Tag: how much is a mobile home decal in florida

Are there Property Taxes on a Mobile Home in Florida?
If you own or plan to buy a mobile home in Florida, you might wonder about tax obligations. Are there Property Taxes on a Mobile Home in Florida? The answer depends on how the home is classified. In Florida, mobile homes can be considered real property or personal property, affecting how they are taxed. Homes permanently affixed to land may be subject to property taxes, while others require an annual registration decal instead. Understanding these distinctions can help you avoid penalties and ensure compliance. In this guide, we’ll explain Florida’s mobile home tax rules and what they mean for you.

Property taxes on a mobile home in Florida depend on how the mobile home is classified. Some mobile homes are taxed as real property, while others are taxed differently. Understanding the rules can help you avoid confusion.

How Mobile Homes Are Classified in Florida

Florida law classifies mobile homes based on their use and attachment to land. There are two main classifications:
1. Real Property: If the mobile home is permanently attached to land that you own, it is taxed as real property. This includes situations where the home is on a foundation or tied to the land with utility connections.
2. Personal Property: If the mobile home is not permanently attached to land or located in a mobile home park, it is taxed as personal property. Owners may also pay an annual registration fee instead of property taxes.
Key Factors That Determine Tax Status

Whether your mobile home is taxed as real property or personal property depends on several factors. These include:
- Land Ownership: If you own the land, your mobile home is likely taxed as real property.
- Permanence: A home that is permanently affixed to the ground usually falls under real property taxation.
- Utility Connections: Permanent connections to water, electricity, or sewer systems also indicate real property classification.
How to Register or Classify Your Mobile Home

The Florida Department of Revenue and local property appraisers manage mobile home taxation. You can follow these steps to ensure proper classification:
- Check with your local property appraiser’s office to confirm the tax classification of your mobile home.
- If the home is permanently attached to land, ensure it is properly recorded as real property.
- Mobile homes not permanently attached may require annual registration with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Are Mobile Homes in Parks Subject to Property Taxes?

Mobile homes located in parks are typically not subject to property taxes. Instead, owners pay an annual registration fee. However, if you own the land where the mobile home sits, you may need to pay property taxes on both the land and the home.

Mobile Homes in Parks:
- An annual registration fee applies.
- No property taxes are assessed on the home.
Mobile Homes on Private Land:
- Property taxes apply if the home is permanently attached.
Benefits of Registering Your Mobile Home Properly

Proper registration can save you money and prevent legal issues. For mobile homes taxed as personal property, you avoid the higher rates associated with real property. Conversely, failing to classify a permanently attached mobile home as real property could result in fines or penalties.

Benefits include:
- Avoiding unexpected taxes.
- Ensuring compliance with Florida law.
- Preventing disputes over ownership or classification.
How Are Property Taxes Calculated on Mobile Homes?

For mobile homes taxed as real property, taxes are calculated based on the home’s assessed value. The local property appraiser determines this value by considering factors such as location, size, and improvements. Tax rates vary by county.

Factors Affecting Tax Amount:
- Location: Homes in high-value areas may have higher tax rates.
- Home Value: Larger or updated homes may have a higher assessed value.
- Exemptions: Florida offers exemptions, such as the homestead exemption, which may reduce property taxes.
What Exemptions Are Available for Mobile Homes?

Florida provides exemptions to reduce the tax burden on qualifying homeowners. Mobile homeowners who meet certain criteria may benefit from these exemptions.

Common Exemptions:
- Homestead Exemption: Available for primary residences, including mobile homes classified as real property.
- Senior Exemption: Provides additional tax relief for qualifying senior citizens.
- Disability Exemption: Available for homeowners with disabilities or veterans.
Steps to Apply for Exemptions

Applying for exemptions is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:
1. Contact Your Local Property Appraiser: Verify your mobile home’s classification and confirm eligibility for exemptions.
2. Complete the Application: Submit the required documents, such as proof of residency or disability status.
3. Meet Deadlines: Applications for exemptions are due by March 1 each year.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Property Taxes?

Failing to pay property taxes can lead to serious consequences. Florida law allows counties to sell tax certificates for unpaid taxes. This could result in additional fees or even losing your property.

Potential Consequences:
- Accumulation of interest and penalties.
- Issuance of a tax lien certificate.
- Potential foreclosure if taxes remain unpaid.
Final Thoughts on Property Taxes and Mobile Homes

Understanding the rules for property taxes on a mobile home in Florida can help you stay compliant and avoid penalties. Whether your mobile home is taxed as real property or personal property depends on how it is used and classified. Take the time to check with your local property appraiser and ensure proper registration. By doing so, you can save money and avoid potential legal issues.

