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Citrus County Property Appraiser
January 2026 | Issue No. 44 Newsletter
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What January Means for Property Owners in Citrus County
January marks the beginning of a new tax year, and for property owners in Citrus County it is an important time to review information, update records, and prepare for key deadlines. The Citrus County Property Appraiser’s Office begins several critical annual processes in January that affect homeowners, businesses, and agricultural landowners throughout the county.
March 1 is the filing deadline for new Homestead Exemption applications. Property owners who purchased a home or changed their permanent residency status during the previous year must file by March 1 in order to receive Homestead Exemption for the current tax year. The exemption provides a significant reduction in taxable value for eligible homeowners. The office encourages new residents and first time applicants to file early and to contact staff with any questions regarding qualifications or documentation.
In early January the office mails Homestead Exemption renewal postcards to all property owners who currently receive the exemption. The renewal card confirms that the exemption will automatically continue for the new tax year unless the owner no longer qualifies. Property owners who have experienced changes in residency, ownership, or use should complete the appropriate sections on the card and return it to our office.
If you experienced changes in 2025, those changes could impact your property status for 2026. Life events such as getting married or divorced, placing your home in a trust, adding or removing someone from the property record, turning 65 and having a combat related disability, or becoming widowed may alter your exemption status or affect your assessment cap, or there may be additional exemptions you are now eligible for. Property owners with any of these changes are encouraged to contact the Customer Service Department at 352-341-6600 to speak with a representative about how these updates may affect their property.
Another important March 1 deadline applies to property owners seeking an Agricultural Classification. This classification is available for lands that are being used for “bona-fide” commercial agricultural purposes including pasture, crop production, timber operations, and certain commercial agricultural activities. Landowners should ensure their property is in active agricultural use as of January 1 and be prepared to provide documentation. Any questions regarding qualifications or inspections can be directed to the Property Appraiser’s Office.
Organizations that receive wholly exempt or institutional exemptions also receive renewal cards during January. These include charitable, religious, educational, and certain nonprofit entities. Renewal is required to ensure the organization continues to meet statutory requirements and that the property is still being used for an exempt purpose.
Commercial property owners will receive Income and Expense Letters as part of the annual assessment process. The information provided in these letters is used to determine accurate values for income producing properties and to help the office assess market trends. Returning this information promptly supports fair assessments.
January is also the month when local businesses receive their Tangible Personal Property Return forms. These returns must be completed by businesses that own equipment, furniture, tools, machinery, or other taxable business assets. The filing deadline for Tangible Personal Property Returns is April 1, but beginning early gives businesses the time they need to gather documentation. Businesses with assets costing less than 25,000 dollars may qualify for an exemption but must still file at least once to receive it.
Together these January activities form the foundation for the county’s assessment cycle. Property values are established as of January 1, exemptions and classifications are filed or renewed, and ownership changes from the previous year are processed. The Citrus County Property Appraiser’s Office encourages all property owners to review any mail they receive and to contact the office with questions. If you have any questions we encourage you to contact our office at 352-341-6600, or chat with us on our website at citruspa.org. Until next time, we hope you had a wonderful holiday and an even better new year.
Your Citrus County Property Appraiser,
Cregg Dalton
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Homestead Exemption: A Big Benefit for Citrus County Homeowners!
Did you know? Homestead Exemption can save you about $400–$600 every year on your property taxes.
To qualify, you must:
- Own and occupy your home as of January 1st
- Make the property your permanent residence
- Provide updated documents (driver’s license, voter registration, vehicle registration with your new address)
- Include required documents for all owners and/or spouse
Remember:
- You cannot claim a residency-based exemption on another home in or outside of Florida.
- You must re-apply when you move, homestead exemptions do not transfer automatically.
Applying is one of the smartest steps you can take as a homeowner!
E-file now at citruspa.org
| | How are you starting off 2026? | | |
In 2025 did you ...
- Get married
- Buy a new home
- Turn 65 and have a combat-related disability
- Enter your property into a trust
- Get divorced
- Record a new deed for your property
Any of these life altering changes could affect the exemptions or cap on your property for the 2025 tax year. We welcome you to contact our office at (352) 341-6600 to speak with a customer service specialist if you have any questions.
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Inverness Office
Jennifer Bell
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Crystal River Office
Jessica McClellan
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Employees of the Quarter – Q1 Recognition
This quarter, we were excited to roll out a new Employee of the Quarter voting process, giving our staff the opportunity to nominate and vote for the employees they feel best represent our office.
