Okeechobee County Property Appraiser: Veteran Exemptions

The exemptions are the State's; the Florida entries explain them. The Okeechobee County Property Appraiser's exemptions page lists: $5,000 disabled veteran (196.24). "Any ex-service member who is a permanent resident of Florida and is disabled at least 10% in war or by service-connected misfortune is entitled to a $5000 exemption", on "a certificate from the United States Government"; the page adds that it can carry over to the spouse "under certain circumstances". Total and permanent (196.081). "Any honorably discharged veteran with a service connected total and permanent disability, surviving spouses of qualifying veterans and spouses of Florida resident veterans who died from service-connected causes while on active duty" are exempt on the homestead, on a certificate from the U.S. Government or VA. 65 and over, combat-related. A veteran 65 or older with an honorable discharge and a permanent, combat-related service-connected disability gets a discount equal to the VA percentage, on form DR-501DV. Also listed: the deployed military exemption (196.173, form DR-501M), and the $5,000 disability and blind exemptions, for which a VA certificate is accepted proof. Where the page is narrower than the law. It says "The unremarried surviving spouse of such a disabled ex-service member who, on the date of the disabled ex-service member's death, had been married to the disabled ex-service member for at least 5 years is also entitled to the exemption." Neither section 196.081 nor section 196.24 sets a length of marriage: under 196.081(3) the exemption carries to the surviving spouse who holds title and lives on the homestead until remarriage or sale, and under 196.24(1) the unremarried surviving spouse keeps the $5,000. A spouse married fewer than five years should apply. The page also cites the combat discount to "Section 193.461", the agricultural classification statute; the discount is section 196.082. It does not name the section 196.091 wheelchair exemption or say that, under section 196.24(2), a veteran may apply before the VA letter arrives and be refunded from the application date - ask for both. Its FAQ still tells readers to contact "the Suwannee County Tax Collector's office" about paying taxes; Okeechobee's Tax Collector is at 409 NW 2nd Avenue, Suite A. Filing. "The period for filing applications for all types of exemptions is January 1st through March 1st"; forms may be downloaded, but exemption applications are filed in person, and exemptions renew automatically with a January card. Office: 409 NW 2nd Avenue, Suite B, Okeechobee, FL 34972; 863-763-4422; weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; [email protected].