Hillsborough & Pinellas Property Tax Assessments Mailed - What to Check

Every August and September, Tampa Bay homeowners receive their TRIM notice (Truth in Millage) - the proposed property tax assessment for the year. Most people glance at it and file it. That's a mistake. This is your one window to act.

What to check

• Assessed vs market value. Is the assessment fair, or did the county overstate your value?
• Homestead status. If you bought mid-year, is your homestead exemption applied? (It may not be - and you can file for next year.)
• Save Our Homes gap. For homesteaded owners, watch the difference between assessed and market value - it's your tax shield.
• Millage rates. Did your city or county commission change the rate?
• Exemptions. Veterans, disability, senior, and other exemptions you may qualify for.

You can appeal

If the assessment is too high, you can petition the county Value Adjustment Board - typically within 25 days of the notice. An over-assessment costs you every year until corrected, so it's worth checking. I help clients pull comparable sales to support an appeal.

For buyers under contract

The seller's low, homestead-capped taxes will not be yours. Underwrite the post-purchase tax - the assessment reset to market - so your monthly budget is real, not aspirational.

Got your TRIM notice and it looks off? Message me and I'll help you pull the comps to decide if an appeal makes sense.