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Glossary · Property Tax

TRIM Notice

August's 'Truth in Millage' mailer: the only warning you get before tax rates are set.

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Quick definition
The TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice is the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes every Florida property owner receives from the county property appraiser in August. It shows your property's just, assessed, and taxable values; each taxing authority's proposed millage; what your bill will be if the proposals pass; and the public hearing dates. It is not a bill — but it starts the clock: a petition to challenge your assessment with the Value Adjustment Board is due 25 days after the notice is mailed.

How to read it

Three values matter: just (market) value — the appraiser's estimate of what the property is worth; assessed value — just value minus any accumulated Save Our Homes or 10% cap benefit; and taxable value — assessed value minus exemptions. The columns compare last year's taxes, this year's under the proposed rates, and this year's under the rolled-back rate (the rate that would raise the same revenue as last year).

The 25-day clock

Disagree with the just value? The path is a Value Adjustment Board petition, due 25 days from the notice's mailing date — a deadline that expires long before the November bill arrives. Owners who wait for the actual bill have usually already lost the year. Informal review with the property appraiser's office first often resolves errors without a petition.

Why the first year in a home is the shocker

New owners see the biggest TRIM surprises: the sale resets assessed value toward the purchase price, wiping the prior owner's accumulated caps. Budget from the millage against your own price, never from what the seller paid — our county property-tax pages and estimator do that arithmetic.

Common questions.

Is the TRIM notice a tax bill?
No — it's the notice of proposed taxes. The actual bill arrives around November 1, with early-payment discounts for paying ahead of March.
How long do I have to challenge my Florida assessment?
A Value Adjustment Board petition is due 25 days after the TRIM notice is mailed. Start with the property appraiser's office informally; the petition deadline still governs.
Why did my taxes jump after buying?
The sale reset the assessed value, removing the previous owner's accumulated Save Our Homes or non-homestead cap benefit. First-year bills are computed on your purchase-era value.
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