Are you considering buying a home in one of the many gorgeous cities in Palm Beach County? Remember that purchase price isn’t everything: real estate taxes can significantly affect the affordability of your home.
One of the most confusing aspects of homeownership is property taxes. Even with similar values, you may pay more than your neighbor, and rates can vary a great deal from one city to the next. How are Palm Beach County property taxes calculated? What are property tax rates in the county?
Here’s everything you want to know about Palm Beach property taxes, including tax rates, how to pay, and exemptions that reduce your tax bill.
Overview of Palm Beach County Property Taxes
Property taxes in Palm Beach County are based on a property’s assessed value. The Palm Beach County property appraiser is responsible for assessing the value of properties as of January 1 and sending annual Notice of Proposed Property Taxes to property owners.
- All properties have a “just value,” assessed value, and taxable value:
- Just value refers to the property’s market value.
- Assessed value is the just value minus any assessment limitations.
Taxable value is the assessed value minus property tax exemptions. The Palm Beach County tax collector uses this value to calculate taxes that are owed.
Under Florida law, the county appraiser must remove any exemptions from the property when it is sold and reassess it to make the just value and assessed value the same. The sales price will become the “just value” or market value.
Property tax millage rates are set by local governments such as cities, school districts, and counties. Once the County Commission, School Board, and other taxing bodies set a tax rate, the county appraiser multiplies the appropriate millage rate by the property’s taxable value and sends a certified Tax Roll to the tax collector. Note the graphic below shows “ad valorem” taxes – or your property taxes based on your property’s value – are added to “non-ad valorem assessments.” The latter refers to fees that may be added to your property tax bill by levying authorities. A common example is a Solid Waste Authority fee.
The tax collector sends property tax bills, collects payments, and distributes taxes to local governments and taxing authorities like school districts. The tax collector is also responsible for selling tax certificates on properties when taxes become delinquent.
In August, a Notice of Proposed Property Taxes or Truth in Millage (TRIM) Notice is sent that shows your property’s taxable value starting on January 1. This notice also includes proposed millage rates and estimated property taxes. This is not a bill but merely an estimate based on proposed tax rates.
Palm Beach County Property Tax Search
You can do a Palm Beach County tax collector property search online to view your property tax history, current tax bill, assessed value, appraisals, property tax exemptions, and current property tax rate.
To check your current millage rate, use the Property Appraiser Public Access (PAPA) tool and search by address, PCN, or property owner name. Under Property Detail then Taxes, click on “Property Tax Detail” and look for your Total Certified Millage Rate.
You can even access Palm Beach County property records online with the PAPA mobile app!
Palm Beach County Property Tax Rates
Your Palm Beach property tax rate is expressed in mills. One mil is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value. If the millage rate is 22.34, that means you pay $22.34 for every $1,000 of taxable value.
You can use the Palm Beach County tax collector property search tool here to see your current millage rate. You will also see your proposed rate in your annual TRIM report.
Property taxes in Palm Beach County, FL depend on where you live.
- Unincorporated Palm Beach County tax rate: 17.39 mills
- Belle Glade: 23.9109 mills
- Boca Raton: 17.007 mills
- Boynton Beach: 21.2185
- Delray Beach: 20.1688 mills
- Greenacres: 20.3109 mills
- Glenridge: 17.369 mills
- Haverhill: 21.869 mills
- Jupiter: 18.4236 mills
- Lake Worth Beach: 23.3911 mills
- North Palm Beach: 20.3785 mills
- Palm Beach: 16.2251 mills
- Palm Beach Gardens: 19.4609 mills
- Royal Palm Beach: 19.289 mills
- Wellington: 19.839 mills
- West Palm Beach: 21.7468 mills
Note that these 2021 millage rates include all taxing authorities. You can see the full list of taxing authorities and final millage rates here.
Pay Palm Beach County Property Taxes | Tax Due Dates & How to Pay
You must pay Palm Beach County property taxes between November 1 and March 31. There is an early payment discount of 1% to 4%:
- 4% discount if paid by November 30
- 3% discount if paid by January 3
- 2% discount if paid by January 31
- 1% discount if paid by February 28
Property taxes are delinquent the day after the payment window ends. For 2021, taxes are delinquent on April 1. Once taxes are delinquent, they cannot be paid online.
How to Pay Property Taxes
You can pay your tax bill in several ways.
Click here to pay Palm Beach County property taxes online. You will need to search by owner name, address, or Property Control Number. You will see your current taxes owed. Click the “add to cart” button and then “checkout” to pay your bill.
Note that eChecks are free, but there is a 2.4% convenience fee for debit and credit card payments.
You can mail your payments to the address below. Your payment must be postmarked on or before the deadline to get the early payment discount. A check or money order should be made payable to “Tax Collector, PBC.”
Tax Collector, Palm Beach County
P.O. Box 3715
West Palm Beach, FL 33402-3715
Property taxes can be paid at PBC Tax Service Center locations. Service centers also have drop boxes for after-hours payments.
Installment Plans & Deferrals
If you have a homestead exemption and qualify, you can request a partial or full deferral of your property taxes. However, the deferral becomes a priority lien against your home with interest accruing until it’s paid in full up to 7% per year.
