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UNDERSTANDING YOUR TAX NOTICE |
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| PAYMENT INFORMATION |
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WHEN TAXES ARE DUE...EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNT |
| Property taxes are assessed for the period January 1 through December 31. Current year tax
notices are normally mailed the last business day in October, with the payment period commencing
November 1. Except as described below under "Alternative Methods of Payment", taxes must be paid
in full by March 31. Florida law provides the following discounts for early payment:
November 4%, December 3%, January 2%, and February 1%. No discount is available in March.
Taxes become delinquent April 1st, at which time interest in the amount of 3% is added.
Delinquent advertising costs are assessed in May. Discount is determined by payment date, which
is date of postmark through March 31. On and after April 1, payment date is date received by the Tax Collector. Discounts and penalties have been computed and the amount
appearing under the month in which payment is made is the exact and total amount due for the current
tax year. Note: Delinquent Tax Certificates will be sold on or about June 1st on parcels
with unpaid taxes. Interest and fees will be added accordingly. |
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RETURN STUB WITH PAYMENT..ALL RECEIPTS ARE MAILED |
| The Pasco County tax notice is a single part form required for automated processing. The
bottom part(stub) must be detached and returned with payment. After posting, a receipt is issued and mailed to the payer. |
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PAY BY MAIL |
| A convenient way to "avoid the crowd" at tax time is to pay by mail. Payments are posted and
receipts mailed immediately. Note: Postdated checks will not be "held"; they will either be processed
or returned. |
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WARNING… AVOID PENALTY OR LOSS OF DISCOUNT |
- Confirm postal service postmark policy before mailing payment at end of month. Due to time of day mailed, weekend, or holiday, envelope may
reflect next month postmark. Postmark determines amount due thru March 31.
- Remit exact amount on tax notice as stated under the month in which the payment is made.
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| ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF PAYMENT |
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INSTALLMENT PAYMENT |
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| Real Estate and Tangible Personal property taxes estimated to be more than one hundred dollars may be prepaid
in quarterly installments. Each parcel or account requires a separate application. Application to pay 2013
taxes by installment may be obtained from the Tax Collector's office and must be filed prior to May 1, 2013.
Installments are due in June, with 6% discount; September, with 4 1/2% discount; December, with 3% discount; and
March, with no discount. Payment of the first installment postmarked on or before July 31 is required to participate
in the plan. Payments due in June but received in July will not receive a 6% discount and will be assessed a 5% penalty. Once participation is established and the requirements continue to be met, annual
renewal is automatic. Note: Current (2012) taxes may be paid by installment ONLY if application
was made prior to May 1, 2012 and the first quarterly installment was paid on or before July 31, 2012. |
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HOMESTEAD TAX DEFERRAL |
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| Florida law permits any person entitled to claim homestead exemption to defer payment of a
portion or all taxes and non-ad valorem assessments levied subject to certain age and household
income conditions. The deferred portion of taxes become a lien on the property and must be paid in full upon
sale or change of ownership. Application to defer 2012 taxes may be obtained from the Tax Collector's
Office and must be filed on or before March , 2013. Homestead Tax Deferral Applications must be
refiled each year to determine continued eligibility. |
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| HOW PROPERTY TAXES ARE CALCULATED |
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| The 2012 Pasco County Tax Roll contains nearly 270,000 Real Estate and Mineral Rights
Parcels and nearly 14,000 Tangible Personal Property and Railroad Tax Accounts, with taxes
being levied in different areas by 70 taxing districts. Information necessary for the calculation of taxes
