Property Tax Appeals Expected to Increase by 21 Percent

For immediate release: Sept. 1, 2009
Contact: Public Affairs, (561) 355-2754

Property owners have until Sept.14, 2009, to file a Value Adjustment Board (VAB) petition challenging the assessed value and classification of their property.  This is also the last day to file a late request for a homestead exemption or portability.

The Clerk & Comptroller’s office is expecting as many as 16,000 petitions from taxpayers disputing their proposed property tax notice. This represents a 21 percent increase over the 13,200 appeals filed last year with the Clerk’s office, which receives and processes petitions for the VAB.  The Property Appraiser notified property owners of their property’s assessed and market values in a Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice mailed on August 21.

There are many factors that may contribute to the projected rise in petitions including the sluggish economy, proposed increases in property taxes and a change in legislation that puts the burden of proving the accuracy of the assessment on the Property Appraiser. In previous years, the Property Appraiser was presumed correct and the taxpayer had to prove the information was wrong. 

How to File a Petition           

Taxpayers may file a VAB petition online using myVAB, a convenient service provided by the Clerk’s office on its Web site, www.mypalmbeachclerk.com. MyVAB gives petitioners real-time access to their petition, allows them to view scheduled hearings and submit supporting materials electronically.

Taxpayers who do not wish to file online may do so in person or by mail. To better serve customers, the Clerk’s office recently relocated its main VAB office to a larger, more convenient location on the first floor of the Governmental Center, 301 N. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach.  Petition forms are available at Clerk’s office locations, the Property Appraiser’s office, or on the Florida Department of Revenue's Web site.  Completed forms must be returned to the Clerk’s office along with a $15 filing fee.  The fee is the same for filing in person, by mail or online using myVAB.

The VAB is an independent entity that is not affiliated with the Property Appraiser or Tax Collector.  It approves and hires special magistrates to settle any disputes between the property owner and Property Appraiser. The Clerk’s office receives and processes petitions, schedules and coordinates hearings, and clerks and records the hearings.

For more information on myVAB, the Value Adjustment Board or the Clerk & Comptroller’s office, visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com or call (561) 355-6289.