Orange County Property Appraiser
Values & exemptions
- Establishes property value each year.
- Applies exemptions, classifications and assessment limitations.
- Produces the property value information used on the TRIM notice.
Property tax help
Who handles what?
Property taxes involve several independent offices and taxing authorities. Use this page to find the right office for questions about your property value, an exemption, a City tax, a Fire Assessment, a school tax, a tax bill, or an appeal.
How the process works
Property AppraiserValue & exemptions
Taxing AuthoritiesSet rates & budgets
Tax CollectorBills & collectsStart here
What are you trying to figure out?
Choose the question that sounds closest to yours. The page will point you to the office or City resource that normally handles it.
Start here
Orange County Property Appraiser
The Property Appraiser establishes property value and applies exemptions, assessment limitations and classifications. Start there when the issue is the value or exemption shown on the property record.
Who does what
The offices behind your tax notice
Each office has a different job. One office usually cannot change a decision that belongs to another.
City of Ocoee
City budget, millage & City assessments
- Adopts the City's budget and City millage rate through the public budget process.
- Adopts City assessments such as the Fire Protection Assessment.
- Decides how City funds are appropriated for services and operations.
Orange County Tax Collector
Bills, payments & collections
- Sends property tax bills and accepts payments.
- Handles payment methods, discounts, deferrals and delinquent tax collection.
- Distributes collected taxes to the taxing authorities.
Orange County Public Schools
School taxes & school budget
- Adopts the school district budget and applicable school millage levies within state requirements.
- School taxes appear separately from the City of Ocoee line on the TRIM notice.
- School tax questions belong with the school district, not the City.
Orange County Government
County taxes & county services
- Adopts Orange County's budget and county millage rates.
- County property taxes appear on their own line.
- County services and City services are funded and governed separately.
State of Florida
Constitution, statutes & oversight
- Florida law and the Constitution establish the framework for the property tax system.
- The Department of Revenue provides property tax oversight and guidance.
- Local property appraisers and tax collectors administer many parts of the system locally.
Value Adjustment Board
Assessment & exemption appeals
- Hears petitions challenging property assessments, classifications or exemptions.
- There are filing deadlines and procedures.
- Start with the Property Appraiser when possible, then review VAB options if the issue remains unresolved.
Water Management District
Separate taxing authority
- The St. Johns River Water Management District can appear as a separate taxing authority on an Orange County TRIM notice.
- Its millage is not a City of Ocoee tax.
- Questions about that line should be directed to the District.
Process
From property value to tax bill
A simplified view of the annual process can help explain why several offices appear on the same notice.
1
Property value is established
The Property Appraiser determines value and applies exemptions, classifications and assessment limitations.
Property Appraiser → (opens in a new tab)2
Taxing authorities prepare budgets
The City, County, School Board and other taxing authorities independently develop budgets and rates for their jurisdictions.
Ocoee budget →3
TRIM notice explains proposed taxes
The notice shows values, exemptions, taxing authorities, proposed rates and hearing information before final tax bills.
TRIM Guide →4
Tax Collector bills and collects
After rates and assessments are finalized, the Tax Collector issues the tax bill, collects payments and distributes the revenue.
Tax Collector → (opens in a new tab)Find the right office
What the City of Ocoee can, and cannot, answer
Use this section to see which office handles each type of question.
Ocoee can help with
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City millage and the City budgetWhy the City's rate or appropriations were proposed or adopted.
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City assessmentsFire Protection Assessment and other City administered assessments.
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How City money is budgetedGeneral Fund, public safety, transportation, parks and other City services.
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City public hearings and recordsBudget workshops, hearings, agendas and adopted City actions.
Another office normally handles
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Your market or assessed valueOrange County Property Appraiser.
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Your homestead or other exemptionOrange County Property Appraiser.
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Paying the final property tax billOrange County Tax Collector.
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School, County or water management taxesThe taxing authority shown on that line of the notice.
A property tax notice can include several taxing authorities. The total on a property tax notice can combine taxes and assessments from multiple independent authorities. The City of Ocoee receives only the portions levied by the City.
Official starting points
Go directly to the source
These links lead to the government office or local resource responsible for the topic.