As property tax bills are hitting mailboxes at the end of October/beginning of November, many of us may be left with questions pertaining to our bill. We may even have questions about the different authorities and agencies involved in property taxes here in Pinellas County. Sometimes it can be unclear exactly who the various players are in determining the amount of your property taxes – or more importantly, who to call when we need answers. This brief “who’s who” introduces the three main entities that are responsible for establishing, maintaining and collecting your property taxes, along with contact information.

• The Property Appraiser is available and always willing to assist the public with value and exemption questions, and we are more than happy to point you in the right direction if you have any questions regarding property taxes. As our office is charged with estimating the market value of every property in Pinellas County for tax purposes, we have several helpful resources as well as specific information regarding your property’s value. In addition to valuing property, we also apply the valuation caps that restrict assessed value, administer a variety of exemptions per state statutes and manage ownership mailing address changes. In addition to our four locations throughout Pinellas County, you can access information quickly from our website or call our general phone number to reach a representative during business hours.

Website: https://www.pcpao.gov Phone number: (727) 464-3207

• Municipalities and Other Taxing Authorities (such as the Board of County Commissioners and the School Board) plan their annual budget which then determines their tax rate, also known as the millage rate. Every year before their budgets are finalized, Taxing Authorities hold public meetings in late August for you to voice your concerns or ask questions. The meeting and contact information that is applicable to you is listed on the back of your TRIM Notice, which is sent to property owners in late August.

List of Taxing Authorities: https://www.pcpao.gov/learn-about/taxing-authorities

• The Tax Collector has just mailed the annual tax bill and will collect property taxes due on your property. Your bill will have information on how to pay along with early bird discounts. Their website shows if your property taxes have been paid along with payment history. If you have questions about payment options, a representative will be more than happy to take your questions:

Website: https://www.pinellastaxcollector.gov Phone number: (727) 464-7777

In short, the Property Appraiser assesses the value of property and applies any applicable exemptions to arrive at taxable value, which gives the Municipalities and Other Taxing Authorities knowledge of the Taxable Value base within their jurisdiction. These Taxing Authorities then use this data to adjust their tax rate dependent upon their budget needs and the Tax Collector creates the tax bills and manages the collection of taxes.