The response was incredible, and two names stood out with raving reviews and heartfelt testimonies from their fellow coworkers:
Inverness: Jennifer Bell
Crystal River: Jessica McClellan
Both Jessica and Jennifer received overwhelming praise for their dedication, teamwork, and positive impact. Their peers shared countless reasons why they felt these women should represent our offices for the first quarter of the year, and we couldn’t agree more.
Congratulations to Jessica and Jennifer, and thank you to our staff for helping us celebrate the people who make our workplace so special!
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Citrus County Blessings Packing – Field Appraisal Department
A huge thank-you to Alexis, Hunter, Jakob, Emily, Joe, and Nic!
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Our Field Appraisal Department jumped right in with Citrus County Blessings and packed 200 bags for local students.
Each month, one of our departments has the chance to step away from the office for some team bonding while giving back to our amazing community, and what better way than helping ensure students have the food they need through Citrus County Blessings?
We are so grateful for this partnership and encourage everyone to check out their new warehouse. It’s absolutely incredible!
Together, we’re building stronger teams and an even stronger community. Every bag we pack means one more child in Citrus County has the food they need to thrive over the weekend. Because hunger doesn’t take the weekend off.
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Habitat for Humanity of the Nature Coast - Weekend Build
A huge thank-you to Meghan, Rosa, Chad, Chase, Kyle, Herb, Kelly, Ric, Dan, Alison, Nancy, Cregg, Steve, Nic & Kyle's Dad!
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Our Field Appraisal Department jumped right in with Citrus County Blessings and packed 200 bags for local students.
Each month, one of our departments has the chance to step away from the office for some team bonding while giving back to our amazing community, and what better way than helping ensure students have the food they need through Citrus County Blessings?
We are so grateful for this partnership and encourage everyone to check out their new warehouse. It’s absolutely incredible!
Together, we’re building stronger teams and an even stronger community. Every bag we pack means one more child in Citrus County has the food they need to thrive over the weekend. Because hunger doesn’t take the weekend off.
| | Property Appraiser Cregg Dalton presented “What Is the Most Important Property You Value? Yourself” at the Tangible Personal Property (TPP) Conference in Orlando, Florida, on December 11th. The session was delivered to employees from property appraisers’ offices across the state. We put a fun and meaningful spin on the title: while our office is dedicated to “valuing” property, it was just as important to emphasize valuing ourselves. By investing in personal and professional well-being, we reinforced our commitment to providing the highest level of service to the property owners we proudly assist. | | Have you attended one of our Citizen Training Sessions? These sessions are a great opportunity to learn more about our office and the services we provide. Our final session of 2025 had an outstanding turnout. Participants asked excellent questions, filed homestead exemptions, and prepared for upcoming mailings from our office. Attendees left with a clearer understanding of how we value properties and had all their questions answered. If you’d like to join us for our next training session, please sign up below. | | |
Mark your calendars, we have multiple sessions scheduled for 2026!
Realtor Training Session:
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Tuesday, February 10, 2026, from 9:00 am–12:00 pm at the RACC office in Lecanto (714 S Scarboro Ave. Lecanto, FL 34461) -
Reserve your spot today by clicking HERE.
Citizen Training Session:
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Thursday, April 02, 2026, from 9:00 am–12:00 pm at our Crystal River office (1540 N Meadowcrest Blvd., Crystal River, FL 34429).
Reserve your spot today by clicking HERE.
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Thursday, January 1, 2026 - New Years Day
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Friday, January 2, 2026- Inverness office will be closed to the public on Friday, January 2, 2026. While in-person services will not be available at the Inverness location that day, staff will remain available to assist the public by phone or live chat during normal business hours through the Property Appraiser’s website at www.citruspa.org. Residents needing face-to-face assistance on January 2 are encouraged to visit the Meadowcrest office, which will remain open with normal business hours. The Meadowcrest office is located at: 1540 N. Meadowcrest Blvd. Crystal River, FL 34429
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Monday, January 19, 2026 - MLK Day
| | Join the Friday Leadership Email list | | |
If you enjoy staying connected through our e-newsletter, I think you’ll love something new we’re offering. Property Appraiser Cregg Dalton, sends out a short, thoughtful Friday Leadership Email each week with quick insights on leadership, community, growth, and the work we’re all doing together.
These notes are uplifting, practical, and easy to digest, perfect for a Friday morning.
If you’d like to receive them, just click here to sign up and select the "Friday Focus Leadership Email List". We would love to add you to our growing list of leaders all over the United States!
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