PROPERTY APPRAISER PEDRO GARCIA REMINDS SENIORS

TO RE-APPLY FOR THEIR 2012 PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION

(MIAMI, April 20, 2010) – Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser, Pedro J. Garcia is appealing to homeowners who last year benefitted from the Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (more commonly called the Senior Citizen’s Exemption) to file their renewal applications for 2012.

Although the deadline to file timely applications ended March 1^st, Mr. Garcia says his Office will accept late applications for the Senior Exemption.

The Senior Citizen’s Exemption can reduce overall property taxes by $500 or more each year.  

To qualify for the 2012 Senior Exemption benefit, the Adjusted Gross Income cannot exceed $27,030.  This limit applies to everyone who lives in the house whether they are owners or not.  Mr. Garcia points out that in most cases social security income does not count towards qualifying for this benefit. He is advising seniors filing for the exemption to check the “Adjusted Gross Income line” on their Federal Tax Return to verify actual income amounts.

Since December, the Property Appraiser’s Office has sent notices to 42,341 seniors who received the benefit in 2011, reminding them that unlike the homestead exemption, this benefit does not automatically renew and they must re-apply for 2012.

Mr. Garcia notes that 6,997 seniors have still not filed renewals for 2012.

To file your senior renewal application, visit either the Downtown Miami or South Dade offices of the Property Appraiser:

Stephen P. Clark Government Center                  South Dade Government Center
111 NW 1^st Street                                                               10710 SW 211 Street
Miami, Florida  33128-1984                                        Cutler Bay, FL 33189
Suite 710, Public Information Counter                Suite 207, Public Information Counter

Renewal applications can also be filed online at the Property Appraiser’s website: http://www.miamidade.gov/pa/exemptions.asp

First-time applications have to be filed in person at either of these offices.

OFFICE OF THE PROPERTY APPRAISER

Stephen P. Clark Center

111 NW 1^st Street, Miami, FL 33128

(305) 375-4009