Form DR-501M, Deployed Military Exemption Application, is the form a servicemember uses to ask the county property appraiser for an additional ad valorem exemption on a Florida homestead; the Osceola County Property Appraiser publishes it as one of the Osceola County property tax forms. It applies to servicemembers who were deployed last year outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of operations designated by the Florida Legislature. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published on the property appraiser's website.
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What is DR-501M?
Form DR-501M, Deployed Military Exemption Application, is the Florida application on which a servicemember asks the county property appraiser for an additional ad valorem exemption on a homestead, based on deployment last year outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii.
The form cites Section 196.173, Florida Statutes, and Rule 12D-16.002, F.A.C., and the printed revision is R. 09/17, effective 09/17. Under that law the deployment must be in support of main or subordinate military operations designated by the Florida Legislature, so the form asks you to name the designated operation(s), list each period of deployment with its dates and number of days, and give the total days deployed.
The applicant completes the top of the form. The block marked "For use by property appraiser's office only" is completed by the property appraiser, who approves, denies or denies in part the application, records whether a late application was accepted or rejected, and calculates the percentage exempted: days deployed divided by 365 days in the year, multiplied by 100.
If an application filed on time is denied, the property appraiser sends a notice of disapproval (Form DR-490) by July 1. You may appeal by filing a request for hearing (Form DR-486) with the Value Adjustment Board in your county.
Who needs to file DR-501M?
Servicemembers who owned a Florida homestead and were deployed last year outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of main or subordinate military operations designated by the Florida Legislature use this form to claim the additional exemption.
- More than one deployed owner. If more than one owner of the homestead was deployed last year, each deployed servicemember should complete a separate application.
- Spouse. The form has a place for the spouse's name and social security number.
- Who may sign. The signature block asks you to mark whether the signature is by the servicemember, the spouse, a designee under Chapter 709, F.S., or a personal representative.
The form describes qualifying service as deployment outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii to a designated military operation. The form does not set out other eligibility rules; for questions about your case, contact the Osceola County Property Appraiser or the property appraiser of the county where your homestead is located.
When to file DR-501M
Form DR-501M is due to the property appraiser by March 1. It reports deployment from last year, so the dates you enter must fall in the year before the tax year you write on the form.
If you miss March 1, you can still submit the application: the form has a line, "I am applying after the deadline because," where you explain the reason and add documentation if needed. The property appraiser's section of the form records whether the reason for filing late was accepted or rejected.
If your application was filed on time and is denied, the property appraiser will send a notice of disapproval (Form DR-490) by July 1. The form states that you have the right to appeal by filing a request for hearing (Form DR-486) with the Value Adjustment Board in your county.
Documents you need
- Proof of qualifying deployment: attach it to the application and check the box saying you attached it; the information must include the dates of the qualifying deployment.
- Documentation supporting the reason for filing late: add it only if you apply after the March 1 deadline and your explanation needs it.
How to fill out DR-501M
Enter tax year, county and parcel
Write the tax year after "20" in the Tax year field and the county of the homestead in County. Enter the Parcel ID if you know it.
Enter servicemember and spouse names
Write the Servicemember's name and the Spouse's name. If more than one owner of the homestead was deployed last year, each deployed servicemember completes a separate application.
Provide social security numbers
Enter the servicemember's and the spouse's social security numbers in the fields marked with an asterisk. The form says disclosure is mandatory under s. 196.011(1)(b), F.S., and that the number is used to verify taxpayer identity and exemption information.
Add phone and addresses
Enter your Phone, the Homestead address and, if it is different, the Mailing address.
Name the designated operation
In Designated operation(s) you were deployed to, write the military operation(s) designated by the Florida Legislature that you were deployed to.
List dates deployed last year
For each period outside the continental US, Alaska, and Hawaii, enter the From and To dates (month, day and year) and the total days for that period. Use the second row for a second period.
Enter total days deployed
Write the Total days deployed across all periods you listed, so that it matches the dates above.
Confirm the proof of deployment
Check the box "I have attached proof of qualifying deployment," and make sure the attached proof includes the dates of the deployment.
Explain a late application
Complete "I am applying after the deadline because" only if you are filing after March 1, and add documentation if needed. The field expands online.
Sign, print name and date
Sign, print your name and enter the date. Mark whether the signature is by the servicemember, the spouse, a designee under Chapter 709, F.S., or a personal representative.
Review and download the PDF
Leave the property appraiser's office-use block empty and check every entry. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble it with your proof of deployment as described under How to submit.
How to submit DR-501M
File the completed form with the property appraiser; the form says it is due to the property appraiser by March 1 and prints no other channel. It gives no mailing address, portal, fax number or appointment rule of its own, so contact the Osceola County Property Appraiser, or the property appraiser of the county where your homestead is located, for its filing options.
What to include:
- The signed and dated application, with the signature capacity marked.
- Proof of qualifying deployment, which must include the dates of the qualifying deployment. Check the box stating that you attached it.
- Documentation supporting the reason for filing late, if you apply after the deadline and need to add it.
Do not write in the block "For use by property appraiser's office only." After you file on time, a denial is communicated by a notice of disapproval (Form DR-490) sent by July 1, and an appeal goes to the Value Adjustment Board in your county on Form DR-486. The form mentions no fee. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing after March 1 without completing the line "I am applying after the deadline because" and adding documentation if needed.
- Attaching proof of deployment that does not show the dates of the qualifying deployment, which the form requires it to include.
- Leaving the social security number blank; the form states that disclosure is mandatory under s. 196.011(1)(b), F.S.
- Combining two deployed owners on one application, when the form says each deployed servicemember should complete a separate application.
- Entering deployment dates from the current year instead of last year, which is the period the form asks about.
- Leaving out the days for each deployment period or the total days deployed, the figures the property appraiser uses to calculate the percentage exempted.
- Signing without marking whether the signature is by the servicemember, spouse, designee under Chapter 709, F.S., or personal representative.
- Writing in the block reserved for the property appraiser's office.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form DR-501M used for?
Form DR-501M is the Florida Deployed Military Exemption Application. A servicemember files it with the county property appraiser to claim an additional ad valorem exemption on a homestead, based on deployment last year outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in a designated operation.
When is the DR-501M due?
It is due to the property appraiser by March 1. If you miss that date, complete the line "I am applying after the deadline because" and add documentation if needed; the property appraiser records whether the reason for filing late was accepted or rejected.
Do both spouses need to file a separate DR-501M?
Only each deployed servicemember does. The form says that if more than one owner of the homestead was deployed last year, each deployed servicemember should complete a separate application. The spouse's name and social security number are also entered on the form.
What proof do I attach to the deployed military exemption application?
Attach proof of qualifying deployment and check the box saying you did. The form requires the information to include the dates of the qualifying deployment. Add documentation for a late filing only if needed to support your reason.
Is my social security number required on Form DR-501M?
Yes. The form states that disclosure of your social security number is mandatory under s. 196.011(1)(b), F.S. It is used to verify taxpayer identity and the exemption information submitted to the property appraiser.
What happens if my DR-501M is denied?
If you filed on time and the application is denied, the property appraiser sends a notice of disapproval (Form DR-490) by July 1. You may appeal by filing a request for hearing (Form DR-486) with the Value Adjustment Board in your county.
Who can sign the DR-501M for the servicemember?
The signature block lets you mark that the signature is by the servicemember, the spouse, a designee under Chapter 709, F.S., or a personal representative. Mark the option that applies when you sign, print your name and date the form.
Can I fill out Form DR-501M online and file it with FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not affiliated with the Osceola County Property Appraiser, and it does not file the form; you submit it to the property appraiser yourself.
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