FLORIDA PROPERTY TAX APPEALS LAWYERS

CELEBRITY PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS: LIL WAYNE

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:54:00 +0000

Rap star Lil Wayne has sold his South Beach condominium. Lil Wayne, also known as Dwayne Carter, sold unit 2601 at the Murano Grand at Portofino, 400 Alton Road, for a reported $2,500,000. The unit is assessed at$2,122,820 for property tax purposes as of January 1, 2009.

Buyers are Christian and Marie Peter, who also own unit 2807 in the same building. Assumedly, Mr. and Mrs. Peter will be moving from the 1,759 square foot unit to the larger 3,979 square foot unit formerly owned and occupied by Lil Wayne.

Please tell Christian and Marie that I'm available to assist them if they need help with the transfer of their homestead exemption and application for portability of their Save Our Homes ad valorem taxation homestead exemption benefit.
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Mr. Weiss has represented taxpayers in thousands of administrative tax appeal hearings and has more than 70 published opinions to his credit, including 55 property tax opinions, is co-author of Chapter 64 of the Florida Tax Service 2d, "Agriculture and Other Classified Properties" with Matthew Bender, and a lecturer on property taxation for the National Business Institute.

MIAMI HEAT'S DWYANE WADE SELLS HOUSE FOR LESS THAN ASSESSED VALUE

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:57:00 +0000

Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade sold his Pinecrest home for $2.5 million, $354,000 less than his January 2009 tax assessment. Property Appraiser take note!

Wade paid $3,975,000 in July 2005 for the 9,000 square foot home located on a cul de sac lot of 41,041 square feet, nearly an acre. The purchase by Wade and his wife was reported on this blog at the time it occurred.

Rumor has it that Wade's split with wife Siohvaughn precipitated the sale.
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Mr. Weiss has represented taxpayers in thousands of administrative tax appeal hearings and has more than 70 published opinions to his credit, including 55 property tax opinions, is co-author of Chapter 64 of the Florida Tax Service 2d, "Agriculture and Other Classified Properties" with Matthew Bender, and a lecturer on property taxation for the National Business Institute.

APRIL 1 IS FLORIDA TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX FILING DEADLINE

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:37:00 +0000

As in every year for as far back as I can remember, April 1 has bneen the tangible personal property tax filing deadline. If you own more than $25,000 worth of FF&E and you don't know what I'm talking about, call your accountant. If he doesn't know what I'm talking about, have him or her call the County Property Appraiser about where he or she can get a DR-405 form.

But don't delay. The form has to be filed with the Property Appraiser and the deadline for postmarking is April 1. Late returns incur a whopping 25% penalty!

"A word from the Weiss is sufficient."
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Mr. Weiss has represented taxpayers in thousands of administrative tax appeal hearings and has more than 70 published opinions to his credit, including 55 property tax opinions, is co-author of Chapter 64 of the Florida Tax Service 2d, "Agriculture and Other Classified Properties" with Matthew Bender, and a lecturer on property taxation for the National Business Institute.

Why I Endorse Senator Gwen Margolis for Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:40:00 +0000

State Senator Gwen Margolis has announced that she will run for Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser in 2008. Election day is November 4.

Historically, Miami-Dade County is the only one of Florida's 67 counties to have an appointed, rather than elected, Property Appraiser. Indeed, under the Dade County Charter, both Property Appraiser and Tax Collector are technically department heads appointed by the County Manager. This is something of an anomaly, considering that both positions are constitutional officers in every county--including Miami-Dade-- by Florida law.

All that history changed on January 29, 2008, when the electorate of Miami-Dade County voted to make the position of Property Appraiser an elected one.

Our candidate of choice for Miami-Dade County's first elected Property Appraiser is Senator Gwen Margolis. Having known Senator Margolis both professionally and personally for virtually the entire 28 years I have practiced property tax law, I like to think that in recommending Senator Margolis for this office, I know whereof I speak.

Well, then, without further folderol or jibber jabber, here are but a handful of reasons to vote for Senator Margolis for Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County when you cast your ballot in November.

. Senator Margolis who has been a real estate broker for 35 years.

. Senator Margolis was the first female President of the Florida Senate.

. Senator Margolis serves on the Constitutional Revision Commission, responsible for advancing many of the innovations recently adopted as Floroda law.

. Senator Margolis is a long-time member of the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation, sponsoring numerous bills to reform the tax system in Florida, including but not limited to property tax measures.

. Senator Margolis has held elected office in Florida virtually continuously since 1975, as reflected in the New Theater-produced one-act play chronicling Margolis's role as a female trendsetter and role model in Florida politics.

. Senator Margolis served as the Chair of the County Value Adjustment Board during her tenure as Miami-Dade County Commissioner.

Senator Margolis has had a long and distinguished career in Florida politics, starting with her election to the Florida House of Representatives in 1974, where she was subsequently re-elected to three additional terms. Her career in the Florida Senate started in 1980, where she was appointed as Chair of the Finance, Tax, and Claims Committee, and later the Appropriations Committee. In 1990 she became the first women in the United States to serve as President of any Senate, when she was sworn in as President of the Florida State Senate.

In 1994, Senator Margolis was elected to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, where she served six of her eight years as Chairperson. She returned to the Senate in 2002. Wea are fortunate tht Senator Margolis is returning to the South Florida political scene to run for the newly-created position of elected County Property Appraiser.

The proposal to have an elected Property Appraiser for the first time in Miami-Dade County originated in the County's Charter Review Task Force.

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Weiss has been named a “Top Lawyer” in the category of Real Estate, Zoning and Land Use by the South Florida Legal Guide (2007, 2008), Florida Super Lawyers (2006), Florida Trend Legal Elite (2004) and Who’s Who in Practicing Attorneys (1989-1990) and has been included on Miami’s “A list” in five categories: law, philanthropy, business, arts and social prominence, in New York’s Avenue Magazine (2006, 2007, 2008).

Miami-Dade County to Have Its First Elected Property Appraiser

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:22:00 +0000

Historically, Miami-Dade County is the only one of Florida's 67 counties to have an appointed, rather than elected, Property Appraiser. Indeed, under the Dade County Charter, both Property Appraiser and Tax Collector are technically department heads appointed by the County Manager. This is something of an anomaly, considering that both positions are constitutional officers under Florida law.

The County Attorney takes the position that notwithstanding the generally-applicable provision in the Florida Constitution, the Property Appraiser's Office will be a sort of hybrid, being an elected department head, but NOT a constitutional officer as in Broward or Duval--both charter counties--and as in the other 64 counties in Florida under the general; constitutional provision establishing the office of Property Appraiser as an office of constitutional dimension.

Query whether Miami-Dade County's Property Appraiser should be able to claim constitutional officer jurisdiction for the purpose of advancing appellate review in the Florida Supreme Court at the same time the County claims that its Property Appraiser is NOT a constitutional officer!

All that history changed on January 29, 2008, when the electorate of Miami-Dade County voted to make the position of Property Appraiser an elected one.

Uniquely, Miami-Dade County's elected property appraiser will operate to some extent under the supervision of the County Commission. To date, the Commission has adopted an ordinance giving the soon-to-be-elected Property Appraiser control of most of the depratment's nearly 300 employees, who will continue under union collective bargaining agreements to enjoy the protections afforded classified (as distinguished from exempt) employees. These include termination and disciplinary policies applicable to County employees generally.

At least initially, the County Commission will control the pay and benefits of the Property Appraiser, with an annual salary of $153,000. The Commission stated that they might be willing to change the Property Appraiser's salary to be controlled byr the State formula for constitutional offices, which would increase annual pay to about $175,000.

Interestingly--nay, oddly--the County Commission will establish the pay ranges for the Property Appraiser's staff. Conferring a more-autonomous measure of authority, the county Commission vouchsafed unto the Property Appraiser the prerogative to place proposed ordinances and resolutions on the County Commission's legislative agenda.

The proposal to have an elected Property Appraiser for the first time in Miami-Dade County originated in the County's Charter Review Task Force.

