Hillsborough County Property Tax Notices In The Mail

TAMPA, FL – Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez is currently mailing the 2020 Notice of Proposed Property Taxes -- also known as the “Truth in Millage” (TRIM) notice – to all property owners in the county.

The TRIM notice is mailed each August and includes important information about each property including:

• The property’s assessed value as of Jan. 1, 2020
• Exemptions, if any, applied to the property
• The proposed taxes calculated based on the taxing authorities’ proposed millage rates
• The dates, times and venues of budget hearings for each of the various taxing authorities

Property owners should note their TRIM notice is not a bill. Instead, it is an estimate of proposed ad valorem taxes based on the expected tax rates, a property’s value and exemptions. The Hillsborough County property appraiser’s office does not set the tax rate, bill or collect taxes. It only determines a property’s market value for taxation purposes.

“I encourage all property owners to carefully review their TRIM Notice to ensure they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to by law,” Henriquez said. “If you need any help understanding your notice, please do not hesitate to contact my office.”

Last month, the Hillsborough County Commission voted to keep the tentative millage rate the same as it's been for more than 10 years. All property will be assessed at a rate of $5.74 per $1,000 of property value. Businesses and residents in the unincorporated county will also pay a rate of $4.74 per $1,000 for services county services. Those living in the incorporated cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace pay separate taxes for city services.

Two public hearings on the proposed county budget are scheduled for Sept. 10 and Sept. 17.

To help answer questions about the notices, Henriquez’s staff is available by telephone at 813-272-6100, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays.

During the same hours, the HCPA is also reopening three of its offices for limited walk-in service using social distancing guidelines. These locations include the first-floor lobby of the County Center in downtown Tampa, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., the Northwest Tampa office at the Westgate Plaza Shopping, 12082 Anderson Road, and the Southshore Regional Service Center in Ruskin, 410 30th St. SE.

TRIM notices can also be reviewed on the HCPA website by searching for an individual’s property. To help property owners understand the information found on TRIM notices, the HCPA has created an online explanation page.

If property owners disagree with the value set by the HCPA or believes they should have qualified for an exemption but do not see it listed, the should contact the HCPA at 813-272-6100 for an informal review. If owners are not satisfied with the outcome or would prefer not to discuss the matter with the HCPA, they can file a formal petition with the county's Value Adjustment Board (VAB). A formal petition form must be received by the VAB by Sept. 11.