OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Avoid the Rush: Apply Now
The Property Appraiser's Office is now accepting applications for various tax exemptions provided by Florida law. The deadline for these applications is Monday, March 1, 2010.
It has been our experience that the majority of property owners wait until the last week of February to apply, creating long wait times.
Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia urges property owners to file early for their property tax exemptions. Application forms can be downloaded from our website at www.miamidade.gov. Completed applications can be mailed to P.O. Box 013140, Miami, Fl 33101-3140 or delivered to either our Downtown Miami or South Dade Government Center offices. In late December, new home owners who have recorded deeds will be mailed courtesy Homestead Exemption application forms.
Those property owners that received the Limited Income senior citizen exemption benefit in 2009 must reapply for 2010. Renewal applications are mailed in December.
To further facilitate the process we will operate satellite offices across the county to receive applications from January 4 - February 19. Click here for a list of venues, date and operating hours.
Apply now and avoid the rush.
THE PROBLEM OF CHINESE DRYWALL
PROPERTY APPRAISER PROVIDES RELIEF
Over the past several months hundreds of Miami-Dade County residents have reported the presence of defective Chinese drywall in their homes. These homeowners believe the values of their properties have been impacted by this problem.
In response to this problem, Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia has implemented a policy of providing assessment relief when homeowners can establish that their properties have been impacted by defective Chinese drywall.
The following are some of the signs which indicate that a home was built with defective Chinese drywall:
- Sulfur-like odors
- Recurring and costly A/C problems
- Charcoal or black corrosion of copper Freon lines and/or electrical wiring
- Made in China notation on the drywall
Homeowners should contact or visit the Office of the Property Appraiser:
111 NW 1st Street, Ste # 710
Downtown Miami
TEL: 786-331-5921
FAX: 305-679-7940
E-MAIL: pawebmail@miamidade.gov
[Please include the phrase ‘Defective Drywall’ in the subject line of your e-mail]
and provide documented evidence of these conditions. Such documentation could include a report by a professional engineer, architect, building inspector or environmental specialist. Insurance claims can also be used. An estimate of the cost to remedy the problem should also be presented.
Each case will be reviewed based on its own merit and the Property Appraiser’s Office will substantiate any claim by conducting its own field inspection. The extent of assessment adjustment will be based on the cost of remedying the problem.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
WHAT PROOF DO I NEED TO SHOW THAT I HAVE DEFECTIVE CHINESE DRYWALL
Contact the Property Appraiser’s Office and provide one or more of the following documents as evidence of defective Chinese drywall in your home:
- Proof that the property has the Knauf brand or other defective drywall.
- Proof that Knauf brand or other defective drywall is causing damage to copper lines and electrical wiring.
- Professional inspection reports.
- Legal documents.
- Insurance claims.
HOW DO I CONTACT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER’S OFFICE
111 NW 1st Street, Ste # 710
Downtown Miami
TEL: 786-331-5921
FAX: 305-679-7940
E-MAIL: pawebmail@miamidade.gov
[Please include the phrase ‘Defective Drywall’ in the subject line of your e-mail]
HOW WILL THE PROPERTY APPRAISER REDUCE THE ASSESSED VALUE OF MY PROPERTY DUE TO CHINESE/DEFECTIVE DRYWALL
Once it has been determined the property has defective drywall, its affect on value must be determined. To evaluate the extent of its value impact, our office will need the following:
- Professional (itemized) cost to remedy (cure), from an architect, engineer, contractor or builder.
- An inspection of the property by Property Appraisal staff may be conducted if necessary.
- The current year assessment will be reduced to reflect the impact of defective drywall.
IS THERE A DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE DEFECTIVE CHINESE DRYWALL DOCUMENTATION TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISER’S OFFICE
- It is recommended that property owners submit pertinent information to our office as soon as possible. The Property Appraiser will continue to receive and review appropriate documentation for the current assessment year.
