R. R. WALDEN, AS TAX ASSESSOR OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, APPELLANT,
v.
UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA, INCORPORATED, A NONPROFIT CORPORATION, APPELLEES
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
The court held that while the university president's residence was exempt from taxation, the refund for taxes paid under protest for years prior to 1972 was time-barred.
[1] A private university president's residence may be considered used exclusively for educational purposes in a broader sense, qualifying for tax exemption.
[2] A tax assessment on property with an exempt status is considered void, not merely voidable.
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe University of Tampa sought an ad valorem tax exemption for its president's residence. The trial court granted the exemption and ordered a refund f…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Taxes Paid Under Protest cases and more on FLexlaw
BOARDMAN, Judge.
On December 8, 1972, appellee/plaintiff filed its complaint by which it sought to establish that certain real property owned by appellee was exempt from ad valorem taxation which had been levied and assessed for the years 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972. No tax had been assessed for the year 1971. The property in issue was used as the home of the president of the University of Tampa, a private institution of higher education. Appellant moved to dismiss the complaint and subsequently filed motion for summary judgment. The trial court certified to this court the question of whether the residence of the president of appellee was within the definition of an educational institution and therefore exempt from taxation. This court in University of Tampa v. Hillsborough County, Fla.App.2d, 1974, 287 So. 2d 708, found the certification not to be in compliance with the Florida Appellate Rules and remanded the cause to the trial court for further proceedings.
In 1968, appellee had filed an application for exemption but was advised that no exemption was applicable and, thereafter, paid the taxes assessed for that year under protest. Taxes for the years 1969, 1970 and 1972 were also paid under protest. In his complaint appellee sought injunctive re lief from assessment and a refund of taxes paid under protest. The trial court found:
the president’s residence is being used exclusively for educational purposes in its broader sense. .
The trial court’s order held that all assessments for ad valorem taxes in issue on the property were illegal and void and ordered a refund of taxes paid. This timely appeal followed.
We have reviewed appellant’s first two issues regarding the exemption of the president’s residence from taxation and hold that reversible error was not demonstrated. We, therefore, affirm that portion of the order of the trial court relating to the exemption and agree with his finding that the president’s residence falls within the purview of former Section 196.-191(3), since repealed in 1971 by Section 196.198, Florida Statutes.
Appellant’s third issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred in failing to find that appellee’s suit was time barred as far as the ad valorem taxes paid for the years 1968, 1969 and 1970. Appellant’s contention is that the taxes paid for the above three years would be time barred under former Florida Statutes, similar in language to the present statute Section 194.171(2). This latter section provides:
No action shall be brought to contest a tax assessment after 60 days from the date the assessment roll is certified for collection under section 193.122(2).
The affidavit of the tax assessor establishes that the certification dates on the above three years were November 13, 1968; December 5, 1969, and December 2, 1970, respectively. However, Florida Statutes, Section 194.171(2) does not apply to a “void” assessment, as distinguished from a “voidable” assessment. See Lake Worth Towers Ins. v. Gerstung, Fla.1972, 262 So. 2d 1, and cases cited therein.
As was stated by the supreme court in Lake Worth Towers Ins., supra, a tax assessment that is not taxable because of its exempt status is “void.” The supreme court went on to opine that there are “deadlines” in the law which limit the institution of suits to vacate a “void” tax assessment. The high court held:
. [E]ven as to property not subject to taxation at all because of its immunity or exempt status it is our view that if the tax assessed is paid, suit must be brought by the taxpayer against the county within one year after such payment to recover the amount paid pursuant to F.S. Section 95.08, F.S.A. The policy involved in such limitations and laches is that there must be a time when tax processes and procedures that have been completed should not be judicially disturbed (262 So. 2d 1, pages 4 — 5).
Although not specifically mentioned in the Lake Worth Towers opinion, supra, we are of the view that taxes paid under protest nevertheless would still come within the purview of the law of the cited case. Therefore, we reverse that portion of the trial court’s order refunding the taxes paid in 1968, 1969, and 1970 for the reason that appellee did not file this action within the time prescribed in Section 95.08, Florida Statutes. In light of this opinion taxes paid in 1972 must be refunded in accordance with the trial court’s order. Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
McNULTY, C. J., and HOBSON, J., concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
-
MacCabee Invs., Inc. v. Markham, 311 So. 2d 718 (Fla. 4th DCA 1975)…ing voidable; hence it was unnecessary to comply with the time limitations set forth in sec. 194.151 as well as exhausting other administrative remedies. Lake Worth Towers, Inc. v. Gerstung, 262 So. 2d 1; Walden v. University of Tampa, Incorporated, 304 So. 2d 134 (Fla.App.1974).11 These cases stand for the proposition that a tax assessment on property that is not taxable because of its exempt status is “void”; but see Dade County v. Transportes Aereos Nacionales, S.A., Fla.App.1974, 298 So. 2d 570. Accordin…
-
COE v. ITT Cmty. Dev. Corp., 349 So. 2d 654 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977)…des Steel Corp., 155 So. 2d 387 (Fla. 2d DCA 1963) and Wright v. Reynolds Fasteners, Inc., 184 So. 2d 699 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966), modified, 197 So. 2d 295 (Fla.1967); and when the assessment included exempt property, Walden v. University of Tampa, Inc., 304 So. 2d 134 (Fla.2d DCA 1974), cert. den., 315 So. 2d 476 (Fla. 1975). We do not conceive that ITT’s complaint shows “(1) the assessment is not authorized by law; (2) the property is not subject to taxation, or (3) the tax roll is illegal.” Florida East Coast…
-
Spring Lake Improvement Dist. v. Tyrrell, 814 So. 2d 1077 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002)…ar period contained in section 95.11(3)(p), Florida Statutes (1997). Specifically, no maintenance tax paid prior to January 23, 1994, may be refunded. Manatee County v. Town of Longboat Key, 365 So. 2d 143 (Fla.1978); Walden v. Univ. of Tampa, Inc., 304 So. 2d 134 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974). We affirm that part of the judgment ordering refunds of taxes paid for periods since that date. Capital Taxes Of more concern is that aspect of the action that sought a refund of many years’ worth of capital taxes paid. The fun…
Previewing 3 of 6 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Lake Worth Towers, Inc. v. Gratton Gerstung, 262 So. 2d 1 (Fla. 1972)
- Williams v. State, 287 So. 2d 708 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974)
- Buford Millett v. Travelers Indem. Co., 287 So. 2d 708 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974)