How much does it cost to file a Value Adjustment Board petition in Florida?
How much does it cost to file a Value Adjustment Board petition in Florida?
Florida law caps the VAB petition filing fee at $15 per parcel; there is no fee for homestead-exemption-denial or tax-deferral appeals, and the fee is waived for documented recipients of temporary assistance under Chapter 414.
Filing a Value Adjustment Board (VAB) petition in Florida is inexpensive. Under Fla. Stat. §194.013, the board may set a filing fee “not to exceed $15 for each separate parcel of property, real or personal, covered by the petition.” Most counties charge the full $15 per parcel; a single petition covering several contiguous parcels (filed with the DR-486MU attachment) is charged per parcel.
No fee in two situations. The statute provides that no filing fee is required for petitions that contest a denial of a homestead exemption or a tax deferral. So if your only issue is that the appraiser wrongly denied your homestead, you can petition the VAB at no cost.
Fee waiver for hardship. The board must waive the fee for a petitioner who, at the time of filing, submits documentation showing he or she is “an eligible recipient of temporary assistance under chapter 414” (Florida's public-assistance program), administered through the Department of Children and Families.
How and when to pay. The fee accompanies the petition when you file it with the clerk of the VAB by the 25-day deadline (§194.011(3)(d)). Counties with online VAB portals accept card payment at filing; some also allow you to file online and mail a check or money order. The fee is generally non-refundable even if you later withdraw, so confirm you intend to proceed before paying.
Compared with the contingency fees charged by appeal services, the $15 statutory cap means the procedural cost of a DIY Florida appeal is minimal — the real investment is the evidence you assemble for the hearing.