Okeechobee County Property Appraiser - Okeechobee, FL
Okeechobee Florida
Okeechobee County Property Appraiser
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F A Q (Frequently Asked Questions)

Select a category, or scroll down to read the entire FAQ:

  • Exemptions
  • Tangible Personal Property
  • Property Assessments
  • County Property Maps
  • Contact Info
  • ...more to come...



    Exemptions (Back to Top)

    ... coming soon...

    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Tangible Personal Property (Back to Top)

    Question: What is Tangible Personal Property?
    Answer: Everything other than real estate that has a value by itself. It includes items such as furniture, fixtures, tools, machinery, household appliances, signs, equipment, leasehold improvements, supplies, leased equipment and any other equipment used in a business or to earn income.

    Question: Who must file?
    Answer: Anyone in possession of assets on January 1, who has a proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or is a self-employed agent or contractor, must file each year. Property owners who lease, lend, or rent property must also file a return.

    Question: Why must I file a return?
    Answer: Florida Statute 193.052 requires that all tangible personal property be reported each year to the Property Appraiser's office. If you receive a return, it is because our office has determined that you may have property to report. If you feel that this form is not applicable, return it with an explanation. Either way, the form MUST be returned to our office. Failure to receive a Personal Property Tax Return (DR-405) does not relieve you of your obligation to file.

    Question: How can I obtain the form DR-405?
    Answer: At the beginning of each year a return is mailed to all Tangible Personal Property owners. If you do not get one, please contact the Property Appraiser's office.
    or Click here to download the Tangible Tax Form

    Question: What if I have no assets to report? Do I still need to file a return?
    Answer: Yes, If you feel that you have nothing to report, fill out items 1-9 on the return and attach an explanation of why nothing was reported. However, almost all businesses and rental units have some assets to report even if they are only supplies, rented equipment or household goods.

    Question: If I am no longer in business, should I still file a return?
    Answer: Yes. If you were not in business as of January 1st of the Tax Year do the following: On you return indicate the date you went out of business and the manner in which you disposed of your business assets. Remember - if you still have the assets, you must file a return and list these items.

    Question: What if I have old equipment that has been fully depreciated and written off the books?
    Answer: Whether fully depreciated on your accounting records or not, all property still in use should be reported.

    Question: Do I have to report assets that I lease, loan, borrow, rent, or are provided in the rent?
    Answer: Yes. There is an area on your return specifically for those assets. Even though the assets are assessed to the owner, they must be listed for informational purposes.

    Question: If I rent my furnished home or dwelling for a few months a year, do I have to file a Tangible Personal Tax Return?
    Answer: Yes. Since rental activity is of an income producing nature, you must file a return, which lists your personal property. Items that should be listed are: draperies, furniture, appliances and any other personal property included in a rental unit.

    Question: What are the deadlines and penalties for late filing?
    Answer: The deadline for filing a timely return is April 1st. After April 1st, Florida Statutes provide that penalties be applied at 5% per month that the return is late. There is a 25% penalty if no return is filed!

    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Assessments (Back to Top)

    Question: Is my Mobile home considered Real or Tangible property?
    Answer: If you own both the land and the mobile home, it is considered Real Property. If you do NOT own the land but do own the mobile home, you are required to purchase a MH sticker for your mobile home in January of each year. The MH sticker takes the place of Tangible Personal taxes on the mobile home. Any attachments to the mobile home would be considered personal property. If no MH sticker is purchased and visibly affixed, then both the mobile home and attachments are considered personal property.

    Question: What if I don't agree with the assessed value that appears on the notice of proposed taxes (TRIM notice) that I receive in August?
    Answer: Call the Property Appraiser's Office or come in to discuss the matter with us. If you have evidence that the appraised value is more than the actual fair market value of your property, we will welcome the opportunity to review all pertinent facts. After talking with us, if you still feel the assessment is too high, you may file a petition to be heard at the Value Adjustment Board hearings.

    Question: What is an "office" or "field review" assessment?
    Answer: When a Tangible Personal Property Tax return is NOT filed by the deadline of April 1, the Property Appraiser is required to place an assessment on the property. This assessment represents an estimate based on the value of businesses with similar equipment and assets. Being assessed does not alleviate your responsibility to file an accurate return.

    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    County Property Maps (Back to Top)

    ...coming soon...


    Check out our on-line Record Search feature for full access to your Property Assessments and other associated information.

    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Contact Info (Back to Top)

    Please visit our Contact Us page for more information.


    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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  •   | HOME | Record Search | GIS Map | General Info | Exemptions | Tangible Tax | F A Q | Contact Us |
     
     
    This information was derived from data which was compiled by the Okeechobee County Property Appraiser's Office solely for the governmental purpose of property assessment. This information should not be relied upon by anyone as a determination of the ownership of property or market value. No warranties, expressed or implied, are provided for the accuracy of the data herein, it's use, or it's interpretation. Although it is periodically updated, this information may not reflect the data currently on file in the Property Appraiser's office. The assessed values are NOT certified values and therefore are subject to change before being finalized for ad valorem assessment purposes.

    Notice:
    Under Florida Law, e-mail addresses are public record. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead contact this office by phone or in writing.



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