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Weiss has been named a “Top Lawyer” by South Florida Legal Guide (2007, 2008), Florida Super Lawyers (2006), Florida Trend Legal Elite (2004) and Who’s Who in Practicing Attorneys (1989-1990) and has been included on Miami’s “A list” in five categories: law, philanthropy, business, arts and social prominence, in New York’s Avenue Magazine (2006, 2007, 2008).

Celebrity Property Tax Assessment: Clyde McPhatter

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:44:00 +0000

Doing property tax appeals is so much fun. You never know what'll come across your desk. Yesterday I was looking at comparable sales identified by the County Property Appraiser and researched by my assistant Tiffany. The property in question was a purchase by none other than Clyde McPhatter, Jr.

If you're as young as Tiffany, this name may not mean anything to you. The buyer's father was Clyde McPhatter, one of the greatest R & B singers of the 1950s and '60s. McPhatter founded The Drifters and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame posthumously in 1987. He was even honored on a U.S. postage stamp in 1993.

Anyway, Clyde McPhatter's son and namesake recently purchased two residential properties in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He purchased the two properties July and August of 2006, respectively, paying a total $4.8 million.

Hey, Mr. McPhatter, why don't you have a homestead exemption on either of these two properties? If you need help determining your eligibility for the significant benefits of homestead proprety tax exemption in Florida, contact me!

What follows is what you can find out online about the two properties:

Eastern Shores waterfront property:

07-2210-001-0080
Property: 3320 NE 165 ST
Mailing Address: CLYDE MC PHATTER
3320 NE 165 ST MIAMI FL
33160-3836

Property Information: Primary Zone: 1200 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE
CLUC: 0001 RESIDENTIAL- SINGLE FAMILY
Beds/Baths: 4/4
Floors: 2
Living Units: 1
Adj Sq Footage: 4,972
Lot Size: 9,681 SQ FT
Year Built: 1980

Sale Information: Sale O/R: 24735-2786
Sale Date: 7/2006
Sale Amount: $3,200,000

Assessment Information: Year: 2007
Land Value: $871,290
Building Value: $694,065
Market Value: $1,565,355 $
Assessed Value: $1,565,355 $
Total Exemptions: $0
Taxable Value: $1,565,355
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Property off Miller Road:

Summary Details: Folio No.: 30-4029-002-0590
Property: 10290 SW 58 ST
Mailing Address: CLYDE MC PHATTER JR
10290 SW 58 ST MIAMI FL
33173-2832

Property Information: Primary Zone: 2300 ESTATE RESIDENTIAL
CLUC: 0001 RESIDENTIAL- SINGLE FAMILY
Beds/Baths: 4/3
Floors: 1
Living Units: 1
Adj Sq Footage: 5,364
Lot Size: 50,094 SQ FT
Year Built: 1982

Sale Information: Sale O/R: 25241-0477
Sale Date: 8/2006
Sale Amount: $1,600,000

Assessment Information: Year: 2007
Land Value: $551,190
Building Value: $618,771
Market Value: $1,169,961
Assessed Value: $1,169,961
Homestead Exemption: $0
Veteran Exemption: $0
Total Exemptions: $0
Taxable Value: $1,169,961
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Mr. Weiss has represented taxpayers in thousands of administrative tax appeal hearings and has more than 70 published opinions to his credit, including 55 property tax opinions, is co-author of Chapter 64 of the Florida Tax Service
2d, "Agriculture and Other Classified Properties" with Matthew Bender, and a lecturer on property taxation for the National Business Institute.

Celebrity Property Tax Assessment: Ron Seikaly

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:42:00 +0000

Looking for a house with high ceilings? I'll bet this one has 'em. Why would I bet? Its recent purchaser is Ron Seikaly. Ron is 6 feet 11 inches tall and was the first-ever draft pick of the NBA Miami Heat.

Ron was a great center for the Heat and still loves Miami. I saw him at a party recently in Miami Beach. After his tenure with the Heat, Ron played for a couple of other NBA teams and even did a stint in Spain's professional basketball league.

Nowadays, Ron's into professional volleyball. He's still a world-class athlete.

In 2002, Ron bought a waterfront lot on North Bay Road in Miami Beach, nearly 27,000 square feet, well over half an acre. He built his dream home there, over 9,000 square feet of high-ceilinged luxury, completing construction and moving in in 2005.

Here're the specs for those who need more detail:

Summary Details: Folio No.: 02-3227-008-1370
Property: 2060 N BAY RD
Mailing Address: RONALD SEIKALY
2060 N BAY RD MIAMI BEACH FL
33140-4537

Property Information: Primary Zone: 2100 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE
CLUC: 0001 RESIDENTIAL- SINGLE FAMILY
Beds/Baths: 9/10
Floors: 2
Living Units: 1
Adj Sq Footage: 9,363
Lot Size: 26,561 SQ FT
Year Built: 2005

Sale Information: Sale O/R: 20347-2241
Sale Date: 4/2002
Sale Amount: $2,150,000

Assessment Information: Year: 2007
Land Value: $3,919,264
Building Value: $3,819,208
Market Value: $7,738,472
Assessed Value: $6,793,700
Homestead Exemption: $25,000
Total Exemptions: $25,000
Taxable Value: $6,768,700
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Mr. Weiss has represented taxpayers in thousands of administrative tax appeal hearings and has more than 70 published opinions to his credit, including 55 property tax opinions, is co-author of Chapter 64 of the Florida Tax Service
2d, "Agriculture and Other Classified Properties" with Matthew Bender, and a lecturer on property taxation for the National Business Institute.

Property Tax Appeal Results: The Bottom Line

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:33:00 +0000

One of my favorite marketing slogans is the one created by my good friend Mark E. Fried. Mark Fried has been an immigration attorney on Brickell Avenue in Miami for more than 27 years. To emphasize Mark's sensitivity to the human interest aspect of his practice, Mark says, "In my practice, it's not the 'bottom line' that counts; it's the BORDER LINE!"

Well and good. One of the reasons I enjoy my property tax practice--and would never engage in the practice of immigration law or criminal defense (the practice area of my law partner Brian Tannebaum)--is that I'd never want a client's freedom to depend on effectiveness of my representation. So I am happy to say that in my property tax practice, "It's not the BORDER LINE that counts; it's the BOTTOM LINE."

That's what counts for the client anyway. Do I get a kick out of figuring out where the County Property Appraiser went astray and getting a huge reduction and generating a big refund for the taxpayer? You bet. But is the taxpayer excited about my legal theory? Probably not as excited as he is about the big refund.

Here's a case in point. I got a tax assessment on a parking lot parcel reduced for 2007 (the current tax year) from $6,458,800 to $947,298. Yeah, that's right, an 85% reduction. It's not a typo.

The taxpayer's happy. He's the beneficiary of a $100,000 plus property tax refund.

I'm happy because I proved that the Property Appraiser assessed sticks in the bundle of rights already assessed to other parcels, a prohibited form of double taxation.

I was even happier this afternoon when I had confirmed in writing the granting of my post-hearing request to further reduce the assessed valuation by another $100,000. This means the reduction was 87%, not 85%.

So with apologies to my good friend Mark Fried--as fine an immigration attorney as you will ever want to find to address your family's, employees', friends' or corporation's immigration practice needs--I am proud to say that in my property tax appeal practice, "It's not the border line that counts. It's the bottom line."
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Mr. Weiss has represented taxpayers in thousands of administrative tax appeal hearings and has more than 70 published opinions to his credit, including 55 property tax opinions, is co-author of Chapter 64 of the Florida Tax Service
2d, "Agriculture and Other Classified Properties" with Matthew Bender, and a lecturer on property taxation for the National Business Institute.

Celebrity Property Tax Assessment: Sean Taylor

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:25:00 +0000

Yeah, I know it's morbid. But it's a matter of public interest and public record.

So here's the info for those of you who want to know more about the house in which Dolphin linebacker Sean Taylor was fatally injured in as big a waste of football talent and as characteristically callous an act as you ever want to see in our community.

