Welcome to the Alachua County Property Appraiser's website. We have been on line since the middle of 1999 and our web site now serves effectively as a branch office in the virtual world of the Internet. From the convenience of a home or office computer, literally anywhere in the world, you can conduct property searches, download parcel information, print maps, and obtain homestead exemption applications, conduct sales comparisons and much more without the need to visit our downtown Gainesville location.
When we implemented our strategic planning process several years ago, we knew that technology and the Internet would quickly become tools for us to use in collecting and distributing information. This has proven beyond our expectations. The popularity of our site is obvious in the number of web site “hits” per month, approximately 3.5 million. These are truly spectacular numbers and amount to almost five times the number of visitors we had just four years ago.
The explosion of real estate prices starting in 2003 and the subsequent failure of the market has created hardships for many Floridians. As a consequence the Legislature adopted a set of tax reforms in 2007 and on January 29, 2008 voters approved, by more than 60%, four amendments to Florida’s Constitution. The following is a brief synopsis of the changes. For additional information on the amendments please follow this link to “Frequently Asked Questions”.
First, it is important to note that there were no changes made to the existing Save Our Homes assessment cap benefits.
Here is a brief summary of the revision:
DOUBLING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION (Additional $25,000) - The additional $25,000 exemption applies to your homestead property value between $50,000 and $75,000, for all millage rates except school board district tax levies. There is no additional application necessary. The new exemption will automatically show up on your November 2008 tax bill. Your homestead property will now be exempt for the first $25,000 of assessed value by the original homestead exemption act, the value of your property between $25,000 and $50,000 will be fully taxed and the value between $50,000 and $75,000 will be exempt except for the school board taxes.
PORTABILITY – This amendment provides for the transfer of a portion or all of your Save Our Homes benefit. In order to qualify you must make an application for both homestead exemption and portability. You qualify to take your portability or SOH with you if you had a prior homestead within the preceding 2 years. This exemption applies to all tax levies.
If the new homestead that you apply for has a higher value than the previous homestead, the entire SOH Cap (up to $500,000) may be transferred.
If the new property has a lower value than your old homestead, you will be able to transfer a percentage of the SOH Cap (up to $500,000).
This percentage is determined by dividing the Market Value of the new property by the Market Value of the previous homestead property. Then take that amount and multiply it by the Assessed Value of the previous homestead property.
TANGIBLE EXEMPTION –Provides a $25,000 exemption for Tangible Personal Property. In order to qualify for this exemption, all TPP taxpayers must file an initial return. Pursuant to
s. 196.183. This exemption applies to all tax levies.
NON-HOMESTEAD 10% CAP - Provides for a limit on assessment increases for specified non-homestead property. The 10% CAP has a base year of 2008 and will apply for the year 2009. These properties may be assessed at Just Value following a change in ownership, similar to the way the current Save Our Homes revaluation works. This excludes school district tax levies. This assessment limitation will expire in 2019 unless reauthorized by Florida voters.
We hope you have found our website and this information helpful. If you have further questions please contact our Appraisal Services group at 352-374-5230.
Sincerely,
Ed Crapo, CFA, ASA, AAS