Property taxes

[Susie]

Hi


Polk county has decided to cut property taxes but does not go far enough.

For the first time I applied for a homestead exemption this year. I wish I had not bothered. The tax office revalued my home so instead of paying less I now have to pay more

I know that if you are on an E visa you are not entitled to a homestead exemption but it would not be worth claiming even if you could as like me you would end up paying more than you do already.

Really cannot understand why property taxes and electricity are so much more expensive than the UK. Anyone know the reason?

Here is the link


http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060908/NEWS/609090313/1004

Here is the info

[Kriz1]

Polk is a new area...they have to get the money to pay for things somewhere...schools roads etc...
Electricity..well you have me on that one...winter gas prices are making people move from the North....$700 a month for gas is common here...$1200 a month is not unheard of....my bill is around $250 in winter...but then my house is at 59 degrees most of the time...65 when we sit down or when baby is here....

[InnVic]

Don't get me started on town taxes and heating costs......having a 6500sqft B&B we get hammered! Combined heat and tax in region of $20K pa. We tried to get Homestead/low income rebate but as building is company owned (as it has to be for visa) we don't qualify....other B&Bs in town get between $3000 and $5000 rebate - another example of this system being loaded against E2 visa holders.

[Ron]

Hi

The way the property prices are going down ask them to re check their rates and if you find a neighbor has sold with a simular home and it is less than they valued, send them a letter. You never know they may reduce your taxes to be in line

[Kriz1]

We don't get homestead on the Cape...but our taxes are low anyway...and if we move to FL and keep this house we don't pay any tax on it....

[JulieC]

Mine is not far off $10,000, aghh. Osceola. I aint heard they are putting them down.

[Kriz1]

Mine went up $1k in FL this year...I'll claim that back when I do my taxes....

[chris]

If you get Homestead Exemption in Florida and live here permanently you'll also have the added bonus of the rate increases being capped (I believe it's 3%). That means that if rates go up say 30%, the person not getting exemption pays the full 100% PLUS they pay the full 100% of the rate increase. So if you have a vacation home - woooow!. Meanwhile if you live here permanently and take all of the services the county has to offer, not only do you save with exemption, but your increases are pegged at 3%.
It never ceases to amaze me why these people want additional and improved services yet always expect someone else (usually an outsider) to pick up the tab. There was a good example yesterday on the web of 2 neighbors in Daytona Beach. Both elderly guys and one paid a liitle over $2000 in rates, the other paid $5000+ for the same property, same everything, except one got the exemption + the rate cap. It sucks!

[Ray10]

Estimated Total Tax 1,927.00
Estimated Total Tax without benefit of Save Our Homes
$ 3,069.29
Estimated Total Tax without any exemptions
$ 3,481.45

Here's what I pay ..and what if .....

[Jax]

Hi
I do not understand why we cannot get any exemptions because we are on
E2 visa's.
Jackie

[chris]

We applied for Homestead exemption several years ago and got turned down by Osceola County. The woman who told the decision was very apologetic about it. There is a State statute which sets out the 10 conditins you have to meet to get homestead exemption. We fulfilled 9. The last condition was that for a foreighner the only eveidence of permanent residency they will accept in Florida is a green card.
The fact that I live her all year round, my kids school here, I pay taxes, my business is here and I have no other home anywhere cuts absolutely no ice. Its a GC or nothing. Oh for the life of an E2'r!

[Kriz1]

Hi
I do not understand why we cannot get any exemptions because we are on
E2 visa's.
Jackie


It could be because you should still have a home in England because the E2 is temp...so no matter how long you live in FL its never your first home...:confused: :confused:

[Ray10]

It could be because you should still have a home in England :
Not any longer ... just a verbal assurance that you know its not an immigrant visa ..

[chris]

Kriz,
Believe me I've reas the statutes and It makes it patently clear, it's a GC or nothing. We met 9 out of the 10 conditions, the 10th being the GC, so we were sunk.

[Ray10]

In fact this year for the first time the county asked me to produce my Green Card before I could get my exception...

[JulieC]

At least we can put our property taxes on our tax returns and off set them. But this business of living here 10/15 years and still not getting homestead exemption does make you feel a bit like a second class citizen.

[chris]

Julie,
The term is second class foreigner! Most of us would love to be able to call all ourselves citizens, even if it was second class.

[Ron]

Julie,
The term is second class foreigner! Most of us would love to be able to call all ourselves citizens, even if it was second class.


Hi Chris



I really cannot understand how on one hand investors are wanted and needed but given such a hard time in getting here on the other hand.

Its just like the immigrations system, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

Too many different types of office involved, USCI, department of State, American embassies abroad. Why the heck can't it be made more uniform

E visa holders are treated like second class citizens/ foreigners or whatever they wish to refer us to, but where would the US be without investors.