Palm Beach County taxpayers have until Sept. 16 to challenge their property’s market value, classification or an exemption by petitioning the county’s Value Adjustment Board, or VAB.
Hearings on petitions filed in 2013 will begin Sept. 30. Last year, Palm Beach County property owners filed 6,390 VAB petitions, down 18.2 percent from 7,809 VAB petitions filed in 2011.
Taxpayers have three options to file VAB petitions: online at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com using myVAB, in person at the clerk’s governmental center or branch locations, or by mail to 301 N. Olive Ave., Room 203, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
Nearly 30 percent of petitioners used the clerk’s myVAB system to file their VAB petitions last year. The myVAB system gives real-time access to petitions, allows petitioners to view scheduled hearings and submits supporting materials electronically.
“More than 13,000 petitions have been filed online through myVAB since we launched the service in 2008,” Palm Beach County Clerk Sharon Bock said. “For those property owners who choose to contest their tax bills, myVAB is a simple, convenient way to file a petition and get updates throughout the VAB process.”
Petition forms for those who choose not to use the online myVAB option are available from the clerk’s office, the property appraiser’s office or the Florida Department of Revenue’s web site. All VAB petitions, whether submitted in person, online or by mail, must include a $15 filing fee.
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits notified taxpayers of their property’s assessed and market values in a truth in millage (TRIM) notice that began arriving in mailboxes on Aug. 23.
The VAB, which consists of two county commissioners, one school board member and two citizen members, approves and hires special magistrates to settle any disputes between property owners and property appraiser. It is an independent entity that is not affiliated with the property appraiser or tax collector.
As clerk to the VAB, the clerk’s office receives and processes petitions, schedules and coordinates hearings, records the hearings and more. For more information, visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com or call (561) 355-6289.
The Florida Constitution established the independent office of the clerk and comptroller as a public trustee, responsible for safeguarding public records and public funds. Bock is directly elected by and accountable to Palm Beach County residents.
In addition to the roles of clerk of the circuit court, county recorder and clerk of the board of county commissioners, Bock is the chief financial officer, treasurer and auditor for Palm Beach County.
