Highlands County
Highlands County, Florida
Sebring, Fl 33870
Sebring, Florida 33870
Tel: 863-402-6500
County Website: Highlands county
Assessor Website: Highlands county assessor
Highlands County Property Assessment Adjustment Instructions
- If you wish to file a petition to the VAB, the required forms may be acquired at the Property Appraiser's office, 560 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring FL 33870.
- Petitions are also available online from this website under "Forms." Completed petitions should be filed with the VAB. There is a non-refundable $15.00 filing fee with checks made payable to Highlands County Board of County Commissioners, which must be paid before the petition is considered "filed."
- The VAB is open Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is located in Room 228, Highlands County Courthouse, 590 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870.
URLs
Here's how to lower your property taxes in Highlands county
Contact the county assessor
Contact the Highlands county tax assessor's office and ask for a review of the property's value. Visit the Highlands county assessor's website to find the phone number to call. If the assessor determines that your property is worth less than the value on which your taxes are based, your property taxes may be lowered.
Tax exemptions
Start by finding what your tax bill is. Typically you will find your tax bill information on your mortgage statement. Look for tax exemptions or credits that you may be eligible for. Many states and localities offer exemptions or credits for homeowners who meet certain criteria, information such as being over a certain age or having a low income. Highlands county may have these types of exemptions available for homeowners. These exemptions and credits can lower the property tax you owe.
Appeal tax assessment
Appeal the property tax assessment. If you believe that your property's value has been overestimated, you can typically appeal the assessment to your Highlands county tax assessor's office. This is part of the services that your assessor's office provides. You will need to provide evidence to support your claim, such as a recent appraisal or sales data for comparable properties and homes in your area. Usually, you will meet with the Board of Equalization. If your appeal is successful, your property taxes may be lowered.
Challenge the tax rate
Consider challenging the tax rate. In some cases, the amount of property taxes you owe is not based on the value of your property, but on the tax rate set by your local government. If you believe that the tax rate is too high, you can contact your Highlands county government and ask them to consider reducing it.
Property Tax Rules
Stay up-to-date on your property's value and property tax rules. For the purpose of lowering your Highlands county property tax, property value is the assessed property value and not the market property value. Assessed property value is used for taxation purposes while market property value is what a buyer and seller would likely agree on. Typically the assessed value is lower than the market value. Your property's value can change over time due to a variety of factors, such as changes in the local real estate market or improvements you make to your property. To ensure that your property taxes are accurate and fair, it is important to stay informed about your property's value and contact Highlands county local tax assessor's office if you believe there has been a significant change.
Keep in mind that property tax laws and regulations can vary, so it is important to consult with your Highlands county Florida tax assessor's office for specific information about how to reduce your property taxes.
About Highlands County
Homes in Highlands county have a median home value of $116,329.
Highlands county home values are ranked 50 out of 67 counties in the state of Florida for median home price. The average median home value in Florida is $172,194. Glades county has the lowest median price at $74,319. Monroe county has the highest median price at $558,287.
Compared to the rest of the United States, Highlands county homes have a median home value that is less than the national median value of $130,626 by ~-11%.
The median household income in Highlands county is $43,708.
Compared to the state of Florida and the United States, Highlands county's median household income is lower than the state of Florida's average median household income of $53,012 and the United States average median household income of $54,172.
Highlands county's population has grown from 68,432 in 1990 to 101,235 in 2020, an increase of 48% over that time frame.
For comparison, the state of Florida's population has grown from 12,938,071 in 1990 to 21,538,187 in 2020, an increase of 66% over that time frame.
In the United States, the population has grown from 248,790,925 in 1990 to 331,449,281 in 2020, an increase of 33% over that time frame.
Highlands county's population change from 1990 to 2020 is less than the population change for Florida and greater than the population change for United States.
Highlands County Florida Cities
Avon Park, Lake Placid, Lorida, Sebring, Venus
Highlands County Florida Zipcodes
33825 / 33852 / 33857 / 33870 / 33872 / 33960 /
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