Under the category of good news, sometimes it pays off to say, "No." When we sold our home in 2021, the title company asked if we wanted to transfer our "over 65 homestead exemption?" I declined doing that without fully understanding the merits of making the right choice.
We didn't move into our new home until May of 2023. When I attempted to file an over-65 homestead exemption, I found it was too late in the year to do so. The county official told me I could subsequently apply in 2024.
Earlier this year, when I went to file for the exemption, I asked about the previous "over 65 homestead exemption" that I chose not to transfer from the previous sale of my home. Would it be to my advantage to provide that documentation? The county official told me that it would possibly be in my best interest to provide that documentation. I needed to go back to the county in which that homestead exemption had been granted and get a "tax ceiling certificate."
I telephoned the tax appraisal office in the county in which the previous home had been located. Did I mention, I hate an automatic "if you know your party's extension…" Actually, that would have been preferrable to no answer at all. I terminated the telephone call and made several other attempts that left me equally frustrated. No one answered the telephone.
I figured I would be better served to just show up at the tax appraiser's office and walk away with the document that I needed. I was obviously delusional at the time. I filled out an application requesting the tax ceiling certificate that I needed.
When I turned the application in, I asked for the timeline before I would receive the certificate? Seriously, I was hopeful of walking away with it that day. I was at the tax office at the first of the month. The person said, "Hopefully by the end of the month. We are really busy."
Six weeks later, I was still waiting. I sent an electronic request asking for an update. I received a response that my email had been forwarded to the appropriate office. I can't truthfully say that I was totally surprised, but another month passed, and I had received no information.
Okay, it was time to play the "squeaky wheel gets the grease game." I sent another email chronicling my effort to receive a tax ceiling certificate. Within 30 minutes, the tax ceiling certificate was emailed to me. I was elated.
The next week, I hand delivered the tax ceiling certificate to the county in which I reside. I asked what impact the certificate would have on my taxes? The person said, "Let me check." She returned momentarily with the news that it would only impact the county school tax, but that the school tax would reflect a 40% reduction.
I'm not sure I danced a jig in the tax office, but I could not have been more pleased. The savings were significant. For the record, it is to your advantage to Just Say No.
All My Best,
Don
