Q: Are there exemptions available for Veterans?
Florida law allows for two types of exemptions and an additional discount for certain disabled veterans,
as well as a total exemption for the homestead of surviving spouses of a member of the Armed Services who
died from service-connected causes while on active duty.
Disabled Veterans:
·
Any ex-service member who is a permanent resident of Florida and is disabled at least 10% in war
or by service-connected misfortune is entitled to a $5,000 exemption.
·
A total exemption from Ad Valorem tax on their homestead is provided for any honorably discharged
veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability.
·
Each veteran who is age 65 or older who is partially or totally disabled is entitled to receive a
discount from the amount of the Ad Valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead property. The requirements are
that the disability was combat related, the veteran was a Florida resident at the time of entering the military
and was honorably discharged from military service as determined by the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
The discount is a percentage equal to the percentage of the veteran’s permanent, service-connected disability.
For example, a 65 year old veteran, with a 40% combat related disability, who lived in Florida when he entered
the service, may receive an additional 40% discount on the property tax bill of his homestead property. This is
in addition to the $5,000 exemption available to those veteran’s with a service-connected disability of 10% or more.
Surviving Spouses:
·
Any real estate owned and used as a homestead by the un-remarried surviving spouse of a member of the
Armed Forces who died from service-connected causes while on active duty is exempt from taxation if
the member was a permanent resident of this state on January 1 of the year in which the member died.
·
Under certain circumstances the un-remarried surviving spouse of a service-connected total and
permanent disabled veteran will continue to receive the total exemption for their homestead.
When filing for these exemptions for the first time, please present a certificate from the U. S.
Government and/or the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In addition to these, Veterans are entitled to all other exemptions that other Florida property owners
are entitled to. Please download the "State of Florida Eligibility Criteria to Qualify for Property
Tax Exemption" form for a listing of all of these exemptions.
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