(assessed value and millage rates) is computer processed to determine the amount of tax due on each parcel. |
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ASSESSED VALUE AND EXEMPTIONS |
| Assessed value is set by the Property Appraiser. Florida law requires property to be assessed at 100
percent of market value. Certain exemptions are available to Florida residents. Contact the Property
Appraiser at (352) 521-4433, (727) 847-8151, or (813) 929-2780 for information. |
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MILLAGE RATE |
| One "mil" equals one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value. The various taxing authorities set millage (tax)
rates each year at amounts necessary to fund their annual budgets. Taxing authorities levying millage
countywide are the County Commission, District School Board, and Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Other taxing authorities include the Pasco County Mosquito Control District, Water Basin Boards, and cities levy
millage within their boundaries. Special road and bridge or water and sewer districts levy a dollar amount per
lot assessment within their boundaries. |
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ASSESSED VALUE (-) EXEMPTIONS = TAXABLE VALUE |
TAXABLE VALUE (X) MILLAGE RATE = TAX AMOUNT |
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| Individual millage (tax) rates set by the taxing authorities are multiplied by the assessed value less
exemptions. All special assessments are then added. The result is the total dollar amount of property tax due. |
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| FOR ASSISTANCE, CONTACT… |
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| Tax Collector |
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| Responsible for preparation and mailing of tax notices based on information contained on the current tax
roll certified by the Property Appraiser and Non-Ad Valorem Assessments provided by
levying authorities. |
| 352-521-4360 • 727-847-8165 • 813-235-6020 |
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| Property Appraiser |
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| Responsible for preparation of the current Ad Valorem Tax Roll, Assessed Value, Exemptions, Taxable Value,
Assessed Owner(s) name and address, and legal description. |
| 352-521-4433 • 727-847-8151 • 813-929-2780 |
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| Taxing Authorities Responsible for Setting Tax Rates: |
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| County/MSTU/Fire | 727-847-8129 • 352-521-4274 ext 8129 • 813-996-7341 ext 8129 |
| County Solid Waste | 727-847-8123 • 352-521-4274 ext 8123 • 813-996-7341 ext 8123 |
| County Street Light Assessments | 727-847-8131 • 352-521-4274 ext 8131 • 813-996-7341 ext 8131 |
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| Lynan Estates Street Light Assessments | 352-523-5050 |
| Pines Subdivision Street Light Assessments | 352-523-5050 |
| County Stormwater Mgt System | 727-834-3611 • 352-521-4274 ext 3611 • 813-996-7341 ext 3611 |
| School District | 727-774-2000 • 352-524-2000 • 813-794-2000 |
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| Municipalities: |
| Dade City | 352-523-5050 |
| San Antonio | 352-588-2127 |
| Town of St. Leo | 352-588-2622 |
| New Port Richey | 727-853-1016 |
| Port Richey | 727-816-1900 |
| Zephyrhills | 813-780-0000 |
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| Special Assessments: |
| Ballantrae | 813-933-5571 |
| Bridgewater | 813-933-5571 |
| Concord Station | 813-933-5571 |
| Connerton West | 813-933-5571 |
| Country Walk | 813-933-5571 |
| Dupree Lakes | 813-933-5571 |
| Heritage Pines | 877-276-0889 |
| Heritage Springs | 954-603-0034 |
| Lake Bernadette | 954-603-0034 |
| Lake Padgett Independent | 813-933-5571 |
| Lakeshore Ranch | 813-933-5571 |
| Lakeside | 813-933-5571 |
| Lexington Oaks | 954-603-0034 |
| Longleaf | 813-873-7300 |
| Meadow Pointe | 954-603-0034 |
| Meadow Pointe II | 954-603-0034 |
| Meadow Pointe III | 813-933-5571 |
| Meadow Pointe IV | 813-933-5571 |
| Northwood | 813-873-7300 |
| Oakcreek | 813-933-5571 |
| Oakstead | 954-603-0034 |
| Preserve at Wilderness | 813-873-7300 |
| Quail Hollow | 727-847-8129 |
| Seven Oaks | 813-933-5571 |
| Suncoast | 813-873-7300 |
| Terra Bella | 813-873-7300 |
| The Groves | 813-933-5571 |
| Verandahs | 813-374-9105 |
| Watergrass | 813-933-5571 |
| Waters Edge | 813-933-5571 |
| Zephy Ridge | 813-933-5571 |
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| Water Management Districts: |
| SWFWMD | 352-796-7211 • 813-985-7481 • 800-423-1476 |