33-5035-005-0110
Property: 18050 OLD CUTLER RD
Mailing Address: SEAN TAYLOR

18050 OLD CUTLER RD PALMETTO BAY FL
33157-6423

Property Information: Primary Zone: 2300 ESTATE RESIDENTIAL
CLUC: 0001 RESIDENTIAL- SINGLE FAMILY
Beds/Baths: 4/4
Floors: 1
Living Units: 1
Adj Sq Footage: 3,705
Lot Size: 33,541 SQ FT
Year Built: 1971
Legal Description: CUTLER SOUTH PB 80-80 LOT 11 BLK 1 LOT SIZE 205.000 X 165 OR 18697-2031 0599 1 F/A/U 30-5035-005-0110 COC 23569-2355 06 2005 1

Sale Date: 6/2005
Sale Amount: $900,000

Assessment Information: Year: 2007
Land Value: $423,500 $
Building Value: $305,797
Market Value: $729,297
Assessed Value: $729,297
Homestead Exemption: $25,000
Total Exemptions: $25,000
Taxable Value: $704,297
_______________________________________________________________________________
Weiss has been named a “Top Lawyer” by South Florida Legal Guide (2007, 2008), Florida Super Lawyers (2006), Florida Trend Legal Elite (2004) and Who’s Who in Practicing Attorneys (1989-1990) and has been included on Miami’s “A list” in five categories: law, philanthropy, business, arts and social prominence, in New York’s Avenue Magazine (2006, 2007, 2008).

Property Tax Appeal Tip #1: Why You Should File Your Actual Income

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:49:00 +0000

Recently a commercial property tax client of mine expressed surprise when I told her we'd fare better at the appeal hearing if I filed her federal income tax return schedule relating to the subject property instead of just her own summary of income and expenses.

The truth of the matter is that there are a whole slew of reasons to file the IRS schedule in preference to most any other form of record of income and expenses.

Here are the top 3:

1. Federal income tax returns are regarded as inherently reliable. Because they are signed and submitted under penalty of perjury, federal income tax returns--and all attached schedules--are generally treated by the local property tax personnel as authoritative.

2. Schedules for rental property--whether Schedule E or Form 8825--clearly identify the property and segregate income and expenses of the subject property from those of any other property. The tax assessor will have a higher comfort level in reviewing your federal income tax return than in looking at a pile of receipts whose origins--or ties to the subject property--may be dubious.

3. Line items and statements (footnotes) on your federal income tax return segregate depreciation, debt service, and property taxes, each of which must be omitted from treatment as an actual expense or converted to a millage rate and made part of a formula to solve for an unknown (in the case of current property taxes), thereby facilitating accurate use of the component information as evidence of property value on the income approach.

The bottom line on the decision of whether to include or exclude a record of the preceding year's actual income and expenses as part of your income approach to property value should take into consideration the three factors discussed above.

In some instances, actual income may be driven by factors which are not properly part of the County Property Appraiser's consideration, including intangibles which drive gross receipts in a world class shopping center or flagship hotel.

If it is too difficult to separate the income derived from the intangibles, you may want to go with imputed market income and omit the record of actual income--which in some instances may include proprietary information protected by contract or contra-indicated by competition in the marketplace of a closely-held entity.

But if you are appealing 4 or 10 or 12 units of multifamily residential property, give serious thought to including the actual schedule from the federal income tax return in lieu of the property owner's summary of income and expenses. Special considerations can be accounted for--or discounted for--in your pro forma income analysis or calculation of stabilized income and expenses, or selection of cap rate.
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Weiss has been named a “Top Lawyer” by South Florida Legal Guide (2007, 2008), Florida Super Lawyers (2006), Florida Trend Legal Elite (2004) and Who’s Who in Practicing Attorneys (1989-1990) and has been included on Miami’s “A list” in five categories: law, philanthropy, business, arts and social prominence, in New York’s Avenue Magazine (2006, 2007, 2008).

Celebrity Property Tax Assessment: Jim Mandich

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:11:00 +0000

Ever wonder where to find college All American and 1972 perfect-season Dolphin tight end Jim Mandich when he's not doing color on tv? Well here're a couple of places to look for him.

The first is a home on the golf course in Miami Lakes:

Summary Details: Folio No.: 32-2014-004-0680
Property: 16101 ABERDEEN WAY
Mailing Address: JIM MANDICH

Property Information: Primary Zone: 0100 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE
CLUC: 0001 RESIDENTIAL- SINGLE FAMILY
Beds/Baths: 3/3
Floors: 2
Living Units: 1
Adj Sq Footage: 2,621
Lot Size: 20,000 SQ FT
Year Built: 1965

Sale Date: 1/1978
Sale Amount: $139,000

Assessment Information: Year: 2007
Land Value: $468,016
Building Value: $307,437
Market Value: $775,453
Assessed Value: $775,453
Total Exemptions: $0
Taxable Value: $775,453

Hey, Jim, are you living here? If you are, why don't you have a homestead exemption? If you'd had one since you bought the house, you'd be paying less than half the property taxes you're paying now; did you know that? Jim, if you actually are living here, email me and I'll help you apply for a homestead exemption to limit the increases in assessed value to 3% a year or less.

The second is a warehouse on 7/10 of an acre not too far from the house, which seems to have been a good investment, considering the difference between the purchase price and the County's estimate of current value:

Summary Details: Folio No.: 34-2118-004-0023
Property: 16101 NW 54 AVE
Mailing Address: JAMES M MANDICH

16101 NW 54 AVE MIAMI LAKES FL
33014-6102

Property Information: Primary Zone: 7700 INDUSTRIAL-CONDITIONAL
CLUC: 0032 LIGHT MANUFACTURING

Floors: 2

Adj Sq Footage: 18,328
Lot Size: 30,831 SQ FT
Year Built: 1971

Sale Date: 6/1982
Sale Amount: $450,000

Assessment Information: Year: 2007
Land Value: $431,634
Building Value: $605,891
Market Value: $1,037,525

Hey, Jim, call me if you want the taxes appealed in September 2008. Maybe your assessment will be more than market value! Check your TRIM notice the last week of August and see what you think. Or, better yet, call me and see what I think! Dan Weiss, 305-374-7850.

P.S. Belated congratulations on the perfect season. There'll never be another team like the '72 Dolphins. Take it from one who remembers when the AFL got its start!

P.P.S. Your birthday is July 30, 1948; mine's just one day later! Call me if you want to have a drink together during the summer to celebrate our birthdays. My treat, buddy!
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Weiss has been named a “Top Lawyer” by South Florida Legal Guide (2007, 2008), Florida Super Lawyers (2006), Florida Trend Legal Elite (2004) and Who’s Who in Practicing Attorneys (1989-1990) and has been included on Miami’s “A list” in five categories: law, philanthropy, business, arts and social prominence, in New York’s Avenue Magazine (2006, 2007, 2008).

Tannebaum Weiss Law Firm Announces Selection of Both Name Partners As South Florida Legal Guide 2007 Honorees

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:13:00 +0000

Boutique Miami Law Firm Sees Both Founding Partners Named Best in Their Field: Criminal Defense Attorney and Local Government Attorney Garner Top Honors

Florida Property Tax News: Taxpayers Cautioned Against Putting Themselves in Harm's Way by Representing Themselves at Property Tax Appeal Hearings

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:37:00 +0000

Taxpayers Cautioned Against Putting Themselves in Harm's Way by Representing Themselves at Property Tax Appeal Hearings

Florida Property Tax News: Tangible Personal Property

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 16:22:00 +0000

Tangible Personal Property Taxes

The following blog article answers FAQs concerning the arcane area of tangible personal property tax assessment in Florida.

The following list of frequently asked questions is answered below.

What is tangible personal property (TPP)?

What is intangible personal property? Is it subject to taxation?

Is residential personal property subject to taxation?

What if my residential personal property in a non-homestead condominium unit I own is in a hotel/condominium rental pool and is sometimes used by me and sometimes
used by renters?

Who is required to file a tangible personal property return?

Why was I sent a tangible personal property return?

How can I obtain a tangible personal property return (Florida Department of Revenue Form DR-405)?

What if I was sent more than one tax return?

What if I have no tangible personal property to report?

Should I file if I'm no longer in business?

Must I report tangible personal property that belongs to someone else, or which I furnish to another business?

Is there a minimum value that I do not have to report?

What are the filing deadlines? What are the non-filing penalties?

What if I buy or sell an existing business during the year?

