Home Property Taxes About Services Location Contact Select a Reason Contact Tax Collectors office Click here to view or pay your current and prior year property taxes. Office Location and Hours Jefferson County Tax Collector 500 West Walnut St. Monticello, FL 32345 (850) 342-0147 Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm EST Driver's License Service Driver licenses, renewal, reinstatment, ID cards, driving record searchers, child support clearance, temp permit and replacements Drivers License: 8:00am - 4:30pm (850) 342-0147 Driving testing – Tuesday and Thursday by Appointment Only (because of Covid, we are currently NOT doing road tests). Announcements Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update WE ARE ENCOURAGING CUSTOMERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR ONLINE SERVICES AT WWW.JEFFERSONCOUNTYTAXCOLLECTOR.COM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to Taxpayer Notification in Jefferson County Lois H. Hunter, Tax Collector in and for the Jefferson County political subdivision, has always been an advocate for taxpayers. One of the ways she has done this is by sending out a 30-day letter when a tax certificate purchaser makes application for a tax deed. Now, two certificate purchasers no longer want the Tax Collector to send out these notification letters. Because the letters are not required by law, Hunter will honor the request of the certificate purchasers and not send the letter to the delinquent taxpayers impacted by the two certificate purchasers. Florida has a fair balancing system for those taxpayers who fall on hard times and miss a tax payment. If a taxpayer’s taxes are delinquent, the Tax Collector is required by law to sell tax certificates. The taxpayer keeps their home, the certificate purchaser pays the taxes, and the cities, counties and schools get the revenue needed to operate. The tax certificate purchaser is entitled to interest on the taxes, but if the taxpayer does not pay the purchaser back, the certificate purchaser can apply for a tax deed. A certificate purchaser has to wait at least two years before applying for a tax deed. After two years or more when a certificate purchaser applies for a tax deed, Lois H. Hunter has always given the affected taxpayer a 30-day notice requirement. While this is not required, Hunter views it as a sound policy so that delinquent taxpayers do not lose their home/property without additional fair warning. Because, two certificate holders have demanded that Hunter no longer send out the 30-day notice and because the notice is not required by law, Hunter must obey the certificate holder request and will not send out the notice for those tax deed applications filed by the two certificate holders. “I have been offering this additional 30-day notice for as long as I have been in office to insure that taxpayers have every opportunity to pay their taxes before losing their homes/ property, my predecessor also sent the notice. Because the law states if a certificate holder come in after two years and wishes to redeem his/her certificate by law I must take the necessary steps to honor the request of the tax deed applicants. “ For more information, please contact the office of Lois H. Hunter, Tax Collector in and for the Jefferson County, Florida. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Click here to access the new Drivers License Handbook About the Tax Collector's Office About the Tax Collector's Office The county office of the Tax Collector was established in the 1885 state constitution. It was thought that local taxes could best be collected by a local official, who would be more responsive to the needs of the community that elected him or her. The Tax Collector serves a four year term and is elected at the same time as the President of the United States. The Tax Collector is responsible for the collection of ad valorem taxes and other taxes set at the local level, including those by special levying districts, state agencies, and county commissions. The Tax Collector also acts as an agent of several state departments, including the Department of Revenue, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the Fresh Water Fish Commision. For the Department of Revenue, the Tax Collector bills and collects real and personal property taxes. The amount of the tax is based on the assessed value of the property and the millage rate, which is set by various taxing authorities. As an agent of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Tax Collector issues state motor vehicle licenses and processes applications for titles on automobiles, trucks, mobile homes, and boats. The Tax Collector also sells Hunting and Fishing licenses for the State. In most counties, the Tax Collector is a fee office and the office budget is approved by the Department of Revenue . The office operates on the fees imposed for services rendered and any excess monies are remitted to the Board of County Commissioners at the end of September every year. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. All rights reserved. Copyright ©1999-2019 Privacy Policy