Wakulla County Property Appraiser: Veterans Exemptions

The exemptions are the State's; the Florida entries explain them. The Wakulla County Property Appraiser's real property page sets out each one in the statutes' own terms and what to bring "along with the in-office application". $5,000 for a disabled ex-servicemember or surviving spouse (196.24). For an ex-servicemember discharged under honourable conditions and disabled 10% or more, and the unremarried surviving spouse: "A certificate of disability (e.g. rating decision letter, summary of benefits letter)" from the U.S. Government or VA; a surviving spouse also brings the marriage and death certificates. Total and permanent (196.081). A VA or U.S. Government letter (rating decision or summary of benefits) showing a service-connected total and permanent disability; the exemption carries over to a surviving spouse who holds title and lives there, until remarriage, and can move to a new homestead. Also listed: the surviving spouse of a veteran who died of service-connected causes on active duty, with a letter attesting the death; and veterans confined to wheelchairs under 196.091, with the VA certificate of specially adapted housing assistance. 65 and over, combat-related (196.082). The DD Form 214, the VA rating decision, the VA's or the service's evidence of the combat-related share if the letter does not show it, and proof of age 65 on January 1; the Appraiser posts form DR-501DV. Deployed servicemembers (196.173) file form DR-501M with deployment orders (not NATO orders). Filing. "Application for these exemptions must be made by March 1st of the year for which you apply"; late filing is allowed for extenuating circumstances, and most exemptions renew automatically. For each veteran exemption, "An applicant may apply for the exemption before receiving the necessary documentation. Upon receipt of the documentation, the exemption shall be granted as of the date of the original application", with excess taxes refunded for up to four years. The homestead itself can be applied for online; the veteran exemptions are in-office. Office: 3115-A Crawfordville Hwy, Crawfordville, FL 32327; 850-926-0500; weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its related links list the county's Veteran Services Office.