Deadline extended for taxpayers filing a tangible personal property return, Form DR-405

Due to the unfortunate circumstances regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser, Pedro J. Garcia, will be giving special consideration to any business having difficulty filing their Tangible Personal Property Return (Form DR-405) by the April 1st, 2020 deadline. The Office of the Property Appraiser will be granting a 30-day extension for taxpayers whom fail to meet the deadline this year. An additional 15-day extension is also available for any taxpayer able to demonstrate an inability to file within the extension period. In order to receive an extension, a taxpayer must provide a request to our office by the April 1st, 2020 deadline and must also provide the name of the taxable entity, the tax identification number and the reason for the extension request.

How to apply for the 2020 Tangible Personal Property Tax Return Request for Extension

Complete the attached form one folio per request, and:

• Mail via USPS or other commercial carrier with a mailing date no later than April 1 to:

Miami-Dade County Office of the Property Appraiser
Tangible Personal Property Division
Attention:  Extension Section
10710 SW 211 Street, Suite 207
Cutler Bay, Florida 33189

OR

• Fax to (305) 375-1411 no later than April 1, by 5 p.m.

OR

• Via our Web Mail Portal no later than April 1, by 5 p.m.

Completed 2020 Tangible Personal Property Tax Returns must be signed and dated. The original signed and dated Return must be mailed by USPS or other commercial mail carrier no later than April 1 or May 1, if extension was timely filed. 

For purposes of property taxation, personal property is divided into these categories:

• Tangible Personal Property
  All goods, chattels, and other articles of value capable of manual possession whose chief value is intrinsic to the article itself. "Inventory" and "Household Goods" are expressly excluded from this definition.
• Household Goods
  Apparel, furniture, appliances, computers, chairs and other items usually found in the home and used for the comfort of the owner and family. Household goods are exempt from property taxation.
• Inventory
  Items of inventory are exempt from property taxation. Inventory generally means goods, wares, and merchandise held by a business for sale.

Some items of personal property are not taxable such as:

• Licensed motor vehicles
• Boats
• Airplanes
• Trailers
• Trailer coaches
• Certain mobile homes as defined by law

Taxable items are assessed at just value based on an annual Tangible Personal Property Tax form (DR-405) return that must be filed by April 1. Returns filed after the due date will be assessed a penalty of total taxes levied at a rate of 5% for each month after April 1st to a maximum of 25%. For example:

• Returns filed (or postmarked) after due date through April 30 will receive a 5% penalty
• Returns filed (or postmarked) May 1 through May 31 will receive a 10% penalty
• Returns filed (or postmarked) June 1 through June 30 will receive a 15% penalty
• Returns filed (or postmarked) July 1 through July 31 will receive a 20% penalty
• Returns filed (or postmarked) August 1 and after will receive a 25% penalty

Submit the application at our office:

• South Dade Government Center

The year of purchase, original cost, and the taxpayer's estimate of just value are required on the return. Valuation tables are applied to the costs reported on the Tangible Personal Property Return to arrive at fair market value. The property appraiser has the duty to discover omissions and to place value upon personal property.

The amount of tax due is calculated by multiplying the value of the property by the tax rate set by the taxing authorities. The tax bill is mailed to the taxpayer, usually by November. Any questions related to collection of taxes for personal property should be referred to the Tax Collector's office.

• After the expiration of the deadline on the Notice, property owners cannot contest value unless a petition was filed earlier and a hearing is pending before the Value Adjustment Board.

The payment must be made to the tax collector by April 1 of the following year. There are specific discounts allowed for early payment and penalties for delinquency, failure to file, and for omitted property.