FL S2040

Any person may report suspected homestead exemption violations to their local property appraiser's office if they believe an exemption was granted to an ineligible person.

Property appraisers must pay up to $500 reward to the reporting individual after verifying the violation and collecting any back taxes and penalties, with reward funds coming from the penalties recovered.

Only one person per verified violation may receive a reward; if multiple people report the same property violation, the person who reported earliest receives the reward.

Department of Revenue must create a standardized form available on its website and through property appraisers that requires the reporter's name and address, the suspected property address, and the basis for the suspected violation.

Property appraisers must date and time-stamp all submitted forms immediately upon receipt; effective July 1, 2010.