What if I do not file a return?

What if I don't agree with the assessed value that appears on my TRIM Notice of proposed property taxes?

Can I file an appeal of my tangible personal property taxes even if I filed no tangible personal property tax return?

Do we need to file a return if we are a church, school or non-profit group?

Is my return confidential or will my competitors be able to view and obtain copies of it under Florida's Public Records Act?

ANSWERS TO THE FAQS

WHAT IS TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY (TPP)?

According to section 192.001, Florida Statutes, "tangible personal property" means all goods, chattels, and other articles of value capable of manual possession and the chief value of which is intrinsic to the article itself.

"FF&E"--furniture, fixtures and equipment--is colloquially thought of as the equivalent of tangible personal property. This is a misnomer--or at least a temiological inexactitude--since some fixtures become part of the real estate to which they are attached and are assessable as real estate, and not as tangible personal property.

While the same tax rates apply to both real property and tangible presonal property in any given jusrisdiction in Florida, misclassiciation as between real property and tangible personal property can be a basis for striking the offending portion of the assessment from the tax roll for the year in question.

Inventory held for resale and household goods for the owner's personal use are exempt from taxation.

While real property is not subject to taxation as tangible personal property, many items used along with real property, such as cleaning and mowing equipment and machinery, computers, office supplies, furniture, signage, exterior lighting, alarm systems and leasehold improvements are taxed as personal property.

The comprehensive guidelines for the assessment of tangible personal property are determined by the Florida Legislature and are enforced by the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR). The DOR is the state agency responsible for the overall supervision of assessment and collection of taxes for all 67 counties in Florida, under section 195.027, Florida Statutes. Click here to view the DOR Tangible Personal Property Appraisal Guidelines.

WHAT IS INTANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY? IS IT SUBJECT TO TAXATION?

According to section 192.001, Florida Statutes, "intangible personal property" means money, all evidences of debt owed to the taxpayer, all evidences of ownership in a corporation or other business organization having multiple owners, and all other forms of property where value is based upon that which the property represents rather than its own intrinsic value.

Effective January 1, 2007, intangible personal property tax in Florida is repealed.

Intangible personal property and tangible personal property are sometimes confused by lay people--even by people you think should know better.

WHAT IS RESIDENTIAL PERSONAL PROPERTY?

If you own residential rental property, what would normally be household goods if you were living there such as stoves, refrigerators and furniture becomes taxable tangible personal property which must be reported each year. All tangible personal property must be reported, even if it has been fully depreciated or has been "expensed" on the books of the taxpayer.

WHAT IF MY RESIDENTIAL PERSONAL PROPERTY IN A NON-HOMESTEAD CONDOMINIUM UNIT I OWN IS IN A HOTEL/CONDOMINIUM RENTAL POOL AND IS SOMETIMES USED BY ME AND SOMETIMES USED BY RENTERS OF THE UNIT?

At least one Legal Special Magistrate of the Miami-Dade County Value Adjustment Board has ruled that such tangible personal property is not subject to taxation. The Property Appraiser did not sue to overturn this ruling. If you have any questions about this or other property tax assessment issues, contact a Florida property tax consultant.

WHO MUST FILE A TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY RETURN?

Any person or entity that owns or possesses tangible personal property located in Florida as of the January 1 tax assessment date must file a DR-405 tangible property return with the Property Appraiser in the county where the property is (or was) physically located on the assessment date, January 1 annually.

WHY WAS I SENT A TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY RETURN?

You either filed a return last year or our office believes you have property that should be reported.

HOW CAN I OBTAIN A TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY RETURN?

If you did not receive a return in the mail, click here to download a copy of the DR-405 form. Be sure your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Social Security Number, and the Property Appraiser's account or folio number appear on the return you file. Contact your County Property Appraiser if you do not know your account or folio number. If you operate under a DBA (Doing Business As) name, indicate the legal name of the entity and the DBA.

WHAT IF I WAS SENT MORE THAN ONE TAX RETURN?

You must file a return for each physical location in each county where you have tangible personal property. You will notice that the account numbers are different on each return. Even if you have sold the business or no longer have tangible personal property at a particular location, you must return the form with an explanation. This will assist the County Property Appraiser in ensuring that you are not assessed for property you have sold, surplused or removed from the county in the preceding year.

WHAT IF I HAVE NO TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TO REPORT?

Almost every business owner has some personal property to report, even if it is only supplies, rented/leased equipment or fully depreciated/expensed property. Filing a return with all the particulars will help keep you from being assessed penalty charges or receiving an overestimate by the County Property Appraiser for property or valuations not assessable to you.

SHOULD I FILE IF I'M NO LONGER IN BUSINESS?

If you possessed tangible personal property on January 1 of the tax year, you must still file the return for that year. In Block 9A and the address correction box, explain the date you disposed of the assets and the name and address of the current owner of those assets. Sign and date the return and file it with the Property Appraiser's Office by April 1.

MUST I REPORT TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT BELONGS TO SOMEONE ELSE, OR WHICH I FURNISH TO ANOTHER BUSINESS?

Yes. Page 2 of the return requires you to list property used in your business which is owned by others. Typical examples are postage meters, telephone systems, copiers, etc. If you own tangible personal property that you lease to others and is typically located in a specific county, you must report this property on Page 1, line 22 of your return.

IS THERE A MINIMUM VALUE THAT I DO NOT HAVE TO REPORT?

No. You must report all tangible personal property. If your resulting tax amount is less than $5, however, you will not receive a tax bill.

WHAT ARE THE TPP FILING DEADLINES? WHAT ARE THE NON-FILING PENALTIES?

Your return must be filed with the office of your local County Property Appraiser on or before April 1 annually (pursuant to section 193.062, Florida Statutes). If you are unable to file your return before April 1, you may file a request for a 30-day extension. Pursuant to section 193.063, Florida Statutes, this request must be filed in a reasonable amount of time BEFORE the April 1 deadline so that the County Property Appraiser may act upon it in a timely manner before the due date.

After April 1, if you did not make a timely request for extension, the County Property Appraiser is required by state law (section 193.072, Florida Statutes) to apply a penalty of 5% per month (up to a maximum of 25%) for late-filed TPP returns, a 15% penalty for unreported property, and a 25% penalty when no return is filed.

WHAT IF I BUY OR SELL AN EXISTING BUSINESS DURING THE YEAR?

Tangible personal property taxes constitute a lien against the property, and are not a personal obligation of the owner. If you buy tangible personal property during the year, you should obtain a copy of paid tax bills for prior years and the seller's return and make an agreeable proration of the current year's taxes. Most title companies do not search the public records for unpaid tangible personal property taxes. You must report the property at your cost rather than your seller's cost. Furnish the County Property Appraiser with any allocation of purchase price documents, including I.R.S. Form 8594 (Allocation of Purchase Price), if the personal property was acquired with other assets. This will make the Property Appraiser's work much easier and will help to produce an accurate and fair market value assessment of your property from year to year after purchase.

WHAT IF I DO NOT FILE A RETURN?

Even if a tax return is not timely filed by April 1, the County Propertyy Appraiser is still required to assess all tangible personal property. He or she will prepare a a best estimate based on similar equipment and assets owned by other similar businesses. The assessment will also include a 25% penalty for non-filing. Thus, it is in the taxpayer's best interest to file a timely return every year, unless you prefer to gamble on the Appraiser's ability to assess property he may never have seen or had reported or returned.

WHAT IF I DON'T AGREE WITH THE ASSESSED VALUE THAT APPEARS ON MY TRIM NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES?

Each year, the County Property Appraiser mails during the third or fourth week of August a TRIM Notice of proposed property taxes listing your assessment for that year. If you have any questions about the value, contact your County Property Appraiser to discuss your assessment. If you have information that the appraised value is higher than the market value of your property, the Appraiser will welcome the opportunity to speak with you and review all of the pertinent facts. If, after speaking with the Appraiser, you are still not satisfied, you have 25 days from the August mailing date of the TRIM Notice to file a petition with the County Value Adjustment Board (VAB). This deadline is in September of each year.

Click here for Tips and Information to Florida Property Owners About Impending Upcoming Property Tax Appeal Filing Deadlines for September 2007.