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January 29, 2025
How Are Property Taxes Determined On A Sarasota Mobile Home?
Sarasota is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and its mobile home communities. However, one thing that sets Sarasota apart from other cities is the lack of property tax on real estate. This means that mobile homeowners in Sarasota don’t have to worry about losing their homes due to non-payment of property taxes.

However, if you’ve privately financed or mortgaged your mobile home then it’s a different story altogether. In such cases, you need to be vigilant about paying your taxes on time lest you lose your beloved abode. While this may seem like an added burden at first glance, it’s important to keep in mind that property taxes are used by the local government to fund essential services like schools, roads, and public safety.

So if you’re a proud owner of a mobile home in Sarasota and want to continue enjoying all the perks that come with it while avoiding any potential legal issues down the line – make sure you stay on top of your tax payments!

I figured today we would want to discuss something that is very exciting when reviewing the idea of purchasing a mobile home on leased land.

The idea is that ever so-exciting world of property taxes.

Please, you out there in the back, hold your enthusiasm, as I can tell that everyone is as excited as I am to bring this topic to you today!

I am so sure that you will enjoy this topic, that by the end of this video, you will be happy you watched it all the way through as we will be getting you some valuable information on the cost of property taxes when you are purchasing a mobile home on leased land in Florida.

As a quick review, when purchasing a mobile home on leased land, one is purchasing personal property in the state of Florida, as personal property carries with it a title and not a deed and when ownership is transferred.

I know what you’re thinking. Mark, we’re talking about a mobile home. The word home is in it. Cars have titles, houses have deeds!

Although you are, in fact, correct with what you’re saying, it is important to mention that within the state of Florida, mobile homes that are located on leased land are viewed as, and taxed as, automobiles in the state of Florida, not as real estate.

Having a title associated with the home and not a deed means that the home will be registered with the state Department of Motor Vehicles and not the county courthouse. So with that quick review behind us, do you even need to pay property taxes on a mobile home that is located within a park on leased land?

The answer, as you can tell is no.

No, you do not have to pay property taxes, when the home is located on leased land here in the Sunshine State. This creates tremendous cost savings for the owner, as when you are buying the home and the land, then each year you, as the owner, will have to pay property taxes to the county in the home is located in.

Many times, this will add up to several thousands of dollars not needing to be paid each and every year to the county!

When owning a mobile home on leased land, this expense of property taxes, literally, doesn’t exist.

What does exist, however, when purchasing a mobile home on leased land within the state of Florida, is that sales tax as well as a county surtax that is assessed on the sales price of the purchase of that mobile home.

So here is an example.

Let’s say you purchase a mobile home in Sarasota County that is located on leased land and you pay $10,000 for the purchase of that mobile home. State sales tax on that will be 6%, or around $600 at the time of this recording. Sarasota County surtax is an additional $50 on the price of this purchase.

So, $650 will be owed at the time of purchase, and that’s it. No further tax is owed on the home and certainly no darn property tax.

When you are thinking about whether you should purchase a mobile home on leased land or a mobile home with the land included, I feel it is important to weigh all costs on the ownership of the home, one of which is the fact that when living on leased land, you save tons of money each year.

The lack of property tax is one of the main reasons why people are moving into mobile homes, especially in the Sarasota Florida area. There are other good reasons why people are moving into mobile homes that include but are not limited to the following

Affordability. Obviously, the number one reason why people are moving to mobile homes is due to their affordability, especially for new families or retired seniors who have limited financial resources.

Eco friendly. Mobile homes are more respectful of the environment due to the lower carbon footprint associated with the manufacturing of a mobile home

Durability. It used to be said that manufactured homes had worse materials or that they could have less life than traditional housing. However, the industry has advanced so much that many experts think that mobile homes’ durability is on par with traditional site-built single-family homes.

Registration. They do not need to be registered in the Property Registry. Contrary to what happens with fixed houses (being real estate they have to register mandatory), mobile homes do not need to do so.

Less bureaucratic procedures. Prefabricated mobile homes are viewed as and taxed as motor vehicles, not real estate. – for that, acquiring them implies fewer bureaucratic procedures.

Easy transport and placement. New mobile homes are finished from the factory, mounted, and fully equipped for use. This means that once transferred to the place where they will be installed with the use of a truck, they can be ready for use after a few hours when some details are finalized.

