Miami gets tough on property tax fraud

In May, Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia revealed a new contract for software and services that flags suspicious tax claims among Florida’s 440,000 homestead properties, part of a renewed crackdown by the county on property tax fraud. According to the Miami Herald, the county is ramping up its efforts against those who cheat on their property taxes using illegal homestead exemptions. The county has also increased the number of its investigators, from two in 2011 to 15 this year. The tightened enforcement is due primarily to Miami-Dade’s tight budget — property tax fraud reportedly costs the city millions every year. Their efforts have apparently begun paying off, with $11 million in homestead liens filed this month alone – compared to $8 million filed for the entire year in 2011. [Miami Herald] – Christopher Cameron