TCO CELEBRATES PRIDE

One of my favorite things about being the Tax Collector is engaging with clients and celebrating the diversity that our beautiful county provides. This was most evident at the Palm Beach Pride Festival in March, where thousands of people celebrated the LGBTQ+ community.

For more than a decade, my office has participated in the two-day Palm Beach Pride Festival in Lake Worth Beach. My staff and I look forward to the opportunity to interact with attendees, from not only Palm Beach County, but from all over the country. One of the highlights is riding down Lake Avenue in the Pride Parade and seeing such a diverse, supportive, and energized crowd — this year was the best!

Appreciation to the organizing team for such a fantastic event and living up to its mission of empowering and enriching the lives of the LGBTQ+ community and those impacted by HIV and AIDS. I also appreciate the many folks who stopped by our information booth as my team and I enjoyed answering questions about our office. We hope to see more of you at future events!

HURRICANE SEASON

June first marks the start of what can be a very stressful time of year – Hurricane Season. Hurricanes are part of the reality of living near the coast and major hurricanes are becoming more and more prevalent. However, the key to navigating hurricane season is to be prepared and have a plan. This year, to help you prepare, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has declared April 30 – May 6 as National Hurricane Preparedness week, visit noaa.gov/hurricane-prep for more information.

Preparing Before Hurricane Season

In 2022, the Florida Legislature passed the Home Hardening Sales Tax Exemption on the purchase of impact-resistant doors, windows, and garage doors, between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2024. For more information, visit floridarevenue.com/homehardening.  Now is also a good time to do an assessment of your yard and trim trees that might cause damage to your home or property during a storm. 

Hurricane Guide

Even relatively minor hurricanes can leave you without power and water for a few days. Make sure you are prepared by having enough food, water, and medical supplies for your family members and your pets. For a comprehensive list of supplies visit pbctax.com/hurricane-guide-request/ to view and request a copy of our new and improved pocket-size hurricane guide.

DUMP THE DATA

Planning on buying a new car?  Before you get rid of your old one, there is some cleaning up you need to do.  Personal items are not the only thing you need to remove, your old car could have your personal information saved in its electronic system.  Your car is like a computer and can store a lot of important information that you don’t want available to the car’s next owner. Here is some of the information your car can store that you will want to be sure to remove before selling or donating:

• • Phone contacts/address book if you synced your phone with your car.
  • Location data such as home and work addresses or routes you frequently take could be stored in your navigation system.
  • Garage door codes for your home could be stored.

Some cars have apps that control your car’s functions and/or locate your car, so make sure you also clear any of these connections. How do you clear your car of this valuable information?  Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to find out how to do a factory reset to return settings and data to their original state, contact your dealer or visit your vehicle manufacturer’s website.  Remember, if you are not transferring your license plate to your new car, be sure to take it with you and surrender it properly.  Visit pbctax.com for details.

Important Dates & Holidays