Taxes That Apply To Mobile Homes
What To Know About Mobile Home Taxes!
Problem Tangible Personal Property Tax Mobile Home Appointment
An appointment is needed to resolve a problem with a mobile home for which delinquent
tangible personal property taxes are due and the information about the mobile home’s
motor vehicle title is in question.
Those seeking an appointment are required to bring the Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) of the mobile home and a current Motor Vehicle Title listing the owner(s)
of the mobile home in order to be served.
Schedule Appointment
Sales Taxes
WHAT SHOULD MOBILE HOME OWNERS KNOW ABOUT SALES TAXES?
When a mobile home is purchased in Florida, the new owner is responsible for paying
the state sales tax (6%) and any applicable local option sales tax due
(1% not to
exceed $50).
Licensed dealers selling mobile homes must collect and remit sales taxes to the
Florida Department of Revenue (DOR).
Individuals buying mobile homes from anyone other than a licensed dealer are required
to remit the sales taxes due to the Tax Collector’s Office when they transfer
the title on the mobile home.
Mobile homes assessed as Real Property (RP) and sold with the land are exempt from
paying sales taxes when transfering a mobile home title.
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Vehicle Registration Taxes
WHAT SHOULD MOBILE HOME OWNERS KNOW ABOUT REGISTRATION TAXES?
A mobile home is subject to vehicle registration taxes when the owner of the mobile
home does not own the land upon which it is placed or affixed.
Like automobiles, mobile homes are registered through the Florida Department of
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) by way of the local Tax Collector’s
Office.
Registration taxes are paid on a calendar year basis and are required for each mobile
home unit. Examples:
- Single-wide = one registration
- Double-wide = two registrations
- Triple-wide = three registrations
Annual mobile home registrations expire on December 31st.
Mobile home owners should receive their new registration(s) and Mobile Home (MH)
decal(s) each year upon payment of their registration taxes.
As a courtesy, renewal notices are mailed at least 60 days prior to expiration according
to DHSMV records. Due to address changes, ownership changes, or other reasons, the
owner may not receive a renewal notice.
Florida law makes the owner responsible for renewing on time regardless of whether
or not they receive a notice.
By law, MH decals are to be displayed in the lower left corner of the mobile home
window closest to the main road.
“MH” WARNING
- Substantial annual tangible personal property tax assessments may be applied to
mobile homes for a failure to timely renew the mobile home registration and MH decal
and/or failing to properly display the current MH decal.
- A failure to renew the mobile home registration may result in the mobile home owner
receiving a uniform traffic citation.
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“If you do not receive your Mobile Home Registration renewal notice(s) before
December, please contact the Tax Collector’s Office!”
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Real Property Taxes
WHAT SHOULD MOBILE HOME OWNERS KNOW ABOUT REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAXES?
A mobile home is taxed as real property when the owner of the home is also the owner
of the land upon which the unit is placed or affixed.
In such cases, the mobile home owner is required to obtain a Declaration of Real
Property (RP) from the Property Appraiser’s Office. Next, the mobile home
owner is to present their Declaration to the Tax Collector’s Office and purchase
an RP decal for their mobile home.
Once the RP decal is purchased it does not need to be renewed annually. The RP decal
must be properly displayed in the lower left corner of the mobile home window closest
to the main road to avoid billing errors and/or higher property tax bills.
The cost of the RP decal is $5.10. The home may then qualify for homestead exemption.
Homestead exemptions are sought by Florida residents through the Property Appraiser’s
Office.
Failure to obtain an RP decal may result in substantial back assessments, taxes
due, as well as penalties and interest.
If a mobile home is moved or sold separately from the land, the RP decal must be
removed and turned in to the Tax Collector’s Office.
When the mobile home and land are sold together, the new owner is required to transfer
the RP decal in their name.
Current real estate property taxes are due and payable beginning November 1st and
become delinquent on April 1st of the year following assessment.
Mobile home owners with RP decals should receive a real estate property tax notice
no later than November 15th each year. Due to address changes, ownership changes,
or other reasons, the owner may not receive a real estate property tax notice.
Florida law makes the owner responsible for paying their real estate property taxes
on time regardless of whether or not they receive a notice.
“RP” WARNING
- Failure to pay real estate property taxes will result in delinquent penalties,
including interest, and the possible loss of property.
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Note: Annual real estate property taxes that amount to less than
$5 are not billed nor due.
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“If you do not receive your Real Estate Property Tax notice(s) by November
15th, please contact the Tax Collector’s Office!”
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Tangible Personal Property Taxes
WHAT SHOULD MOBILE HOME OWNERS KNOW ABOUT TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES?
For mobile home owners who are required to register their mobile homes and obtain
MH decals, improvements are taxed as tangible personal property: Improvements include
but are not limited to: Screened enclosures; car, boat and motor home ports; awnings;
skirting; air conditioners; sheds; utility structures; and, decking, etc.
Mobile home owners with RP decals are subject to be taxed on those same improvements;
however those same items are factored into their Real Estate Property Tax assessment
and notice.
Mobile home owners who fail to do the following are also subject to a tangible personal
property tax on the entire mobile home:
- Properly register the mobile home
- Renew the annual mobile home registration and MH decal
- Fail to appropriately display a current MH decal
Current tangible personal property taxes are due and payable beginning November
1st and become delinquent on April 1st of the year following assessment.
Mobile home owners subject to the tangible personal property tax should receive
their tangible tax notice no later than November 15th each year.
TANGIBLE WARNING
- Failure to pay tangible personal property taxes will result in warrants being filed,
delinquent penalties, collection costs, and the possible loss of property.
- State law makes the owner responsible for paying their tangible personal property
taxes on time regardless of whether or not they receive a notice.
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Note: Annual tangible personal property taxes that amount to less
than $5 are not billed nor due.
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"If you do not receive your Tangible Personal Property Tax notice(s) by November
15th, please contact the Tax Collector’s Office!"
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Mobile Home Buyer & Seller
WHAT SHOULD MOBILE HOME BUYERS KNOW?
Anyone who considers buying a mobile home should request the seller to provide proof
of their current vehicle registration(s) and MH decal(s) or an RP decal as well
as evidence that any and all previous real estate and/or tangible personal property
taxes have been paid.
If this information is not available from a seller, a potential buyer should contact
the Property Appraiser’s Office with the current address of the mobile home(s)
(including park name and lot number when applicable) and request any tax assessment
accounts associated with the mobile home(s).
Once the applicable mobile home(s) tax assessment accounts or folio numbers are
obtained, the potential buyer should contact the Tax Collector’s Office and
inquire about any outstanding delinquent taxes associated with those accounts.
Immediately upon purchasing a mobile home, the title must be transferred into the
new owner’s name. Title transfers are done at the Tax Collector’s Office.
BUYER WARNING,
- When purchasing a mobile home, the buyer assumes responsibility for any unpaid current
or delinquent real estate and/or tangible personal property taxes.
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SELLER WARNING
- Pursuant to F.S. 319.34, a seller who fails to transfer a mobile home title to the
buyer can be fined as much as $500 and/or be imprisoned for not more than 6 months.
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“If you do not receive your Real Estate Property Tax notice(s) by November
15th, please contact the Tax Collector’s Office!”
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