Disclosures
Current or previous year’s taxes may not accurately forecast future property taxes.
Property taxes can increase from one year to the next for various reasons. Some
of these reasons may be that the market value has changed, that the
millage rate (also known
as the tax rate) has changed, that the property has lost an exemption, or a property
that was receiving an Amendment 10 “
Save Our Homes” cap on
assessed value has had the cap removed because it was sold.
The purpose of the real property tax estimator is to provide
an estimate of real property taxes based upon the information you enter. The estimate
is only as accurate as the information entered and it is only an approximation.
The estimator will not provide actual taxes.
There are two components, ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem
assessments, which comprise this estimate:
Ad Valorem Taxes – These are property
taxes based on the property value. The real property tax estimator will calculate
the ad valorem portion of property taxes by multiplying the amount entered in Step
1 times the previous year's adopted millage rates (also known
as the tax rate) of the local governments that taxed the property in the previous
year.
In the appropriate box, you should enter the most accurate estimate of the
market value of the property on January 1st of the tax year for which you are estimating
taxes. You may obtain this value by referring to a recent appraisal or a recent
sales price of the property.
Keep in mind, however, that an appraisal or sales price
that takes place months before the statutory assessment date of January 1st may
not reflect market value on that date. This could be a problem with pre-construction
sales prices, which may need to be adjusted to reflect the increase in value from
the date of the contract to the January 1st appraisal date of the tax year for which
you seek an estimate. Additionally, prior year assessment values found in the property
appraiser’s records should not be used to estimate future taxes.
Non-Ad Valorem Assessments – These are
assessments against the property that are not based on market value. They include
special assessments and service charges for items such as solid waste districts,
lighting districts, landscape districts, guard districts and Community Development Districts
(CDD). These non-ad valorem assessments are included in the estimate only
if the local government charging them has arranged for them to be collected by the
Polk County Tax Collector as part of the annual real property tax bill.
New subdivisions (or parcels) not currently found in the
Property Appraiser’s file after entering the parcel number or address may be subject
to non-ad valorem assessments that are not reflected in this estimate. Contact the
developer or current owner/agent for additional information on applicable non-ad
valorem assessments.
Special Considerations
1. Homestead Exemption Timelag
If you purchase a home after January 1st, you may inherit
the previous owner’s Homestead Exemption and assessment limitation for that year.
The following year, however, the homestead exemption and assessment limitation will
be removed resulting in a higher assessed value.
If this property is your permanent residence to the exclusion
of all others, you will have to file an original exemption application by March
1st. For additional information, please read our FAQ.
Obtaining a homestead exemption will qualify you for two
tax benefits: (1) a reduction of up to $50,000 off of your assessed value and (2) beginning
in the 2nd year, a limitation on any annual increase of your assessed value at no
more than 3% regardless of the increase in the property’s market value.
Please note that any final determination of eligibility
for Homestead Exemption depends on applicable Florida law.
If you are buying a home in which the seller had a homestead
exemption, you should be aware that the seller’s assessed value may be artificially
low due to the “Save Our Homes” limitation on the increase
in assessed value. When the property is sold, this limitation is removed and the
property is appraised at market value for the next tax year. This fact may result
in a significant increase in taxes.
2. Disclaimer of Liability
(in addition to
County’s Disclaimer)
The accuracy of this estimate is dependent upon the information
you enter and the previous year’s millage rates. Millage rates are annually adopted
by ordinance usually by October 8th. The Polk County Property Appraiser and Polk
County expressly decline to warrant the accuracy of the estimates produced
by this real property tax estimator. The property appraiser’s office and Polk
County disclaim liability for any errors, either by omission or commission, regarding
this real property tax estimator and the estimates produced by its use.
Last year's total taxes (both Ad-Valorem and Non Ad-Valorem)
can be viewed on the Tax Collector's Web Site.
Tax Collector's Web Site.
Use this site at your own risk.