The Office of Tax Collector was established in the 1885 Florida Constitution with the idea that a locally elected official would be more responsive to the needs of the community they serve. The Tax Collector is an independent constitutional officer elected by the voters of Pasco County for a four-year term.

The Tax Collector is responsible for providing a myriad of services:

• Collection of real property, tangible personal property, non-ad Valorem, sales, and tourist development taxes with oversight from the Department of Revenue
• Issuance of Business Tax Receipts on behalf of Pasco County
• Agent for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issuing driver licenses and identification cards. Issuing titles and registrations for motor vehicles, mobile homes, and vessels. Issuance of Handicapped Parking Placards
• Agent for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issuing hunting and fishing licenses and/or permits
• Agent for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services accepting applications for and renewing Concealed Weapons Licenses
• Collect, balance, invest and remit funds to the proper state agency or taxing authority
• Agent for the Florida Department of Health for the issuance of birth certificates for Florida born persons.
• The Tax Collector’s Office in Pasco County is a fee office. This means that the funding for the office is derived from the fees and commissions set by the Florida Statutes for services rendered. At the end of the fiscal year, unspent fees earned above and beyond the cost to operate the office are remitted to each local governmental agency in the same proportion as they were paid.

 

Can the tax collector lower my property taxes?
No. Because the tax collector does not set the amount of your property taxes.

Then who does set the amount of my taxes?
Taxes are set by the County Commission, School Board and other taxing authorities.

Is the tax collector an employee of Pasco County Government?
No. The office of county tax collector is mandated by the Florida Constitution. The tax collector is an independent elected county official and special agent of the state of Florida.

What are the tax collector's duties?
The tax collector collects, invests and distributes monies for various state, regional and local governmental agencies and taxing authorities.

What is the tax collector's primary duty throughout the year?
Serving as the local "DMV." In Florida, county tax collectors-acting as special agents for the state-register motor vehicles and boats; and issue various licenses. In Pasco County the tax collector has become the sole provider of driver licenses. These functions comprise the primary day-to-day activities of the office.

Then how is the tax collector involved with my property taxes?
After taxes are set by the County Commission, School Board and other taxing authorities, the tax roll is sent to the tax collector, who-serving as agent for the county and taxing authorities-mails your tax notice, receives your payment, and sends the monies collected to the taxing authorities.

A list of taxing authorities and their telephone numbers is included with your tax notice.

How is the tax collector's office funded?
The tax collector's office is the only local office funded exclusively through fees and commissions-not by a property tax levy.

The County Commission and most taxing authorities pay the tax collector a commission based on the dollar amount of property taxes collected; motorists pay a service fee for auto registrations and driver licenses.

I heard the tax collector's office operates at a profit.
Yes. Through efficient management, the tax collector earns Pasco County taxpayers a profit of at least 1 million dollars at the close of the budget year.

What happens to this money?
It is turned over to the County Commission and other taxing authorities as directed by state law. The County Commission receives about 90 percent of the tax collector's earnings .

Rather than earn a profit, why not lower fees?
Tax collector fees and commissions are set by state law and must remain uniform statewide.

How many transactions did the tax collector's office process last year? 
OverOne Million...
Motor Vehicle - 617,821
Property Tax - 274,649
Driver License - 116,548
Mobile Home - 17,248
Boat - 29,355
Business License - 17,021
Hunting / Fishing License - 5,127

How much money was collected?
Nearly one-half billion dollars.

And how many customers were served?
Last year our five offices served over one-half million lobby customers, plus mail and internet.