Collier County Property Appraiser: Veteran Exemptions and the Combat Discount
The Collier County Property Appraiser describes Florida's veteran exemptions as the statutes do, including the $5,000 exemption for a disability of at least 10% caused by misfortune or incurred in wartime service, and takes homestead applications in person only. Its own combat-discount application is a county form alongside DR-501DV.
Also called: property tax, property appraiser, Vickie Downs, homestead, 196.081, 196.24, 196.082, 196.098, DR-501DV, DR-501M, combat-related discount, March 1.
The exemptions are the State's; the Florida entries explain them. The Collier County Property Appraiser (Vickie A. Downs) grants them; the main office is 3950 Radio Road, Naples (239-252-8141), with Golden Gate, Orange Blossom and Heritage Bay branches.
Filing. Homestead exemption applications "must be made in person at one of our locations", with evidence of ownership, Social Security numbers, and a Florida driver licence, vehicle registration and, if voting, Collier County voter registration dated before January 1; new applications for the current year must be made before March 1, and pre-filing for the next year opens after March 1. The veteran exemptions are claimed with a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
What the Appraiser says. The $5,000 exemption under section 196.24 for a former service member discharged under honorable conditions with a disability of at least 10% "caused by misfortune or incurred during wartime service", on property the veteran owns as a permanent Florida resident as of January 1, carryable in certain circumstances to a surviving spouse. The total and permanent exemption under section 196.081 on the homestead of an honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability. The combat discount under section 196.082 for a veteran 65 or older on January 1 who is "partially or totally and permanently disabled" with a combat-related disability and an honorable discharge, "the percentage equal to the percentage of the combat related disability as determined by" VA. The deployed military exemption under section 196.173 on form DR-501M, at the number of days deployed divided by 365. And the homestead exemption for the surviving spouse of a veteran who died from service-connected causes on active duty under section 196.098, which also covers first responders.
Forms. The combat discount is claimed on the Department of Revenue's DR-501DV and on the Appraiser's own "Application For Veterans Combat Homestead Tax Discount"; the deployment exemption on DR-501M. Unlike several other Florida appraisers in this catalog, the Appraiser's veteran pages do not narrow the statutes; a veteran whose rating letter has not arrived may apply before receiving it.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Collier County Property Appraiser: Veteran Exemptions and the Combat Discount
Gate
Rule
10% for the $5,000 exemption; permanent and total for the full one
The $5,000 exemption starts at a 10% disability, service connected or by misfortune in wartime. The full homestead exemption needs a service-connected total and permanent disability. The combat discount needs age 65, an honorable discharge and a permanent combat-related rating at any percentage.
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Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.