Homeowners may be eligible for tax exemption

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Residents in the state of Florida have until Friday to file for a property tax exemption.

Most residents have the right to file for a property tax exemption. If you are unsure, just apply. "We've found a lot of people who were entitled to exemptions who never applied," said Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Carlos Lopez-Cantera.

March 1 is the last day to file for this year's property tax exemption. "It applies to all exemptions to homestead properties and agriculture classifications as well," said Lopez-Cantera.

This year, there are two new exemptions that homeowners qualify for.

Senior citizens can now file a long-term resident exemption. If you are a low-income senior and have owned your property for more than 25 years, you could save up to 60 percent on your property taxes. "If you already have a homestead exemption, or a low income senior exemption that existed, you don't need to do anything," said Lopez-Cantera. "Those exemptions renew automatically."

Also, if you are the surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty, you may be eligible for a credit that could save you about two percent on property taxes.

However, you need to submit an application in order to receive these exemptions. "Once the application is in, you have gotten the right then to continue the process," said Lopez-Cantera.

Homeowners may complete the entire application online or submit it directly to the appraiser's office. "You can never tell people or remind people enough that they may have an opportunity or an exemption that they have a right to," said Lopez-Cantera.

You can file online at http://www.miami-dade.gov/pa/ or by phone at 305-375-4155.

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