DO WE NEED TO FILE A RETURN IF WE ARE A CHURCH, SCHOOL OR NON-PROFIT GROUP?

If the taxpayer is a church, synagogue, mosque, ashram, temple, school, or other non-profit entity which may be eligible for a total exemption from TPP and/or real property taxes, contact your local Property Appraiser or Florida property tax consultant to learn more about these special exemptions.

To learn more about how to select a property tax attorney, read my article by the same title on wikihow.

IS MY RETURN CONFIDENTIAL OR WILL MY COMPETITORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC BE ABLE TO VIEW AND COPY IT?

Pursuant to section 193.074, Florida Statutes, your return is strictly confidential when filed with our office. Interested persons may not obtain a copy of it through Florida's Public Records Act, as it is exempt from public disclosure.

WHAT IF I READ EVERYTHING ABOVE AND STILL HAVE TPP QUESTIONS?

Contact your County Property Appraiser or Florida property tax consultant.

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Mr. Weiss has represented taxpayers in thousands of administrative tangible personal property and real estate tax appeal hearings and has more than 70 published opinions to his credit, including 55 property tax opinions, is co-author of Chapter 64 of the Florida Tax Service 2d, "Agriculture and Other Classified Properties" with Matthew Bender, and a lecturer on property taxation for the National Business Institute. To view Mr. Weiss's most recent Youtube video on property tax appeals in Florida, click here.

Tips and Information on Filing Property Tax Appeals Before September 2007 Deadline

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:09:00 +0000

Florida property taxpayers face annual property tax appeal filing deadlines. After a tumultuous legislative special session Florida property taxpayers are turning their attention to appealing their annual property tax evaluations. Confusion reigns because while tax bills may be lower, valuations have risen an average of 15 percent. Tax appeal filing deadlines vary from county to county, but all appeals must be filed within 25 days of mailing of notices of proposed taxes.

PRWeb.com published on Auguest 31, 2007, dateline Miami, Florida, the following press release.

Miami, Florida (PRWEB) August 31, 2007 -- Florida property tax attorney Daniel Weiss offers the following tips and information to residents and business owners about the upcoming deadline for filing property tax appeals in Florida.

25 day filing period -- Weiss cautions taxpayers that all 2007 property tax appeals must be filed with 25 days of the mailing of notices of proposed taxes.

Since this is one of the shortest statutes of limitations imaginable, Florida property taxpayers are advised to exercise their right of appeal swiftly. The 25 days starts to run on the date of mailing of the notice of proposed taxes. No extensions are authorized by statute.

Each of Florida's 67 counties decides when in August to mail taxpayers their notices of proposed property taxes (TRIM -- "Truth In Millage" -- notices). By state law, however, the deadline for filing valuation appeals expires 25 days from the mailing of the TRIM notice.

Filing deadlines may be as early as the first week of September or as late as the last week of September. By state law, each taxpayer's notice of proposed taxes shows the filing deadline at the bottom.

Only valuations -- and not tax bills -- are subject to appeal. Typically, taxpayers look at the "bottom line" and react based on the projected dollar amount of taxes. After a legislative rollback of local government revenues adopted in 2007, many property tax bills in Florida will be lower than 2006. Valuations, however, are an average of 15 percent higher.

This means that even lower-than-usual taxes may be based on higher-than-ever valuations. So remember to determine whether to appeal based on the valuation -- not the dollar amount of taxes to be paid. Be like the commercial taxpayers who are savvy enough to understand that even if their tax bills are lower for 2007, there is still an opportunity to seek to have them reduced even more.

January 1 is the date of assessment in Florida, as it is in many other states. This means that it is the county's responsibility to ascertain the valuation of all properties as of the first of the year. So if you still had Wilma or Katrina hurricane damage unrepaired as of January 1, 2007, and the Property Appraiser (formerly called the tax assessor) did not take it into account, this failure can be the basis of a successful appeal.

Annual appeal as business strategy -- Many commercial property owners make it part of their annual business plan to appeal all property taxes. It's an easy decision, because most property tax consultants offer their services on a contingency basis. Then, if there's no tax reduction, no fee is due.

Many property tax professionals will review assessments at an initial consultation without charge. Take advantage of this opportunity. Interview more than one before you sign a retainer.

Some property owners prefer to retain a property tax consultant who is also an attorney to represent their interests in property tax appeals. This preference assumes that attorneys are better at spotting legal issues and formulating legal arguments. These include the impact of zoning and comprehensive planning regulations on property tax assessments, as well as superior understanding of procedures and exemption and special classification statutes which confer benefits for agricultural use or historic properties.

Other property owners prefer to work with real estate brokers or agents familiar with comparable sales and income and expense ratios in local markets.

If you're not sure whom to retain, do some research online.

The Florida Department of Revenue provides a list of all 67 county Property Appraisers: http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/appraisers.html Contact the local County Property Appraiser to ascertain the date of mailing of the notice of proposed taxes or to request a duplicate of any notice not received.

But don't delay. The tax appeal time clock is ticking.

Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Weiss was named by the 2007 South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice areas of both Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental and Real Estate - Commercial.
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Mr. Weiss has represented taxpayers in thousands of administrative tax appeal hearings and has more than 70 published opinions to his credit, including 55 property tax opinions, is co-author of Chapter 64 of the Florida Tax Service 2d, "Agriculture and Other Classified Properties" with Matthew Bender, and a lecturer on property taxation for the National Business Institute.

Florida Property Tax News: Gearing Up for 2007 Property Tax Appeals

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:31:00 +0000

What time of year is it? It’s time to get ready to appeal your property tax assessments.

Most owners of commercial property include as part of their business plan the annual appeal of property taxes on both real estate and tangible personal property. It’s an easy decision because most property tax agents offer their services on a contingency basis. If there’s no tax reduction, no professional fee is due. Many professionals will review property tax assessments at an initial consultation without charge. How much more painless could it be?

A word to the wise: the filing deadline for property tax appeals is 25 days after the date of mailing of the notice of proposed taxes (TRIM notice). In Miami-Dade County, all 825,000 notices for real estate assessments will be mailed August 24, 2007. This means that the filing deadline is September 20 this year.

Many professional appraisers after reviewing sales data have concluded that real estate values increased little if at all between January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2007. Yet the Miami-Dade preliminary assessment rolls reflect a 15% increase in value for 2006—exclusive of new construction. The rollback in public revenues enacted by the 2007 Florida Legislature does not affect these valuations.

So remember: check your mail on August 27. If you believe a property tax assessment exceeds market value or is otherwise inaccurate, improper or unlawful, get the ball rolling! As we say at Tannebaum Weiss, “A word from the Weiss is sufficient.”

For more information, consider consulting the following resources authored by this blogger: “Why Should I Hire a Property Tax Attorney for My Property Tax Appeal?”, May 11, 2007 blog entry below and “How to Select a Property Tax Attorney." __________________________________________________________________________________
Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Weiss was named by the 2007 South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice areas of both Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental and Real Estate - Commercial. For a free consultation regarding your property, contact Weiss at 866-374-7850.

Florida Property Tax News: Top 10 Questions for the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 23:10:00 +0000

The Miami-Dade County Developers and Builders Alliance asked me to provide 10 questions to be asked at their round table luncheon on property taxes in Miami-Dade County for 2007. What follows is a list of the questions I provided. These were among the questions addressed to the Property Appraiser, Marcus Saiz.

1. WHAT IMPACT WILL 2007 LEGISLATION ACTUALLY HAVE ON TAX BILLS? WILL THEY BE LOWER OR HIGHER?

2. IF PROPERTY VALUES DID NOT INCREASE BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2006 AND JANUARY 1, 2007, WHY DID THE CITY OF MIAMI REAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT ROLL INCREASE FROM $34 TO $38 BILLION, EXCLUSIVE OF NEW TAXABLE VALUE?

3. BASED ON SALES THROUGH JUNE 2007, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN TERMS OF INCREASE, DECREASE, OR STASIS OF TOTAL NEW VALUE ON THE TAX ROLL FOR 2008?

