It's very interesting; the Florida legislators have taken YEARS to come up with a decision about the homestead and portability tax reform, and is leaving us, the public, 30 DAYS to act on this long awaited and delayed decision.

You need to act by March 1, 2008.

Please pass it to every home owner in Florida.

What you should do to receive benefits of Amendment 1
The Constitutional amendment created four new opportunities for taxpayers to obtain tax relief:
1. Increased homestead exemption
2. Portability of "Save our Homes" benefit
3. $25,000 exemption for tangible personal property
4. 10% annual assessment limitation for non-homestead property
What taxpayers must do to receive these new benefits:
1. Increased homestead exemption - Homeowners that are currently receiving the homestead exemption will automatically receive the increased homestead exemption. No action is necessary.
2. Portability of "Save our Homes" benefits - If you received the homestead exemption in 2007 on a home that you sold or otherwise abandoned during 2007 and have purchased a new home by January 1, 2008, you are eligible to take some or all of the benefit of "Save our Homes" to your new home. In order to receive this benefit, you must apply by March 1, 2008 to your property appraiser for your new homestead exemption and for the transfer of the "Save Our Homes" benefit to your new homestead for 2008. Form DR501t is attached. We would recommend that REALTORS® call their 2007 clients who sold a homestead and bought a new one to make certain they are aware of the filing requirement.
3. $25,000 exemption for tangible personal property - Tangible personal property taxes apply only to certain taxpayers in Florida - typically businesses and certain owners of mobile homes. The tax does not apply to homesteaded property. In order to receive the $25,000 exemption for tangible personal property, taxpayers subject to the tax must file a tangible personal property return with their property appraiser by April 1, 2008.
4. 10% limit on annual assessment increases for non-homestead property - The 10% limitation does not apply until next year. No application is necessary for 2008.
If you have any questions about what action you must take to receive these new benefits, please contact your local property appraiser. For information on how to contact Florida's property appraisers, go to http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/appraisers.html

(Information supplied courtesy of Racheli Smilovits)