Each summer, the Citrus County Property Appraiser’s Office enters one of the most important parts of the year: finalizing property values and providing them to the local taxing authorities that serve our community.

These values play an important role in the budget process for local governments, schools, public safety, roads, and other community services. While our office determines property values, we do not set tax rates or collect taxes. Those decisions are made by the taxing authorities during their public budget process.

Once proposed values are provided, taxing authorities begin preparing their annual budgets and setting proposed tax rates. At the same time, our office begins preparing the Truth in Millage, or TRIM, Notices that property owners will receive later this summer.

The TRIM Notice is one of the most important documents property owners receive each year. It gives you the opportunity to review your property’s assessed value, exemptions, and proposed taxes before tax bills are issued. It also includes information about public hearings where taxing authorities will discuss and adopt their budgets and tax rates.

We encourage every property owner to carefully review their TRIM Notice to make sure the information is accurate and to better understand how property values, exemptions, and proposed tax rates may affect their tax bill.

TRIM Notices will be mailed on August 14, 2026. Please watch for this important envelope, which will have red wording that reads “IMPORTANT PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION” and “TRIM NOTICE.”

If you do not receive your notice, or if you have questions after reading it, our staff is here to help. The TRIM Notice gives you the chance to review your property information before tax bills are sent, so please take a moment to look it over carefully.

This is also a good time to make sure you are receiving every exemption for which you qualify.

Even during one of the busiest times of the year for our office, serving the public remains our top priority. We encourage all property owners to take a few moments to review their property records and make sure they are receiving every exemption available to them.

Property tax exemptions can provide meaningful savings, but many property owners may not realize they are eligible or may not know what is required to apply. Our staff is here to answer those questions, explain available exemptions, and guide citizens through the application process.

Over the last few weeks, I have spent time working at the front counter alongside our customer service representatives. I do this for several reasons. First, it gives me the opportunity to hear directly from the citizens we serve. Second, it allows me to better understand how we can equip our customer service team with the information, resources, and tools they need to serve the public well. I truly enjoy being on the front lines, having real conversations, and engaging with property owners on a more personal level.

Unfortunately, it no longer surprises me when someone comes into our office and shares that they have owned and lived in their primary residence for several years, only to find out they have never received Homestead Exemption. Just recently, a citizen came in to verify that he had been receiving Homestead Exemption on his home. He had lived there for 21 years. To his surprise, he did not have the exemption in place. I felt bad having to share that news with him, but I am grateful to say he has it now.

That is exactly why this message matters.

Whether it is Homestead Exemption, exemptions for disabled veterans, widows and widowers, Florida’s disabled first responders, individuals who are totally and permanently disabled, or other qualifying programs, our office wants to make sure eligible property owners understand the benefits available to them.

In most cases, applying for an exemption takes 10 minutes or less, and the potential tax savings can be significant. A short visit to our office may result in savings that continue year after year.

If, after reading this article or reviewing your property records, you believe you may have missed an exemption or need help determining whether you qualify, please do not wait. We encourage you to visit either our Inverness or Crystal River office as soon as possible. Our staff is ready to assist with the application process and answer any questions you may have.

As we move through this important phase of the property tax cycle, we thank the citizens of Citrus County for their ongoing trust. Anyone with questions about their property value, exemptions, or the TRIM process is encouraged to contact our office.

Our goal is simple: to make sure property owners are informed, supported, and receiving every exemption they are entitled to under Florida law. We remain committed to fair and equitable assessments, accurate property records, and the highest level of service to the residents of Citrus County.