Okeechobee County Tax Collector: Business Tax Exemption for Veterans and Military Spouses

Section 205.055 exempts from a local business tax and its fees an honorably discharged veteran, the spouse or unremarried surviving spouse of one, the spouse of an active duty member relocated to the county by a permanent change of station order, and people on public assistance or under 130% of the poverty level; see the Florida entry. A business with fewer than 100 employees is exempt too if one of them owns a majority interest. The claim is a signed Request for Fee Exemption with supporting documents. The county's receipt. Okeechobee County levies its business tax for businesses inside and outside the City of Okeechobee (Code section 62-103), with the rates set by Board resolution. Outside the city, the application and approval sheet come from Community Development, 1700 NW 9th Avenue, Suite A ((863) 763-5548); inside it, the city licence comes first (City Hall, 863-763-3372). The receipt is then issued and paid at the Tax Collector's office. Where the Tax Collector's page is out of date. Its Business Tax FAQ says: "There are Fee Exemptions (license and prerequisites still applicable) for disabled veterans (up to $50)". That was section 205.171, which chapters 2018-80 and 2018-118 repealed. A veteran need not be disabled, and there is no $50 cap - the whole tax and its fees are exempt. The county code's own occupational licence article prints no exemption. Apply to the Okeechobee County Tax Collector (Celeste Watford), 409 NW 2nd Avenue, Suite A, Okeechobee, FL 34972; 863-763-3421; weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The statute asks for written documentation, such as the DD-214 or, for a military spouse, the PCS orders; ask for the section 205.055 exemption by number.