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Your 2025 Property Assessment: Friend or Foe?
Near the end of every summer, Florida commercial property owners receive a TRIM notice in the mail. But while it may look like a routine document, this notice could mean thousands of dollars in unnecessary tax expenses if left unchallenged.
So how do you know if your 2025 property assessment is accurate—or way off base?
What Is a TRIM Notice, Really?
TRIM stands for Truth in Millage. It’s not a bill, but it signals the market/just value your local property appraiser has placed on your property for the current tax year. In its simplest form, that value, multiplied by your millage rate, determines your eventual ad valorem tax bill.
If the bill does not reflect an accurate representation of the property, it might require an appeal. The kicker? You have a very limited window to challenge it. Once it expires, you’re locked into that valuation for that tax year..
Signs Your Assessment Might Be Inflated
- Your income-producing property has lower occupancy or NOI than in 2023–2024
- Recent comparable sales are lower than the appraised value
- Your vacant land hasn’t been entitled yet but is being valued as if it has
- You’ve made no capital improvements, but your valuation spiked significantly
The Appeal Window Is Tight
Each Florida county has its own Value Adjustment Board (VAB) deadline—25 days from the date your TRIM notice is mailed. That means you may only have a few weeks to:
- Review the valuation
- Gather evidence
- File an appeal
This isn’t something to leave until the last minute.
How to Protect Yourself
Start by reviewing your income and expense data for the property. Compare it with the market data to determine if you believe the value is in line with market. If things don’t add up, it’s time to act.
Engaging a property tax consultant is often the fastest and most accurate way to determine whether an appeal is worth pursuing—and how to approach it effectively.
Let FirstPointe Advisors Be Your Advocate
Our team of property tax experts are prepared for the day that TRIM notice arrives. If things don’t align, we dig into the financials, the comps, and the methodology used by each appraiser to make sure our clients never pay more than their fair share.
Don’t let an inaccurate valuation become your 2025 reality.
Contact us for today for help on your property tax needs!
954.546.9630
6301 NW 5th Way
Suite 2800
Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33309
