TRIM notices in the mail
Property owners get look at likely tax levies
Lee County property owners are getting their first look at their potential property tax bills.
On Monday, Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell issued the annual Truth In Millage Notices for 2025 property values. The TRIM Notice shows property owners the assessed value of their property and how much they can expect to pay in property taxes this year. The notice also details the process and deadlines for taxpayers who have concerns about their values or exemptions.
Caldwell said values are based on Jan. 1, 2025 with cost, sales, and lease data from 2024.
TRIM notices are mailed after proposed property tax rates are set, but before taxing authorities take a final vote.
Tax rates can be lowered but they cannot be raised once the numbers are submitted for the TRIM notice.
TRIM notices include information about:
• The current “just value” or “fair market value” of your property
• Approved exemptions
• The governmental entities responsible for your taxes and
• The amount you owe each entity based on the value of your property
“The fair market value of your property is the amount for which it could sell on the open market,” Caldwell’s office states. “The Property Appraiser analyzes market transactions annually to determine fair market value as of January 1. Fair market value must be determined for every piece of property in Lee County each year. This includes over 530,000 parcels consisting of residential, agricultural, commercial, governmental and industrial properties, as well as over 74,000 tangible personal property accounts.”
According to Lee County Tax Collector Noelle Branning’s website, “TRIM notices are also important because they give you time to ask questions about the value of your property or the exemptions approved for the property. They also provide information on how to appeal the property’s value or a denial of exemption.”
For those who wish to dispute, Caldwell said the first best step is to call his office.
“We resolve 99 percent of taxpayer concerns informally,” he said. “If we cannot reach resolution, taxpayers have 25 days from the TRIM notice date (Aug. 18)) to file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board.”
As for the most common exemptions, Caldwell said, “The homestead is the most common exemption, but there are many more such as for the blind, disabled, widowed, etc. Taxpayers should visit the exemptions page at leepa.org.”
Caldwell’s office states that Homestead Exemption is a constitutional benefit that exempts up to $50,000 from the assessed value of a property. Additionally, an individual can benefit from “Save Our Homes” which limits increases to your assessed value (not an individual’s taxes) to the CPI or 3%, whichever is less. Homestead is granted to those applicants who timely file a homestead exemption application by March 1, possess title to real property, are bona fide Florida residents and live in the dwelling and make it their permanent home on Jan. 1.
TRIM notices are not a bill, but are for information only — nothing needs to be paid until the official tax bill arrives, which is mailed in November.
Branning’s website added, “Your tax bill will not match your TRIM notice. That’s because TRIM notices do not include Non-Ad Valorem taxes, which are assessments based on services (not property values) provided to you. Examples include stormwater or solid waste assessments. Thus, your TRIM notice will never match your tax bill because your tax bill will include those assessments.”
Property owners can be on the lookout for their TRIM Notices in the mail this week.
For additional information on TRIM notices, visit www.leepa.org.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com