Apply for a Property Tax Refund due to a Catastrophic Event (Form DR-465 / PC-465)
The loss or damage to your home due to a calamity (hurricane, fire or otherwise) is a devastating experience. If you have been displaced from your home for more than 30 days, you may be eligible for a partial property tax refund for the year in which the catastrophic event happened.
Property values and tax bills for the current tax year are based on values as of January 1. While the current year tax bills will not be reduced, residential property owners are eligible for a partial property tax refund due to damage associated with a catastrophic event if certain conditions are met:
- The property must be rendered uninhabitable from damage associated with a hurricane or other catastrophic event for a minimum of 30 days from the date of the event.
- The owner must provide our office a completed form DR-465/PC-465 Application for Catastrophic Event Tax Refund as per Section 197.319, Florida Statutes .
- The DR-465/PC-465 form must be accompanied by supporting documentation showing the real property could not be inhabited after the catastrophic event to include utility bills, insurance claims, contractor statements, permit applications, or certificates of occupancy.
- The deadline to file for the refund is March 1 of the year immediately following the catastrophic event.
- The taxpayer is still responsible for paying property taxes owed before the refund can be issued. Any tax payments paid after March 31, 2025, are considered delinquent and will be ineligible for a refund. Tax bills are available on the Pinellas County Tax Collectors website.
- Refunds will be issued to the taxpayer after confirmation that the above conditions have been met.
IF YOU WERE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE DEBBY, HELENE or MILTON, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
The March 3, 2025, deadline has passed. However, residential property owners may still apply for the partial property tax refund but must also petition the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) within 30 days requesting the refund be granted pursuant to Sections 197.319(2)(d)1.; 197.319(4), Florida Statutes.
Please review the following steps carefully if you believe you are eligible to apply:
Step 1: Apply for the partial property tax refund.
- Review the instructions, documentation required and refund calculations carefully.
- Provide supporting documentation showing the real property could not be inhabited following the date of the catastrophic event.
- Please submit enough photos (no more than 10) that best show the type and extent of damage your property incurred,
- Also provide a utility bill, insurance claim, contractor statement, permit application, or certificate of occupancy.
- Review the dates below for the maximum number of days uninhabitable in 2024 based on the storm that impacted Pinellas County:
| Storm Name | Date | # Days until Dec 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Milton | October 9, 2024 | 84 |
| Hurricane Helene | September 26, 2024 | 97 |
| Hurricane Debby | August 3, 2024 | 151 |
Step 2: File a VAB petition with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Courts within 30 days.
- Visit Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller website to file a petition with Value Adjustment Board (VAB) at https://vabpetitions.mypinellasclerk.gov/2025/
- Note there is a non-refundable filing fee of $15.00
Once you have petitioned the VAB and met the requirements for the refund, you will then be requested to withdraw your petition so that our office can process your partial property tax refund. You will receive a notification from our office once our process is complete and moved on to the Tax Collector’s office for refund issuance. Should our office not approve your refund based on the documentation provided, you have the option to leave your petition in place and appear before a special magistrate at the VAB in late 2025 to appeal our decision.
Once you have applied and met the requirements for the refund, it will take a minimum of 4-6 weeks to issue the refund (process starts with the Property Appraiser and ends with Tax Collector issuing refund). Thank you!
If there are more questions regarding storm damage, please visit our Storm Damage FAQs page.
