WSJ Article About Florida Homestead Tax
The May 22, 2006, print edition of the Wall Street Journal included an article about higher property taxes assessed to nonresident owners of Florida real property ("snowbirds"). The article stated that a snowbird can become a Florida resident by filing an affidavit of residency in order to qualify for property tax savings. The affidavit may work for establishing residency for tax purposes of Florida's homestead tax benefits, but establishing residency for protection of homestead from creditors is more complicated than filing an affidavit. I have written previously many blog entries about establishing Florida residency for asset protection and homestead. The Journal article may be accurate as to property taxes, but do not confuse residency for property tax purposes with residency for homestead protection. Protection from creditors requires substantially more evidence of domicile in Florida than merely filing an affidavit
