Plain-words guide

What is the TRIM notice Florida homeowners get in August?

Every August, Florida county property appraisers mail a TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice to each property owner. It is not a bill. It shows your property's just (market) value, assessed value, exemptions, and what your taxes will be under each taxing authority's proposed rates. It matters because it starts a deadline: if you think the value is wrong, you generally have 25 days from the notice's mailing date to petition the county's Value Adjustment Board (VAB) — for most counties that deadline lands in mid-September.

Read these three lines

Just value (what the appraiser thinks the home would sell for), assessed value (after Save Our Homes caps), and taxable value (after exemptions). Errors usually hide in the just value or a missing homestead exemption.

If the value looks wrong

First call the property appraiser's office — many issues (wrong square footage, missing exemption) get fixed informally, free. If that fails, file a VAB petition before your county's deadline (filing fee is modest, typically $15). The deadline is printed on the TRIM notice itself.

Do it in 60 seconds: Paste your TRIM notice into Tax Appeal FL — it tells you whether an appeal looks worth it and walks you through the VAB petition steps, free.
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Common questions

Is the TRIM notice a bill?

No. The actual tax bill comes in November. The TRIM notice is your only formal warning of what the bill will be — and your window to contest the value.

What is the deadline to appeal?

25 days after the property appraiser mails the TRIM notices — the exact date is printed on your notice. Miss it and you generally wait until next year.

Do I need a lawyer to petition the VAB?

No. Homeowners file and present themselves routinely. Evidence that helps: recent comparable sales, photos of condition issues, a recent appraisal.

Sources: Florida Dept. of Revenue — Property tax oversight & VAB · Florida Dept. of Revenue — TRIM. This guide is general information, not legal, financial, or medical advice.