals thus
made prior to the Nov. may not assist while you take any required tests, such reducing our monthly postage costs by more than $1,300!
8, 2022 General Election as the driver’s license written exam. State regulations To find out if you may have unclaimed funds with our
have expired; therefore, require that these tests only be completed by the applicant. office, visit https://www.pbctax.com/unclaimed-funds/.
you must complete a new Congratulations to my Chief Financial Officer, Carmen
Vote-By-Mail ballot request for the 2024 elections. My C. Richardson, and her innovation and dedicated team
fellow Palm Beach County Constitutional Officer, Wendy for the tremendous work they do to ensure we are fiscally
Sartory Link, Supervisor of Elections, has produced a responsible and delivering exceptional service to our clients.
very informative video that details what you need to know
about requesting a Vote-By-Mail ballot. I encourage you to
visit https://youtu.be/ZyNtsgJ-nyo to watch this important
video and then submit your Vote-By-Mail ballot request
online at www.VotePalmBeach.gov or by calling Wendy’s
office at (561) 656-6208.
The 2024 election cycle will be here before you know
it, so now is the time to request your Vote-By-Mail ballot! Finance Team Honored With
Anne M. Gannon,
Constitutional Tax Collector, Awards
Serving Palm Beach County
I am especially
How Your Taxes Are proud of my Finance
and Budget team for
Calculated being awarded the
Certificate of Merit
Have you ever wondered how your property taxes are for Audit by the
calculated? It can be a complicated process, but we are here Florida Tax Collectors
to help make it simple! Association. This
Step 1. Assessment award recognizes our
Let’s look at an example – Fred lives in a single-family office’s achievement
home in West Palm Beach. His home is assessed by the Palm for a 2021/22 audit, Left to right: Constitutional Tax
Beach County Property Appraiser at $200,000. clear of any findings Collector Anne M. Gannon and
Step 2. Exemption – in other words, a Chief Financial Officer Carmen
Fred has a homestead exemption which reduces the perfect audit! C. Richardson
taxable value of his home by $50,000, resulting in a In addition, the
total taxable value of $150,000. Remember, a homestead team was recently awarded the 2023 Legacy Award
exemption limits the tax rate increase to 3 percent per year. for Financial Operations by the Florida Tax Collector’s
Step 3. Ad Valorem Taxes
The $150,000 taxable value is multiplied by the millage rate
set by each ad valorem taxing authority for properties within
their boundaries. Since Fred lives in West Palm Beach, the
millage rate in 2022 was 21.0796 for every $1,000 of taxable
value. His $150,000 taxable value is then divided by $1,000,
which equals 150 and then multiplied by the 21.0796 millage
rate, resulting in Fred’s Ad Valorem taxes total of $3,161.94.
Step 4. Annual Taxes
Next, non-ad valorem assessments are added and
determined by the levying authority using a unit measure
to calculate the cost of services. For example, Solid Waste
Authority fees are based on the type of property producing
the waste. In 2022, Fred’s fee was $200, which is added to
$3,161.94 totaling his annual total property taxes at $3,361.94.
In Fiscal Year 2021/22, our office collected $4,476,481,220
in property taxes and distributed those monies to the local
taxing authorities to provide essential services to the residents
of Palm Beach County.

Ready To Renew … Here’s

What To Do

You’ve received the notice in the mail that it’s time to
renew your driver’s license, what now? If your license is
REAL ID compliant (look for the gold star in the upper
right corner), and you have not used your one-time online
convenience renewal, and you have no stops, holds or
other violations on your license, then an online renewal
is your easiest and fastest option. Visit www.pbctax.com/
driver-license to renew!
If you are not REAL ID compliant or have a stop, hold
or violation on your driver’s license, you will need to
make a reservation and visit one of our service centers.
Reservations fill up quickly so don’t delay! Visit www.
pbctax.com/reservations to make reservations.