HOW WILL THE PROPERTY APPRAISER ASSESS MY PROPERTY ONCE I HAVE REMOVED THE DEFECTIVE DRYWALL AND COMPLETED THE RECONSTRUCTION
- Property Appraisal staff will review existing reconstruction permits for completion status.
- Once the defective drywall remedial work is completed, Property Appraisal staff will re-inspect the property to confirm its completion as of the statutory assessment date of January 1ST.
- The original value will be re-instated according to Florida law.
WHAT OTHER AGENCIES HAVE INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE ON DEFECTIVE CHINESE DRYWALL
To learn about the signs of Chinese drywall presence, investigations into the problem and to sign up for e-mail updates, homeowners are encouraged to contact the following agencies on the internet or by phone:
● US Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/faqs.html or http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html or TEL: 800-638-2772.
● Florida Attorney General’s Office
www.myfloridalegal.com or TEL: 866-966-7226
● Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
www.800helpfla.com or TEL: 800-435-7352
● Florida Department of Health
www.doh.state.fl.us or TEL: 850-245-4444
● Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department
www.miamidade.gove/csd/ or TEL: 305-375-3677
● Florida Department of Revenue
http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/RP/drywall.html
2008-2009 AD VALOREM TAX COMPARISON CALCULATOR
Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia wants to help you better understand your property taxes. Every year, property owners pay taxes based on the value of their property for a wide spectrum of services such as police, fire, libraries, schools and water management. These taxes are listed on the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes which the Property Appraiser sends every August, and are subsequently due when the Tax Collector mails the tax bill in November.
To better understand who is collecting the taxes and how these taxes compare to last year’s, you can use the Tax Comparison Calculator
VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD (VAB)
Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia encourages property owners to contact his office to discus differences of opinion on value assessments or exemptions. If these differences cannot be resolved, the property owner has the right to appeal to the Value Adjustment Board, an agency, which is independent of the Property Appraiser's Office.
BEWARE OF MORTGAGE AND FORECLOSURE FRAUD
One effect of the recent nationwide downturn in the residential real estate market has been the exposure of mortgage fraud and foreclosure prevention schemes.
The Property Appraiser's Office is playing its part in combating these crimes. Consumer protection publications about various forms of real estate fraud are now available at our Downtown Miami and South Dade Government Center Offices. Additionally, we are providing links to local, state and federal agency websites which also provide vital consumer protection information about real estate fraud.
Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser, Pedro J. Garcia urges residents, both homeowners and prospective homeowners, to access and utilize these sources to protect themselves. Learn more by viewing the following links:
Miami-Dade County Mayor's Mortgage Fraud Task Force
Florida Attorney General's Office
Federal Trade Commission
COMPUTER SYSTEM UPGRADE MAY SHOW CHANGE IN SQUARE FOOTAGE ON SOME PROPERTIES
Earlier this year, the Property Appraiser’s Office changed computer systems to enable improvements in the collection, processing and storage of data, and the subsequent assessment and valuation of properties.To integrate this system upgrade, the adjusted square footage on some properties may have changed to work properly with this new system. Please note that this change is not an error and does not affect the current assessed value of the property.
In August, a Notice of Proposed Property Taxes will be mailed to property owners containing information about values and exemptions specific to each property. If you feel there is a discrepancy with the assessment listed on your notice, please contact our office at 786-331-5321.
PROPERTY TAX LEVY INFORMATION
Property tax levy information from the Florida Department of Revenue is now available on our web site as required by a change in Section 195.052, Florida Statutes. Click here for this information arrranged by location. Click here for this information arrranged by property type and location.
SALES CONSIDERED FOR VALUING PROPERTIES
Florida law requires that the Property Appraiser assess all property at market value as of January 1st, of every year. To accomplish this task, sales from the prior years are used in valuing properties. Recently, new guidelines have been given to all property appraiser's regarding Short Sales and Foreclosures. Click here to learn more.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
The Property Appraisal Department operates a public education and outreach program to keep Miami-Dade residents informed about developments in the property tax system. Our officers are available to meet with civic, community, residents’ or professional associations. Please contact us at (786) 331-5321 or email us
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