The Florida Senate

197.252  Homestead tax deferral.--

(1)  Any person who is entitled to claim homestead tax exemption under the provisions of s. 196.031(1) may elect to defer payment of a portion of the combined total of the ad valorem taxes and any non-ad valorem assessments which would be covered by a tax certificate sold under this chapter levied on that person's homestead by filing an annual application for tax deferral with the county tax collector on or before January 31 following the year in which the taxes and non-ad valorem assessments are assessed. Any applicant who is entitled to receive the homestead tax exemption but has waived it for any reason shall furnish, with the application for tax deferral, a certificate of eligibility to receive the exemption. Such certificate shall be prepared by the county property appraiser upon request of the taxpayer. It shall be the burden of each applicant to affirmatively demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this section.

(2)(a)  Approval of an application for tax deferral shall defer that portion of the combined total of ad valorem taxes and any non-ad valorem assessments which would be covered by a tax certificate sold under this chapter otherwise due and payable on the applicant's homestead pursuant to s. 197.333 which exceeds 5 percent of the applicant's household's income for the prior calendar year. If any such applicant's household income for the prior calendar year is less than $10,000, approval of such application shall defer such ad valorem taxes plus non-ad valorem assessments in their entirety.

(b)  In the event the applicant is entitled to claim the increased exemption by reason of age and residency as provided in s. 196.031(3)(a), approval of such application shall defer that portion of such ad valorem taxes plus non-ad valorem assessments which exceeds 3 percent of the applicant's household's income for the prior calendar year. If any such applicant's household income for the prior calendar year is less than $10,000, or is less than $12,000 if such applicant is 70 years of age or older, approval of such application shall defer such ad valorem taxes plus non-ad valorem assessments in their entirety.

(c)  The household income of an applicant who applies for a tax deferral before the end of the calendar year in which the taxes and non-ad valorem assessments are assessed shall be for the current year, adjusted to reflect estimated income for the full calendar year period. The estimate of a full year's household income shall be made by multiplying the household income received to the date of application by a fraction, the numerator being 365 and the denominator being the number of days expired in the calendar year to the date of application.

(3)  No tax deferral shall be granted:

(a)  If the total amount of deferred taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and interest plus the total amount of all other unsatisfied liens on the homestead exceeds 85 percent of the assessed value of the homestead, or

(b)  If the primary mortgage financing on the homestead is for an amount which exceeds 70 percent of the assessed value of the homestead.

(4)  The amount of taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and interest deferred pursuant to this act shall accrue interest at a rate equal to the semiannually compounded rate of one-half of 1 percent plus the average yield to maturity of the long-term fixed-income portion of the Florida Retirement System investments as of the end of the quarter preceding the date of the sale of the deferred payment tax certificates; however, the interest rate may not exceed 9.5 percent.

(5)  The taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and interest deferred pursuant to this act shall constitute a prior lien and shall attach as of the date and in the same manner and be collected as other liens for taxes, as provided for under this chapter, but such deferred taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and interest shall only be due, payable, and delinquent as provided in this act.

History.--s. 3, ch. 77-301; s. 2, ch. 78-161; s. 20, ch. 79-334; s. 145, ch. 85-342; s. 1, ch. 89-328; s. 1007, ch. 95-147; s. 5, ch. 98-139.

Note.--Former s. 197.0165.