Page 18 - Abacoa Community News - January '24

Page 18, Abacoa
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office

Dear Taxpayer: the annual net income per acre attributable to the land ad valorem taxes. All businesses are required to file a
Happy New Year! from the agricultural operation. Tangible Personal Property Tax Return (Form DR 405)
With a new year If you had the agricultural land classification on your annually by April 1, unless the value of your tangible
before us, my office has a property in 2023, the application will automatically personal property last year was under $25,000 and you
renewed sense of purpose renew for 2024, so there is no need to file an application. received notice from this office that your requirement to
as we work to constantly If the property had a change of ownership in 2023, the file has been waived.
improve our services. new owner would have to reapply for the classification Florida allows an exemption up to $25,000 in value
Our new website at in 2024. All 5,034 properties with the agricultural for tangible personal property assets used by a business.
pbcpao.gov, launched classification in 2023 will be reviewed and monitored However, you must file an initial Tangible Personal
this month, offers easier for changes of ownership. Property Tax Return to receive the exemption. Thereafter,
reporting, better searching, To qualify for a new agricultural land classification, you need not file an annual return unless the value of your
and clearer navigation. the qualifying agricultural use must be on site as of Jan. tangible personal property exceeds $25,000 on Jan. 1.
Everything that we’ve always offered is still there, 1. Applications should be submitted by March 1. You Save time, paper, and postage by filing online. If you
but now with an improved interface and access to will be notified of the status of your application for the do need a paper form, you can download it using our
information. It is more engaging and more useful. I look agricultural classification by mail on or before July 1. forms link on our website. If you have any questions
forward to receiving feedback from you and to continuing For more information, call our office at (561) 355- about reporting personal property, tangible e-filing, or
to improve this site. 4577 or email myfarm@pbcpao.gov. the $25,000 tangible exemption, please call our office at
While on the topic of continual improvement, every (561) 355-2896 or email us at patangible@pbcgov.org.
department in my office has created a list of goals for Business Tangible Personal
the new year. Our focus for 2024 includes providing Office Closed
stronger GIS modeling, widening opportunities for Property
staff development, proactively managing risks, and All Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Offices
incorporating new technology tools. My staff develop Business tangible assets such as furniture and will be closed on Monday, Jan. 1 and on Monday, Jan. 15 in
these goals every year, driving our progress as an office. equipment valued at more than $25,000 are subject to honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
I am proud to have one of the finest professional staffs
in the industry.
Florida Fair, as we will once again be able to take Professional Firefighters
You may see some of my stellar staff at the South

homestead exemption applications on site. More on that
Land Classification and Business Tangible Personal And Paramedics Of Palm Beach
is below, as are reminders about filing for an Agricultural
Property Tax Return for 2024.
Respectfully, County IAFF Local 2928
Wishing you a prosperous and wonderful year.

Dorothy Jacks, CFA, FIAAO, AAS,
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser By Steen Erickson
We Value What You Value I hope everyone had a safe and joyful holiday, and
were able to spend valuable time with your families.
2024 South Florida Fair Remember that your local firefighters and
paramedics didn’t get the holidays off, but still had
The Palm Beach family traditions with their fire station family, which
County Property is essentially their second family. Hopefully you didn’t
Appraiser ’s Office need our services, but rest assured we were available
will have a table at the as we are every day.
South Florida Fair from If you had a live-cut Christmas tree as part of your
Jan. 12 to 28. We will tradition in the way you celebrate the holidays, you
be located in Expo West should take it down and dispose of it properly this
and will be taking new homestead exemption applications month. In October, the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm
and answering questions throughout the fair. The trees seem to dry out over time regardless of Beaches awarded Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
how much you try to keep them hydrated, and that can Station 16, located on Military Trail in Abacoa, as Fire
Reduce Tax With THE add to the fire hazard already somewhat inherent in Station of The Year for having the most cardiac arrest

Homestead Exemption having a real tree. A slight break in the wiring for the saves of any of the 49 stations operated by Palm Beach
lights can be a fire risk.
County Fire Rescue. Cardiac arrest is when a patient
As you take is clinically dead, and a save means the patient’s
If you are a permanent Florida resident, you may be the electric heartbeat is restored by the paramedics in the field,
eligible for a homestead exemption, which can generally ornaments and and the patient is able to leave the hospital. That is a
save you an estimated $750 to $1,000 in property taxes lights off your very special accomplishment for any station, and the
each year. home and tree, Jupiter residents should be proud to have that level of
(Did you receive your pink homestead exemption pl e ase t a ke expertise and professionalism in Jupiter.
receipt card in the mail? If so, no need to refile. Simply time to check There have been several survivor-crew reunions
keep the card as your receipt that you have been the condition held at Station 16 for the survivors and their families to
automatically renewed for another year.) of all electrical meet their rescuers under much better circumstances.
A $25,000 exemption is applied to the first $50,000 components before packing them away if you plan on These reunions are an emotional experience for all
of your property’s assessed value if your property is your using them again next holiday season. Depending on involved.
permanent residence and you owned the property as of Jan. where they are stored for the next 10 to 11 months, Please stay safe and well.
1. This exemption applies to all taxes, including school heat and humidity can take a toll.
district taxes. An additional exemption of up to $25,000 will
be applied if your property’s assessed value is between at
least $50,000 and $75,000. This exemption is not applied
to school district taxes. In addition, a homestead exemption
limits any increase to your assessed value to a maximum
of 3 percent each year or the amount of the change in the
Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.
Three ways to apply:
• E-file – www.pbcgov.org/papa
• Visit one of our five service centers to file in person.
• Complete the application online, print it out, and
mail it to our office.
All homestead exemption applications must be
submitted by March 1. Once you qualify, we will renew
your homestead exemption annually as long as you
continue to qualify for the exemption.
Visit pbcpao.gov to e-file and for information on other
available exemptions for seniors, families, veterans, and more.

All About Agricultural Land
Classification

Properties with bona fide agricultural (good faith
commercial) activity may qualify for the agricultural land
classification. The taxable value of the land is based on