Florida State Tax Return Question

[dfchelbay]

For those of you living full time in Florida, can you tell me if you have to file a state tax return each year. I know there is no state income tax taken out of your paycheck, so I was wondering if you file. If you do, can someone provide me with a link to the return. I'm not finding much information on the internet about it. The main reason I ask is that DS is considering school full time in Florida and I wanted to know, if he paid rent, where he would declare it. In Michigan, it goes on the Homestead and state tax return forms.

Thanks all.

 

[floridafam]

We don't file a state return. I would look further into where he will have to declare residency. We moved from Michigan six years ago.

If I remember correctly, we had to file a state return in Michigan after we moved down here because we lived there part of the year.

We do get a homestead exemption here but only because we own. I know that we used to deduct our rent on the form you mention. We weren't able to do that on the rental we lived in when we first moved here.

Good luck.

 

[PrincessV]

FL resident of 20 years here - there is NO personal income tax in FL, so no state income tax return.

 

[dfchelbay]

OP here - so for those who rent apartments or homes in Florida, you cannot/do not declare the rental payments anywhere? So, there is no Florida Homestead Property Tax Credit?

We own our home, so we Itemize it on our Federal, but our DS rents and files a Homestead Property Tax Credit for his rental payments, since he does not itemize property tax payments (because he does not own the property)on his federal return.

So, renters in Florida don't declare their rent anywhere? Am I understanding that correctly?

Thanks all.

 

[benolathe]

So, renters in Florida don't declare their rent anywhere? Am I understanding that correctly?

I've never heard of being able to use rent payments as a deduction for income taxes. Sounds like an unusual thing that your state does.

There are no state income taxes for the state of Florida.

 

[Acklander]

I've never heard of being able to use rent payments as a deduction for income taxes. Sounds like an unusual thing that your state does.

There are no state income taxes for the state of Florida.

Some states do that, and usually have a limit on how much you can deduct. It helps reduce your state income tax (but doesn't reduce your federal taxes). Since FLA doesn't have an income tax there isn't anything to deduct the rent from.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

In Florida, "homestead" is only for homeowners and is a direct reduction in the taxable value of your home for property tax purposes. We then use the property tax deduction when we itemize our federal tax returns.

 

[toddlers_mom]

I've never heard of being able to use rent payments as a deduction for income taxes. Sounds like an unusual thing that your state does.

There are no state income taxes for the state of Florida.

Just wanted to say, it's not unusual. Indiana does it as well.