Information from Anne Gannon, Palm Beach County Tax Collector:
Most people ignore the Notice of Proposed Taxes, not realizing its significance. The Notice of Proposed Taxes is important because it identifies the deadline and instructions for filing a challenge to your proposed property values and gives you an opportunity to review budgets and tax rates with the taxing authorities who levy them.
The Property Appraiser sends property owners a Notice of Proposed Taxes that explains any proposed changes in the millage rate of each taxing authority and informs property owners of their property’s assessed value. Notice of Proposed Taxes will be mailed to property owners on August 21, 2009.
If you feel the assessment is incorrect or missing an exemption and you have not been able to resolve the issue with the Property Appraiser’s Office, you may file a petition to challenge the proposed assessment with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB). The deadline to appeal property assessments to the VAB is September 14, 2009. This is also the deadline to appeal to the VAB for late applications of exemptions and Agricultural classifications. For more information call the Clerk & Comptroller’s Office at 561-355-6289 or visit the VAB website at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com.
Property value is only one component of the equation to determine property taxes. Once the assessed value is determined exemptions are subtracted and then taxable value is multiplied by the millage rate (or multiplication factor). This rate is determined by each entity, or taxing authority, that has a right to collect taxes on your property. Palm Beach County has 93 taxing authorities. Property owners may provide input at taxing authorities’ public hearings to adopt a tentative budget and millage rate (usually held in September).
Review your Notice of Proposed Taxes closely to find contact information for the taxing authorities applicable to your property.