Page 21 - Abacoa Community News - March '25

Abacoa, Page 21
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office

Dear Taxpayer: In this month’s newsletter, a reminder to all business penalties per Florida Statutes, Sections 193.072 and 193.073.
O ne of the mos t owners in Palm Beach County about filing for a Tangible Our office will not waive penalties for any returns filed after
underrated aspects of the Personal Property Tax Return for 2025 and my office’s annual the extended deadline of May 15.
homestead exemption is college scholarship application process is now open. Enjoy Save time, paper, and postage by e-filing. If you need a
that it doesn’t just reduce reading and enjoy your spring. paper form, you can download the DR-405 on our website.
the taxable assessment of Respectfully, If you have any questions about reporting personal property,
your home, it also caps its Dorothy Jacks, CFA, FIAAO, AAS, tangible e-filing, or the $25,000 tangible exemption, please
annual valuation. The Save Palm Beach County Property Appraiser call our office at (561) 355-2896 or email mytpp@pbcpao.
Our Homes cap limits any gov.
increase to the assessed Business Tangible Personal
value of a homestead exempt Property Appraiser’s Office
property to a maximum of 3 Property
percent each year or the change in the Consumer Price Index Annual Scholarship Awards
(CPI), whichever is lower. Over time, the cap can provide Tangible personal property is equipment used in a business
substantial tax bill savings. and includes furniture, fixtures, machinery, tools, appliances, Program
For 2025, the maximum increase will be 2.9 percent, as signs, leasehold improvements, supplies, leased equipment,
that was the change in CPI from December 2023 to December and other assets. It is taxed at the same rate as real property. The 32nd Annual Palm Beach County Property
2024. This slowed increase in CPI reflects plateauing inflation All tangible personal property must be reported. Florida Appraiser’s Scholarship program is now accepting
over the past year across dozens of consumer categories law allows an exemption up to $25,000 for business tangible applications. Six college scholarships of $1,500 each will
including shelter, food, transportation, and energy. assets. Businesses with tangible personal property assets be awarded to graduating high school seniors who plan to
While the change in the CPI follows many markets, valued at more than $25,000 are subject to ad valorem taxes, attend a higher education institution full-time, regardless of
Florida law requires my office to value property based on and those with less than $25,000 in assets are exempt from interest or major. The deadline to apply is March 31.
the status of the real estate market in Palm Beach County. ad valorem taxes. To be eligible for a scholarship award, a student must be a
My office will determine a total market value for every home All businesses must file an initial Tangible Personal resident of Palm Beach County, have a minimum of 3.0 GPA,
as of Jan. 1, taking into consideration the price fluctuations Property Tax Return (DR-405) their first year of operation. and plan to attend an accredited higher-education institution
reflected in the sales of residential properties. But if your Afterwards, all businesses are required to file a Tangible (college or community college).
property is homesteaded, the taxable assessed value will not Personal Property Tax Return (e-file or Form DR-405) In addition to receiving a scholarship, each recipient will
increase more than 2.9 percent. annually unless the value of the personal property was under be offered an opportunity for a paid summer internship in the
If you already have a homestead exemption on your $25,000 and they received a yellow postcard from our office Property Appraiser’s Office.
property, you do not need to reapply. There are several that the requirement to file has been waived. If a business Since 1994, the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s
additional property tax exemptions, including those for purchases additional assets that increase the total value of Office has awarded $179,000 in college scholarships. The
widows/widowers, veterans, and those with disabilities. the assets over $25,000, they are required to file a return. program is particularly special to the Property Appraiser’s
For more information, visit pbcpao.gov or call Exemption The statutory deadline to file a return without an extension Office because the scholarships are completely funded by
Services at (561) 355-2866. is April 1. All extension requests must be received by 5 p.m. employee donations.
on March 31 to be considered for approval. Failure to file For more information, call (561) 355-3230 or visit https://
will result in the loss of the exemption and the assessment of pbcpao.gov/scholarship-awards.htm.

Office staff at the Florida Chapter of the International
Association of Assessing Officers 2024 Tangible Personal
Property conference: from left, Kathy Rhodes, CFE, Manager;
Trina Morrison-Nash, CFE, Personal Property Appraisal
Department Manager; Tara McCoy, CFE, TPP Appraiser I;
Kevin M. Bradley, PPS, CFE, Senior TPP Appraiser The 2024 scholarship awardees with the Property Appraiser’s Office Scholarship Committee
Navigators Are Here To Help Guide

You Through Court Document Prep

By Joseph Abruzzo, While our navigators are here to help, they cannot NEED A/C? We’ve Got You Covered!
Clerk of the Circuit Court provide legal advice or represent you in court. Also, they
and Comptroller, are unable to assist with certain specialized forms such
Palm Beach County as those involved in probate, mortgage foreclosure, or
As your Clerk of guardianship cases.
the Circuit Court and To schedule an appointment with our navigator, please
Comptroller for Palm call (561) 355-7048. “WE SHOW
B e a c h C o u n t y, I a m And for those who prefer to tackle things on their
excited to share a valuable own, we have a range of how-to videos and workshops UP!”
resource that is making at https://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/services/self-
a real difference in our service-center/how-to-videos-toolboxes.
community: our free Do not hesitate to take advantage of this free service
document preparation assistants, known as “navigators.” – we are here to help make navigating the court system
Navigator assistance is available for free by appointment as easy as possible.
at our West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and Delray About The Clerk Of The Circuit Court And
Beach locations. Navigators can assist you in completing Comptroller, Palm Beach County
court documents and can give you procedural information The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is
for most family law and county civil actions. Palm Beach County’s protector of public money and
Navigators can assist you with filing many of the records including marriage licenses, court documents,
forms that we offer, including divorce, legal custody financial reports and real estate records. Visit www. Call Today for a FREE estimate!
and tenant eviction complaints. You can find a full list mypalmbeachclerk.com and find us @ClerkPBC on 561.575.2173
of forms available on our website at mypalmbeachclerk. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn and X. 231 Jupiter St., Jupiter, FL
com/selfservice. www.MiklosAir.com