City: Tampa Bay, FL

Category: Relocation

Telephone: (727) 464-3207

Address: 315 Court St.

Description: The Florida Department of Revenue oversees taxes, including sales tax and property tax, and also collects and distributes child support payments. Florida has no state or local personal income tax.Of course, few people want to pay taxes, but most people want all the services provided by programs funded with tax dollars. Because Florida allows citizens to propose laws via amendments to the state constitution, we have passed some initiatives that have limited property taxes for a given number of years. Then we’ve told the legislators to figure out how to pay for schools and other programs with less money. We have also disagreed on how land should be valued. Should land stay valued at the price we paid for it and adjusted only for inflation and the cost of improvements? Or should the potential use of the land be considered, too? Property taxes in Florida are so complicated we won’t try to summarize them here. If you plan to purchase property in Florida, check with the property appraiser’s office before you buy to find out what your tax assessment would be. Do this even if you have looked to see what the previous property owner was paying in taxes—they may have bought their property during a time when property taxes were capped at a particular rate. Ask if you qualify for the Homestead Exemption.