The Florida Senate

196.081  Exemption for certain permanently and totally disabled veterans and for surviving spouses of veterans.--

(1)  Any real estate that is owned and used as a homestead by a veteran who was honorably discharged with a service-connected total and permanent disability and for whom a letter from the United States Government or United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor has been issued certifying that the veteran is totally and permanently disabled is exempt from taxation, if the veteran is a permanent resident of this state on January 1 of the tax year for which exemption is being claimed or was a permanent resident of this state on January 1 of the year the veteran died.

(2)  The production by a veteran or the spouse or surviving spouse of a letter of total and permanent disability from the United States Government or United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor before the property appraiser of the county in which property of the veteran lies is prima facie evidence of the fact that the veteran or the surviving spouse is entitled to the exemption.

(3)  If the totally and permanently disabled veteran predeceases his or her spouse and if, upon the death of the veteran, the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead and permanently resides thereon as specified in s. 196.031, the exemption from taxation carries over to the benefit of the veteran's spouse until such time as he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property. If the spouse sells the property, an exemption not to exceed the amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may be transferred to his or her new residence, as long as it is used as his or her primary residence and he or she does not remarry.

(4)(a)  Any real estate that is owned and used as a homestead by the surviving spouse of a veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty as a member of the United States Armed Forces and for whom a letter from the United States Government or United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor has been issued certifying that the veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty is exempt from taxation if the veteran was a permanent resident of this state on January 1 of the year in which the veteran died.

(b)  The production by the surviving spouse of a letter that was issued as required under paragraph (a) and that attests the veteran's death while on active duty is prima facie evidence of the fact that the surviving spouse is entitled to an exemption under paragraph (a).

(c)  The tax exemption that applies under paragraph (a) to the surviving spouse carries over to the benefit of the veteran's surviving spouse as long as the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead, permanently resides thereon as specified in s. 196.031, and does not remarry. If the surviving spouse sells the property, an exemption not to exceed the amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may be transferred to his or her new residence as long as it is used as his or her primary residence and he or she does not remarry.

History.--s. 1, ch. 57-778; s. 1, ch. 65-193; ss. 1, 2, ch. 69-55; s. 2, ch. 71-133; s. 1, ch. 76-163; s. 1, ch. 77-102; s. 1, ch. 83-71; s. 10, ch. 86-177; s. 1, ch. 92-167; s. 62, ch. 93-268; s. 1, ch. 93-400; s. 1, ch. 97-157.

Note.--Former s. 192.111.