Gainesville FL Real Estate & Homes

Gainesville Real Estate Talk

Super Senior Homestead Exemption

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What is the Super Senior Homestead Exemption for Alachua County FL?

Senior CitizensThe Alachua County Commission is pleased to remind citizens that on July 14, 2015, the Commission voted unanimously to opt in to Florida’s Constitutional Amendment 11, the “Super Senior” homestead exemption. The Alachua County Commission took this step to help older, limited income residents stay in their homes. This provides an additional homestead exemption to those who qualify. It is equal to the assessed value of the homesteaded property up to $250,000. The exemption is for the County portion of the total property tax bill only. It does not include taxes from the municipalities, the Library District, the School Board or the Water Management Districts.

To be eligible for this exemption, the property owner must:

  • Be at least 65 years old as of January 1, 2016
  • Have legal or equitable title to the property
  • Have a property with a just value of less than $250,000
  • Have maintained permanent residency on the property for not less than 25 years
  • Have a limited household income as defined by general law (currently $27,448 annually). This amount is subject to change annually.

Citizens applying for this exemption should:

  1. Go to the Exemption Form
  2. At the top of page two is a box entitled “In Addition to Homestead Exemption”
  3. The first item in the box is the “By Local Ordinance” section, which has two options beneath it
  4. The second option states, “Age 65 and older with limited income and permanent residency for 25 years or more”
  5. Check that box if the qualifications outlined above are met
  6. Print and sign the form
  7. Fill out a sworn Statement of Household Income Form every year

Citizens may also pick up forms at the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s office. The forms must be filled out and returned to the Property Appraiser between January 1, and March 1, of 2016.

Property Appraiser Ed Crapo recently moved his offices and is now located at: 515 N Main Street Suite 200 Gainesville, FL 32601

For more information, call the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s office at 352-374-5230.

***Thanks to the Community Update Newsletter for this information