If you can’t pay your taxes in full before they are delinquent, you can enroll in an installment plan. Click here for the property tax installment plan application. For 2021, applications must be submitted by April 30. Your tax bill will be broken into four equal installments:
- First installment due June 30, 2021 for a 6% discount or July 31 with no discount.
- Second installment due September 30, 2021.
- Third installment due December 31, 2021.
- Fourth installment due March 31, 2023.
Additional Information on Palm Beach Property Taxes
Below is additional information regarding office locations, appealing your property tax assessment, and exemptions to reduce your tax bill.
Property Tax Appeals
Property owners have the right to appeal their property’s assessed value and allowed exemptions. Your TRIM report in August will explain the taxes you will owe (pending budget changes that affect mill rates) and your property’s assessed value. If you do not agree, you can file an appeal with the Palm Beach County Value Adjustment Board (VAB) within 25 days.
This petition must be filed before the deadline. The petition includes instructions that must be followed. You must submit evidence to support your claim while the property appraiser is required to present information supporting the assessment.
Property Tax Exemptions
Palm Beach County property tax exemptions are administered by the property appraiser’s office. These exemptions reduce your home’s assessed value and your property tax bill.
Florida Homestead Exemption
The primary Palm Beach County property tax exemption is the homestead exemption. To qualify, the property must be your permanent residence. The Florida Homestead Exemption is $25,000 applied to the first $50,000 of assessed value if you owned the property as your primary residence on January 1 of the tax year. There is an additional exemption up to $25,000 if your assessed value is between $50,000 and $75,000. The first $25,000 exemption applies to all property taxes including school district taxes, but the second exemption does not.
Click here for the Florida homestead exemption application which can be mailed to the property appraiser or filed in person. You can also click here to e-file the homestead exemption application.
Your application must be submitted by March 1.
Limited Income Senior Exemption
Palm Beach County seniors who are 65 or older with a homestead exemption can qualify for this additional exemption with limited income. Your income must be below the limit set by the Department of Revenue, or $31,100 for 2021. This income limit does not apply to non-taxable Social Security income or tax-exempt bond interest.
The additional exemption only applies to specific taxing authorities, not school districts. The exemption is as follows for the following authorities.
- $50,000 exemption for: Town of Haverhill, Town of Loxahatchee Groves & Village of Wellington
- $25,000 exemption for Palm Beach County, City of Boynton Beach, City of Lake Worth Beach, City of Palm Beach Gardens, Town of Lantana, Town of Jupiter, and Village of Palm Springs
- $5,000 exemption for Village of Royal Palm Beach
Here is the Limited Income Senior Exemption application.
Other Property Tax Exemptions
All of these exemptions require that you have a homestead exemption on the property.
- Widow & Widowers
- Civilian Disability
- Living Quarters of Parents or Grandparents (“Granny Flat” exemption)
- Disabled veteran
- Veterans 65+ with Combat Related Disabilities
- Active Duty Military
- Surviving Spouse of Military Veteran Who Died in the Line of Duty
- Disabled Law Enforcement & First Responder
- Institutional
3% Save Our Homes Cap
With the homestead exemption, you also qualify for the 3% Save Our Homes (SOH) cap. This cap limits increases to the assessed value of a property with a homestead exemption to no more than 3% each year or the percentage of change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.
Palm Beach Property Appraiser Office
The Palm Beach County property appraiser is Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS, elected to the position in 2016. The property appraiser has five office locations open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm. You can call 561-355-3230 for general questions or contact each office below.
- Downtown Service Center, 301 Olive Avenue, First Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 (561) 355-2866
- North County Service Center, 3188 PGA Boulevard Second Floor, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 (561) 624-6521
- Mid West County Service Center, 200 Civic Center Way # 200, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 (561) 784-1220
- Belle Glade Service Center, 2976 FL-15, Belle Glade, FL 33430 (561) 996-4890
- South County Service Center, 14925 Cumberland Dr, Delray Beach, FL 33446 (561) 276-1201
Palm Beach County Tax Collector Office
The Palm Beach tax collector is Anne M. Gannon. The office of the Constitutional Tax Collector processes vehicle titles, registrations, and driver’s licenses and collects property taxes. They are essentially the DMV in Florida as well as the tax collector.
Palm Beach County tax collector locations can be found here. The main office is located at the Governmental Center in West Palm Beach.
Constitutional Tax Collector, 301 N Olive Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 (561) 355-2264
Palm Beach County, FL Property Tax FAQ
When are property taxes due in Palm Beach County, Florida?
Palm Beach County property taxes are due November 1 to March 31. Discounts are offered for paying early during this period. Taxes are delinquent on April 1.
How do I dispute property taxes in Palm Beach County?
You can dispute your assessed value, tax bill, and/or exemptions by filing this appeal with the Palm Beach County Value Adjustment Board after receiving your TRIM report in August.
Are Palm Beach County property taxes paid in arrears?
Property taxes are paid in arrears in Florida. This means your property taxes are paid at the end of the year (or beginning or the next year) for the prior year.
When are Palm Beach County property taxes mailed out?
The Tax Collector mails Palm Beach County property tax bills on or shortly before November 1.
Unfortunately, we can’t help you with your property taxes in Palm Beach County, but we can definitely make the move into your new home easier! Give us a call at Meehan’s Family Moving for a stress-free move into your new home.