Since there is no real estate property tax, there is no worry to lose your mobile home due to not paying property taxes. Only if your mobile home is privately financed and mortgaged, you should worry about monthly payments except for lot rent.

I hope this helps everyone out there better understand why mobile homes on leased land are such an affordable housing option!

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 25, 2023
How Are Property Taxes Paid On A Sarasota Mobile Home?
With all of the focus in the media regarding real estate prices, one never seems to hear about the ever-so-exciting discussion of property taxes.

Property taxes are annual fees that you, as a homeowner, will be responsible for paying to the county in which your home is located in.

Each county here in the state of Florida has its own property tax percentage they are entitled to collect on each home within the county. Many times this percentage is predetermined by the county and will be based on the assessed value of the home that is physically located in that county.

Throughout Florida, the average is around 1% of your total home value. So to give you an example, if your home is worth, say $100,000 and you live in a county where the property taxes are 1%, then you, as the property owner, would be responsible for paying an additional $1,000 per year to the county for essentially the usage of the property that you own.

These taxes many times are used for county upkeep and improvements such as the roads, keeping up with the landscaping that you see around town and in some cases, those funds go to county employees such as first responders like police officers and firefighters as well as the local school district that your home is within.

So with that understanding, what is the property tax owed on a mobile home on leased land?

It would have to be the same because it is a house, right?

Well, actually, no!

Property taxes are totally different as there are no property taxes that are paid on mobile homes that are located on leased land.

What are you serious about, Mark?

Yes, that’s a fact!

The reason is that when you own a mobile home on leased land, you are technically owning personal property and not real property in the state of Florida. What this means is that the mobile home that is located on lease land is viewed as an automobile in the state of Florida and has a title associated with the home and not a deed.

Since you did not technically own the land, you do not owe property taxes when you are leasing the land but owning the actual home. As I am sure you can see, this adds to huge savings annually, as you are not responsible for the property taxes associated with the usage of the mobile home when it is located within a leased land mobile home park.

When owning a mobile home on leased land, you are required to register the home each and every year with the Department of motor vehicles, which is a fee that is not need to be paid if you own, say, a regular stick and brick home. The cost of the yearly registration for that mobile home with the Department of motor vehicles will be based on the length of the home and multiplied by the width of your mobile home.

To give you another example, let’s say the length of your mobile home will cost you $50 to register, and your home is a double-wide mobile home. This means that you will be paying a total of $100 annually to register your home, as you will be paying $50 for each side of the home to be registered.

The following Q and A from the Florida Department of Revenue can help you understand more about mobile home tax in Florida.

Mobile Homes Taxed as Tangible Personal Property

Q. If the owner of a mobile home that does not qualify as real property receives an
assessment for tangible personal property tax, can he or she cancel the
assessment by paying the previous year’s annual license tax and purchasing the
MH series sticker?

A. No. Paying the license tax after the property appraiser makes an assessment does not
cancel the assessment. Any mobile home that does not bear a current MH decal on
January 1 is tangible personal property and is taxed as such for that year.

Q. What if the mobile home owner bought the MH decal but did not have it properly
affixed on January 1?

A. The mobile home owner may request relief from the tangible personal property tax when
the owner can provide documentation that the MH decal was purchased before January 1
of the current tax year.

Q. Does the occasional or isolated sales tax exemption apply to mobile homes
classified as tangible personal property?

A. No. Any transfer of ownership of a mobile home classified as tangible personal property
or that has an MH decal is subject to sales and use tax.

Q. Does sales tax apply to the repair of mobile homes classified as tangible personal
Property?

A. Yes. Repairs and improvements to mobile homes are classified as tangible personal property
or that have an MH decal are subject to sales tax and applicable discretionary sales surtax
on the total charge for the repairs and improvements, including materials and labor.

Q. How does sales tax apply to appurtenances?

Appurtenances include items such as carports, sunrooms, utility sheds, furniture, freezers,
refrigerators, drapes, air conditioner compressors,s or condenser units located outside the
mobile home.

A. Appurtenances that are sold by registered sales tax dealers, or by any person required to
be a registered dealer, in conjunction with the mobile home, are subject to sales tax and
applicable discretionary sales surtax.

When looking at purchasing a mobile home on leased land, another huge cost savings is the lack of property taxes that are needing to be paid and one that we feel you should certainly take into consideration when determining the affordability of a mobile home for your next home purchase!

This is Mark Kaiser with a mobile home dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023