4. WHAT IS THE PROPERTY APPRAISER’S POSITION ON THE INITIATIVE BEING STUDIED BY THE CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION TO CHANGE THE PROPERTY APPRAISER FROM AN APPOINTIVE TO AN ELECTIVE POSITION?

5. HOW MANY OF THE TAX APPEALS FILED ANNUALLY ON VALUE ARE GRANTED?

6. WHY HAS THE PROPERTY APPRAISER CHANGED HIS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS IN GRANTING AGRICULTURAL CLASSIFICATION TO PROPERTY OWNED BY DEVELOPERS WHEN THERE HAS BEEN NO CORRESPONDING CHANGE IN THE LAW?

7. WHAT IS THE PROPERTY APPRAISER’S POSITION ON THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ISSUES TO BE VOTED UPON ON THE JANUARY 2008 BALLOT?

8. WHAT IS THE PROPERTY APPRISER DOING TO STAFF PUBLIC SERVICE DESKS FOR THE EXPECTED ONSLAUGHT OF TAXPAYER CALLS AND VISITS WHEN THEY FIND OUT ON AUGUST 25TH THAT ASSESSMENTS ARE UP AN AVERAGE OF 13% FOR 2007 IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY?

9. WHY DOES THE PROPERTY APPRAISER DISCRIMINATE AGAINST FOREIGN-BORN PARENTS LIVING IN THE HOME IN DENYING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WHERE THERE ARE U.S.-BORN DEPENDENT CHILDREN IN THE HOME BUT GRANTS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WHERE THERE ARE U.S.-BORN CHILDREN IN THE HOME AND THE PARENTS LIVING IN ANOTHER STATE AND HOLDING LEGAL TITLE TO THE PROPERTY AREN’T EVEN FLORIDA RESIDENTS?

10. WHY DOES THE PROPERTY APPARSIER GRANT CHRITABLE EXEMPTION TO VACANT LAND OWNED BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BUT DENY EXEMPTION TO OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOT-FOR-PROFITS WHERE THEIR IMPROVED PROPERTY IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REHABILITATED WITH COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS FOR USE AS CHARITABLE, LOW-INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
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Mr. Weiss has represented taxpayers in thousands of administrative tax appeal hearings and has more than 70 published opinions to his credit, including 55 property tax opinions, is co-author of Chapter 64 of the Florida Tax Service 2d, "Agriculture and Other Classified Properties" with Matthew Bender, and a lecturer on property taxation for the National Business Institute.

How to Avoid Tangible Personal Property Taxes on Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment Acquired With Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:23:00 +0000

HOW CAN I AVOID PAYING DELINQUENT TAXES ASSESSED ON EQUIPMENT WHILE IT WAS OWNED BY MY SELLER?

Short answer: offer the taxed tangible personal property to the tax collector. In Florida—as in many other jurisdictions--this will put an end to your liability as a subsequent purchaser for value. So if the taxes, interest and penalty owed are greater than the value of the equipment—and the tax collector won’t negotiate with you—consider telling the tax collector to go ahead and seize the property. If the tax collector doesn’t negotiate with you after you make this offer, arrange for him to come and pick up the property, provided he has appropriate court orders and warrants authorizing him to do this.

Discussion and analysis: Assume a laundromat is purchased in 2006. In 2007, the owner is given notice by the tax collector to pay tangible personal property taxes from the year 2000 on the washing machines he purchased along with the laundromat. Is the new owner liable for these taxes even though he didn’t buy the equipment until years after the January 1, 2000 tax assessment date?

The subsequent owner is responsible for paying the taxes, which constitute a lien on the taxed equipment. As an alternative to paying the taxes, the new owner can surrender to the tax collector the taxed property, based on the following briefly-stated analysis.Initially, a tangible personal property tax is "in rem", i.e., against "the thing", or taxed tangible personalty, itself.

By statute, the tax collector first goes to the property itself, in whomsoever's hands it may be found. This is virtually the universal approach to collection of delinquent tangible personal property taxes in the U.S.

For example, in Florida, section 197.413, Florida Statutes, provides the procedure to be followed by the county tax collector in collecting delinquent tangible personal property taxes.In pertinent part, that statute provides that after filing suit and obtaining from the court issuance of a court order for levy and seizure of personal property, and warrants to be served on individual taxpayers, the tax collector may seize property on which taxes are due, even when such "goods" or "chattels" are in the hands of another person.

"Goods and chattels" is a phrase which generally denominates personal property, as distinguished from real property.Subsection (8) of section 197.413 provides as follows:8) A tax warrant issued by the tax collector for the collection of tangible personal property taxes shall, after the court has issued its order as set forth in subsection (6), have the same force as a writ of garnishment upon any person who has any goods, moneys, chattels, or effects of the delinquent taxpayer in his or her hands, possession, or control or who is indebted to such delinquent taxpayer.

The legislature in Florida, as elsewhere, generally provides a strong arsenal of weapons to favor the taxing authorities in the assessment and collection of taxes.The best you can do is to go and reason with the tax collector, and show him that you were not the taxpayer at the time the taxes were levied and that you purchased the property in good faith with no actual notice of the delinquent taxes.

The response of the tax collector may well be that you should have inquired and made sure the taxes were paid at the time you purchased the equipment--just as you would have inquired concerning the tax status of any real property.The only good news here--i.e., if the tax collector does not negotiate some settlement with you at your request--is that once you deliver the property of the delinquent taxpayer to the tax collector levying the warrant, the receipt of the tax collector shall be complete discharge of any obligation you have to the tax collector for those delinquent taxes on the seized property.

The tax collector is authorized to pursue the former owners—but not the present owners--of the taxed property for the difference in unpaid delinquent taxes, penalties and interest.Seizure and sale of personal property are virtually universal enforcement mechanisms for the collection of unpaid and delinquent tangible personal property taxes. This is not unique to Florida. Review the regulations governing your state to ascertain any variations.
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Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Daniel Weiss was named in the 2007 Annual Edition of the South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice areas of both Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental and Real Estate - Commercial. For a free consultation regarding your property, contact Daniel Weiss at 866-374-7850 or go to our website:: http://www.tannebaumweiss.com/property_tax.php

Florida Property Tax News: Save 100% on Intangible Taxes

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:10:00 +0000

HOW TO SAVE 100% ON YOUR FLORIDA INTANGIBLE PROPERTY TAXES STARTING IN 2007—GUARANTEED!

Yeah, I know you’ve heard guarantees before that turned out not to be worth the paper they’re printed on—or the bandwidth they take up. But this one is a slam dunk. And you don’t have to purchase anything to qualify for it!

The reason is that the savings are conferred by a new statute revoking Florida’s tax on intangibles.

What is intangible personal property?

In case you didn’t know, intangible personal property is property which does not have intrinsic value, but which represents value in another object. Intangibles, which are taxable until the January 1, 2007 effective date of the repealer, include the following:

Stocks
Shares or units of a mutual fund, including money market funds
Ownership interest in a limited liability company
Interest in limited partnerships registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
Bonds
Loans
Notes
Accounts receivable not arising from your normal course of trade or business.

How can I save 100% on my Florida intangible taxes?

Effective January 1, 2007, there will no longer be any tax on intangibles owned by Florida residents. By enacting House Bill 209, the 2006 Florida Legislature has repealed this tax. The repeal is effective for all taxpayers, including individuals, joint filers, corporations, partnerships and estates.

How much will I save?

For 2006, the tax rate was reduced to $.50 per $1,000 worth of intangibles, also known as 1/2 mill. Before 2006, the tax rate was $1 per $1,000 worth of intangibles, also known as 1 mill. The first $250,000 of total taxable assets are exempt for an individual filer. Thus, for example, on $1,000,000, the tax for 2006 would have been $.50 X 750, or $375.00.

Guarantee

So there’s the guarantee; no need to file any intangible tax returns with the State of Florida, starting in 2007. Now you’ve saved 100% on your Florida intangible property taxes, starting in 2007. Guaranteed. You heard it here first.
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Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Daniel Weiss was named in the 2007 Annual Edition of the South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice areas of both Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental and Real Estate - Commercial. For a free consultation regarding your property, contact Daniel Weiss at 866-374-7850 or go to our website:: http://www.tannebaumweiss.com/property_tax.php

Florida Property Tax News: City of Miami Beach Repeats Illegal Dividend to Homestead Property Owners

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Mon, 28 May 2007 21:14:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, 160,000 City of Miami Beach homestead-exempt property owners received a $300 "dividend" check in the mail.

