CPA for Jacksonville, FL Clients: Remote Tax Help for Port and Logistics Firms

We are a Naperville, Illinois CPA firm, and we serve Jacksonville and Duval County clients remotely; we have no office in Florida. Jacksonville is unusual because the city and county are one government, and because its economy rests on the port, rail, warehouses and trucking. Florida has no personal income tax, so the Duval questions are mostly about property, business and federal tax. That combination shapes both the property tax calendar and the federal taxes that logistics owners pay.

One government, six tax districts

Jacksonville and Duval County share one government, and the Property Appraiser's millage page shows what that means on a tax bill. It says the millage varies by taxing district and is built from several authorities. The districts are GS (the General Services district), USD1 for the City of Jacksonville, and USD2 to USD5 for Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Baldwin. County public schools, the Florida Inland Navigation District and the St. Johns River Water Management District also levy. Check which district your parcel is in before comparing a neighbor's bill.

For homestead property, the Save Our Homes cap lets assessed value rise by the lesser of 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index; the Property Appraiser's table shows 2.7% for 2026 and 2.9% for 2025. Buying a home removes the seller's cap, and the value resets to market. The same office puts the 2026 homestead exemption at up to $51,411: $25,000 on all millages plus $26,411 on non-school millages. Two additional exemptions exist for owners 65 or older with limited income; the 2026 income limit is $38,686, and the second requires 25 years of continuous residence and a just value under $250,000. Applications are due March 1.

Duval property appeals

The TRIM notice is an estimate, not a bill. The Property Appraiser says mailing it starts a 25-day appeal period. You can ask for an informal review first, or file a formal petition with the Value Adjustment Board, which is a separate body. Duval stresses that the form must be received, not postmarked, by the 25th day. The value challenged is market value, uncapped and before exemptions. Property tax collection for the 2026 roll begins November 1.

Amendment 3 is on the November 3, 2026 ballot and needs 60% approval. The Property Appraiser's FAQ, which takes no side, says it would take effect January 1, 2027 and first show on August 2027 TRIM notices. It would also require counties and municipalities to use property taxes solely for listed purposes such as public safety, education, infrastructure and debt service, according to the Department of State's ballot summary. The amendment would also lower the cap on non-homestead assessments from 10% to 5%, which matters to warehouse and rental owners.

Port, trucking and logistics businesses

JAXPORT describes Foreign Trade Zone No. 64 as a designated area in Northeast Florida where goods can be imported, stored and processed with deferred or reduced customs duties. A business that uses it should keep records that tie duty treatment to its books. Our business tax preparation work covers that side.

Trucking owners have a federal tax that most employers do not. Form 2290 covers highway motor vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. For the period July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, it is due by the last day of the month after the month of first use, so a truck first used in July 2026 was due August 31, 2026. See truckers and transportation and the line between an employee and an independent contractor for drivers.

Furniture, tools, machinery, leased equipment and office supplies, as well as furniture and appliances in rental properties, are tangible personal property in the Property Appraiser's definition. The return is due April 1, and for 2026 the office required written extension requests by 5:30 p.m. on March 31.

Short-term rentals

The Property Appraiser's short-term rental guide says the owner must collect the 6% tax from the guest and remit it to the Duval County Tax Collector, even when a platform is used, because the county has no agreement with any online platform to receive it. Returns are due every month the property is available, including a $0 return, on the first of the following month, and are late after the 20th.

The Indian-American community and US-India tax in Jacksonville

The Census Bureau counts 14,271 Asian Indian residents in Duval County and 13,959 in the city of Jacksonville (1.4%), within a metro area of 19,704 (1.2%). Florida is in the Consulate General of India in Atlanta's jurisdiction. Three issues come up:

• Two reports for Indian accounts. The FBAR goes to FinCEN, and Form 8938 goes with your return. For a married couple filing jointly in the U.S., the Form 8938 limits are $100,000 at year-end or $150,000 at any time. See Form 8938.
• NRE and NRO accounts. Balances in these Indian accounts count as foreign accounts for reporting; see NRE, NRO and FCNR accounts.
• Moving jobs or visa status. See our green card and new immigrant guide.

How we can help

From Naperville we prepare federal and multi-state returns, business returns, payroll and bookkeeping, and IRS and state notices. Work is by secure upload, phone and video. For a Value Adjustment Board hearing, customs matter or anything that needs a Florida license or local professional, we will say so. This is general information, not personal advice.

Frequently asked questions

General information only, not tax, legal or accounting advice for your situation. Rules, limits and deadlines change; confirm the current rules with the official source or a qualified professional before you act. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship with CPA Tax Payroll and Accounting Corp.