Ask Lori - Property Tax Questions - Partial Payments

“Ask Lori…Parrish on Appraisal”

Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish Answers Your Questions…

“Consider Partial Payments of Your Property Tax Bill!”

Dear Lori,

I am a senior citizen with a Low-Income Homestead Exemption.  I wanted to know if there is any program to help me with paying my property taxes?  I was told by your office a new state law allows taxpayers to make partial payments on their tax bills?  How does this program work?

P.L., Plantation, (via email)

While the Property Appraiser does not levy or collect taxes, I did ask State Senator Jeremy Ring of Parkland back in 2009 to change state law to allow the Broward County Revenue Department to accept one or more partial payments from taxpayers for property taxes and assessments.  We were successful in passing Senate Bill 1580 and getting then Governor Charlie Christ to sign this bill into law.

The Broward County Commission enacted this “local option” law. The Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Division can now accept up to 5 partial payments, along with a $10.00 processing fee for each partial payment.  Partial payments can only be made on current 2012 taxes between November 1^st, 2012 and March 31^st, 2013.  The balance must be paid in full before April 1^st to avoid interest and penalties on the unpaid balance.

Any unpaid balance becomes delinquent and is handled like any other delinquent tax bill and will be subject to the same interest and penalties, including having a tax certificate sold pursuant to Florida Statute. Partial payments are not eligible for any early-payment discount.  The taxpayer has the responsibility to ensure that the remaining amount due is paid timely. The county will not send monthly invoices.  Partial payments cannot be made on delinquent taxes.

Not all Florida counties are participating in this program.  If you own properties in other counties, please to check with your local Tax Collector’s Office to determine if this program is available.

Should you have any questions or wish to participate in the partial payment  plan, please contact the Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Division at 954.831-4000 or visit their website at www.broward.org/recordstaxestreasury.

Sincerely,

Lori Parrish, CFA

If you have a question for Lori, please email her at lori@bcpa.net or write to her at the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 111,  Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. (October, 2012)

Robert L. Wolfe, Jr. CFE
Community Outreach Specialist II
954.357.6871 – office
954.357.8474 – fax
954.445.5732 – cell

rwolfe@bcpa.net

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