This repeats, compounds, and mulitplies the illegal rebate of taxes to the same property owners in 2006.

This measure may curry favor with the voters in an election year, but it is flagrantly unlawful, in the humble opinion of this blogger. Interested in whay it is illegal? Read on.

The so-called "dividend" is essentially a tax refund or after-the-fact diminution in the tax rate, made available to only a portion of the population of City of Miami Beach taxpayers. In the alternative, this is a 50% increase in the homestead exmption exclusively for City of Miami Beach homestead taxpayers to the exclusion of residents of each of the other 34 municipalities in the County. Any way you look at it--rebate, exception to the uniform millage rate in the juruisdiction or increased homestead exemption--it violates the state Constitution and is illegal.

To their credit, the City is completely upfront about the differential tax rate. Or at least it was when Mayor David Dermer first introduced this feel-good provision during the budget hearings in September 2005. That was the time of the year when every city and county and school board and water managaement district and every other taxing authtority looked at its budget and set its millage, i.e., tax rate for the year. The budget resolution actually specifies the amount of the slight reduction in millage for this select group of taxpayers eligible for the tax refund.

The only trouble with this measure is that the Florida Constitution mandates a uniform tax rate for each and every taxpayer in the jusrisdiction. Under that standard, it's constitutionally impermissible to levy 23.3218 mills against all the property on the City of Miami Beach EXCEPT homestead property, and then effectively apply to those voters--whoops, I mean taxpayers, of course--a smidgen lower millage rate, ginned up in the form of a "dividend."

Well, this raises the specter of the old philosophical exercise: "what if a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it? Is there still a sound?" This time, the question morphs into: "what if the City issues an unlawful dividend of $300 to each of 160,000 taxpayers and no one complains about it? Is it still a violation?"

What about homeowners who don't have homestead exemption? And what about the commercial property owners? Did they get anything back? No. But government decisionmaking is all about figuring out where to draw the lines, who gets included and who gets excluded, after all, isn't it?Is it being too cynical to point out that the homestead exemption statute expressly cross-refernces the voters' registration statute? Cynical? Who, me?

Frankly, this is why it's helpful not just to know the law, but know when certain nominal violations may be ignored by local government. This doesnt apply just to property tax. It applies in code enforcement, zoning, traffic enforcement, you name it. That's probably why a local judge once said, "An ounce of experience is worth a pound of law."Well, that's about enough philosophizing for one blog entry. That's all for now.
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Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Daniel Weiss was named in the 2007 Annual Edition of the South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice areas of both Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental and Real Estate - Commercial. For a free consultation regarding your property, contact Click here: http://www.tannebaumweiss.com/property_tax.php

Florida Property Tax News: Weiss's Familiar Quotations

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Mon, 28 May 2007 18:18:00 +0000

Bartlett had them, why shouldn't I? What follows are not Bartlett's--but Weiss's--Familiar Quotations. Mine, of course, are not of general interest, but confimned to property taxation.

After 26 years of property tax practice, here are my favorite quoations on that subject matter.

The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that carries any reward.--John Maynard Keynes

The Eiffel Tower is the Empire State Building after taxes.--Anonymous

Governments last as long as the undertaxed can defend themselves from the overtaxed.--Bernard Berenson

To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.--Edmund Burke

Read my lips. No new taxes!--George H.W. Bush (Bush I)

Taxes are the sinews of the state.--Cicero

For every benefit you receive a tax is levied.--Ralph Waldo Emerson

I'm proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money.--Arthur Godfrey

Death and taxes are inevitable.--Thomas C. Haliburton

Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.--Oliver Wendell Holmes

The promises of yesterday are the taxes of today.--William Lyon MacKenzie King

The power to tax involves the power to destroy.--John Marshall

Next to being shot at and missed, nothing is quite as satisfying as an income tax refund.--F. J. Raymond

The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has. Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don't know when its through, if you are a crook or a martyr.--Will Rogers

What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector? The taxidermist takes only your skin.--Mark Twain

Never before have so many been taken for so much and left with so little.--Van Panopoulos

The tax collector must love poor people--he's creating so many of them.--Bill Vaughan

The thing generally raised on city land is taxes.--Charles Dudley Warner
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Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Daniel Weiss was named in the 2007 Annual Edition of the South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice areas of both Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental and Real Estate - Commercial. For a free consultation regarding your property, contact Click here: http://www.tannebaumweiss.com/property_tax.php

Florida Property Tax News: Gas Tax Not Subject of Special Legislative Session

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Thu, 24 May 2007 02:11:00 +0000

Today's May 23 issue of the Miami Herald reported Miami-Dade County's attempt to suspend some gasoline taxes during the summer driving season.

The County Commission formally asked the Legislature and Congress to halve gas taxes for three months, hoping to provide some relief from record prices. Since all taxes in this State are required by the constitution to be imposed pursuant to statute, the County's request that this matter be addressed by the State Legislature at it special session of June 12 - June 22 would appear on its face to be timely and proper.

The problem with this request is that the proclamation issued by the Legislature convening the special session explicitly ststest that "the Legislature is convened for the sole and exclusive purpose of considering legislation to reduce and/or restructure ad valorem taxes."

Gas taxes are not ad valorem taxes. The County's request is therefore out of order.
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Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Daniel Weiss was named in the 2007 Annual Edition of the South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice areas of both Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental and Real Estate - Commercial. For a free consultation regarding your property, contact Click here

Why Should I Hire a Property Tax Attorney for My Property Tax Appeal?

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Fri, 11 May 2007 20:37:00 +0000

Question: If I as the property owner know more about my property than anyone else does, why should I hire an attorney to represent me in my property tax appeal?

Short answer: low cost, possible greater tax reduction, identification of legal issues, reduced stress, making property tax reduction planning part of your annual business plan.

Low Cost

Property tax attorneys, like other property tax reduction agents, typically work on a contingency fee basis. After a nominal initial filing and preparation fee, the attorney will be compensated by a percentage of the actual property tax reduction. This means that if no reduction is obtained, you have invested nothing but the initial preparation and filing fee.
Possible Greater Tax Reduction

All other things, being equal, who is likely to be more successful at a property tax reduction hearing, the person who handles a few hearings every year, or the person who handles a few hundred hearings every year? If you believe experience counts, on balance, you will do better with professional representation than representing yourself.

Identification of Legal Issues

Why would someone need a property tax attorney, and not just a real estate broker, appraiser or accountant to appeal property taxes? The answer is that attorneys are schooled in identifying and analyzing legal issues. Without exception, every property tax assessment and exemption decision is governed by specific legal regulations. Who better to evaluate and formulate a possible challenge to the validity of an assessment than an experienced property tax attorney?

Benjamin Franklin said, “Nothing is inevitable except death and taxes.” With cryonics, even death may not be inevitable; with a good property tax attorney or tax agent, payment of property taxes may be inevitable, but the amount of taxes due may not be inevitable. Let me qualify that. In the right hands—and in extremely rare cases—the liability for any taxes at all on some parcels may not be inevitable. I recently completely eliminated a $510,000 assessment on homeowners’ association commonly-owned land. I was able to accomplish this simply by knowing the applicable law.

In some taxing jurisdictions, once a legal error is pointed out to the tax assessor or property appraiser, the correction can result in a benefit to the taxpayer for future years, as well. I recently had occasion to point out that a parcel of property was landlocked due to the taking of a portion of the property by eminent domain. The county reduced the assessment by nearly 90%, resulting in thousands of dollars saved annually by the property owner.

Moreover, tax assessment reduction appeals are typically governed by an elaborate set of procedural statutes and rules. No professional is more accustomed to understanding and evaluating statutes than a licensed and experienced attorney.

Reduced Stress

You’ve probably heard the expression, “A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.” One of the essential facets of this pithy saying is that it is unwise to have someone as an advocate who is overly emotionally involved in the case. Translated to the property tax reduction appeal sphere, this means you should think twice about representing yourself on property that you own. A little detachment can go along way. Sometimes being too close to the forest obliterates the trees.

Aside from the strictly rational aspect of detachment, the emotional feature of stress reduction should not be overlooked. If you find it nerve-wracking to receive and review the taxing authorities’ requests for documentation, and hearing notices, or if you feel you know facts that compromise your ability to be fair to yourself, turning the assignment over to an advocate who makes his or her living from dispassionately presenting property tax reduction appeals on behalf of property owners may be your best bet.

Making Property Tax Reduction Appeals Part of Your Annual Business Plan

Having a property tax attorney or other property tax professional on retainer effectively puts the ball in their court. As a matter of course, your property tax reduction representative can be expected to contact you annually to confirm that you want continued representation. This can take the worry out of meeting annual deadlines. It also ensures that you take advantage of the annual or periodic opportunity to appeal your tax assessment, as provided by law in the state where your property is located.

If review of your tax assessment—every time it is issued, not just whenever you happen to pay attention to it—sounds like a good idea, how much better is it to perform this review under the guidance of a property tax lawyer, rather than basing it on your own perspective and experience.

Remember, if you wait till you see your tax bill to decide whether to appeal your property tax assessment, you have probably already missed the deadline.

Most states issue a proposed assessment several months before the tax bill itself is issued. Typically, the tax bill represents the final version of the assessment, and signals, among other things, that the time has already passed for an administrative property tax appeal (although it may not foreclose a more formal judicial appeal).

As with all questions regarding details of the property tax administration process in your state, consult with your local property tax professional. Frequently, the tax agent may be happy to hear from a prospective or existing client and may not even consider charging a fee for a brief telephone or in-person consultation.
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Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Daniel Weiss was named in the 2007 Annual Edition of the South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental.
For a free consultation regarding your property, contact Click here

Florida Property Tax News: Special Legislative Session Addresses Property Tax Dilemma

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Fri, 11 May 2007 16:07:00 +0000

Property tax consultants are in their glory these days. Instead of causing conversation to grind to a halt, property taxes are suddenly a hot topic at every luncheon, networking meeting and cocktail party. So, in the spirit of gathering our rosebuds while we may, what follows is the latest scuttlebutt on what may be offered in terms of property tax reform at the about-to-be-convened special session of the Florida legislature.

Those in the know are already aware that the special session of June 12-23 has been scheduled for the purpose of resolving the impasse between the State House and Senate about what to do to cure inequities in Florida’s property tax system.

At the start of the regular legislative session, Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-West Miami) unveiled a plan intended to eliminate all property taxes on homestead residences. This was to be accomplished by raising sales tax by as much as 2.5 cents to 8.5 cents on the dollar.
The Florida Senate and Governor Charlie Crist opposed the sales-tax increase. Since no alternative plan was approved by both House and Senate, the 11-day special session will be the legislature’s last chance this year to resolve the property tax conundrum.

In the event no consensus comes out of the special session, Florida’s regular 20-year constitutional revision commission is expected to be called upon to address the property tax puzzle. Indeed, since many of the property tax bills filed during the regular legislative session have constitutional implications, the revision commission will have a multiplicity of property tax issues to discuss in any event.

Watch for the Senate’s first female president--and one of our favorite role models--Senator Gwen Margolis (D-N. Dade) to play a leadership role in the constitutional revision commission’s discussion of property tax reform. Sen. Margolis is a former chair of the Miami-Dade County Commission and the Miami-Dade County Value Adjustment Board, and is a property tax maven of the first order.

To get back to the legislature’s special session, it is apparent that Speaker Rubio will be prepared to abandon the trade-off of sales taxes for complete exemption for homesteads. Rubio is floating a new plan to cut property taxes by dramatically increasing the state's homestead exemption and giving a break to all other property owners.

Under Rubio’s revised plan, Florida homeowners would no longer have to pay property taxes on as much as 80% of the first $300,000 in value of their primary—or homestead—residence. The concept of linking property-tax cuts to a percentage of property values appears to be one which will garner philosophical and economic support in both the House and Senate. This cross-chamber, cross-party popularity distinguishes the increase in homestead benefit from the sales tax increase idea, which is traditionally regarded as regressive, having a disproportionate impact on wage earners, since a larger percentage of their disposable income would be consumed by a 40% increase in the level of sales taxes.

Watch this space for discussion of more Florida property tax news as it develops.
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Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Daniel Weiss was named in the 2007 Annual Edition of the South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental.
For a free consultation regarding your property, contact Click here

Taxpayers Cautioned Against Putting Themselves in Harm's Way by Representing Themselves

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel A. Weiss) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:49:00 +0000

I have observed that some taxing officials appear to have no interest in providing relief to the taxpayer. Instead, they may use a taxpayer interview or appeal hearing as an opportunity to gather information to use against the taxpayer, rather than in his favor.

While this is not invariably the case, the taxpayer should always pay attention to what he is being asked by the local official, lest it be used as a fishing expedition to defend the assessment, rather than as an opportunity to consider reducing it.

During 26 years of property tax practice, I have developed the following guidelines to help taxpayers decide whether to handle their own property tax appeals.

Taxpayers should represent themselves if:

1. There exists a provable factual error upon which the property tax assessment is based, such as incorrect legal description, erroneous measurement of land or improvements; or

2. The stakes are so low that no professional tax representative is willing to take on the job.

The taxpayer may feel comfortable making an appointment to see the local government official responsible for the property tax assessment and review with her or him the following possible property tax assessment errors:

1. Inaccurate property description or dimensions.

2. Clerical errors.

3. Mathematical errors.

Other issues that the taxpayer may want initially to personally address to the property appraiser, but may want to hire a professional for before proceeding to hearing, include:

1. Failure to consider needed repairs, including hurricane repairs.

2. Failure to consider value-reducers like difficult ingress and egress, easements, drainage problems, heavy traffic areas, nearby railroad tracks, expressways, industry or noxious uses.

3. Lower assessments on similar properties in the neighborhood. Although market value is generally the controlling standard, by law, taxation must be fair and equitable.

4. Failure to depreciate for negative factors (deferred maintenance, age and quality of materials, poor workmanship, spalling, cracks or deterioration, defective or outmoded materials or construction, physical, functional or economic obsolescence of land or improvements).

In general, it is well to consider hiring a professional to prepare and advance the following property tax appeal claims:

1. Income producing property overassessed.

2. Failure to recognize decreased value due to downward trend in the real estate market.

3. Unlawful assessments, such as double assessment of common areas both to individual owners and to homeowners or condominium association.

4. Exemptions or exceptions to full value taxation (including agricultural classification) not applied or not properly applied to the property.

General rules governing the decision whether to employ a professional for your property tax appeals:

A. Commercial properties, including vacant as well as developed property, should be reviewed annually with a professional as soon as the notice of proposed taxes is issued (in Florida, for example, this occurs in August). Most property tax professionals work on a contingency basis. This gives you an assurance that you are not investing in a tax appeal that is frivolous, since your agent gets no fee unless a reduction is obtained.

B. Taxpayers with unusual professional training or background, such as real estate investors, brokers, agents, accountants or attorneys, may obtain equal or better results than a hired gun, especially considering their enhanced familiarity with the negatives of the property, increased personal investment in the property, and net gain from not paying a professional fee from the tax savings obtained.

In conclusion, as is true of many government processes, property tax appeals may best be handled by professionals. This is particularly true since most property tax agents work on a contingency fee basis. This means that no fee is earned unless an assessment reduction is achieved. Certain claims may be handled just as well by taxpayers themselves, particularly claims based on provable factual errors made by the county property appraiser, such as errors in measurement of the size of land or building which can be demonstrated through sealed survey or sketch or architectural renderings.

If in doubt, review your property tax assessment with a professional. As in other contingency-fee industries, initial consultation is frequently free of charge.
_______________________________________________________
Daniel A. Weiss has over 26 years experience as a Florida property tax attorney. Daniel Weiss was named in the 2007 Annual Edition of the South Florida Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate - Land Use, Zoning & Environmental.
For a free consultation regarding your property, contact Click here