Dear Friends,
This time of year my office starts gearing up for some of our favorite community events. First up was the Jupiter Jubilee that was held on Saturday, February 7. This Town of Jupiter community event has been happening since 2003.
In March we will participate in the Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 14 and then on March 28 & 29, we will have a booth at the Palm Beach Pride event in Lake Worth Beach. This premier LGBTQ+ celebration culminates with an exciting parade on Sunday, March 29.
Then in April, our community engagement team will host a booth at the Belle Glade Black Gold Jubilee on Saturday, April 18. This annual event, which began back in 1976, draws several thousand attendees from near and far.
My team and I look forward to seeing you at one of these Palm Beach County community events!
Anne M. Gannon
Constitutional Tax Collector, Serving Palm Beach County
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(Please Note: Effective February 9, 2026, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has directed that all driver license knowledge and driving exams administered in the State of Florida will be offered exclusively in English. In addition, and through March 31, 2026, these exams will also be offered in Spanish. Language translation services will no longer be permitted.)
White knuckles, sweaty palms, and the sudden realization that you have forgotten which side the blinker is on—welcome to the road test!
It is a rite of passage for every new driver, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Here is some expert advice on how to cruise through your skills exam without breaking a sweat.
During the driving skills exam, our examiner will observe your ability to control the vehicle and how well you obey traffic laws. I asked two of our Client Service Specialists from our Central Service Center for some tips and advice for taking the driving skills exam for the first time. Here is what they had to say:
Coleen Plata says that clients are often anxious about taking the exam. To help them relax, Coleen says, “I usually just joke with them. I try to make them laugh to break the ice. I talk to them and ask them personal questions about themselves.”
She continues, “usually people are more inclined to talk about themselves. They tend to become more relaxed during the exam when they are talking about something other than the exam, and then we proceed with the exam.”
Her colleague, Madison Buera, says that teenagers are usually nervous when taking the road test. She has two techniques for helping new drivers feel more comfortable behind the wheel during the test.
“I go over all the instructions with them, and before we start any maneuver, I give them a chance to ask as many questions as they need and I give them some time to think about what they are doing before they begin,” says Madison.
She also notes that teens are the most nervous when their parents are watching near the road test course. Madison says, “I offer the parents the option to sit inside our service center and wait and that usually calms some of the teen’s nerves.”
Coleen and Madison shared these helpful tips for taking the road test:
- Even though it is a closed course, treat it as if you are on the road.
- Learn which way to turn the wheels when backing/reversing, i.e. when backing out of a parking space or reversing from a three-point turn.
- Avoid all distractions: no radios, phones or eating/drinking while driving.
- Always use two hands on the steering wheel for better control of the vehicle.
- Get comfortable with the car; know where the pedals, signals and wipers are.
- Practice in big/empty areas.
- Be courteous of other drivers.
- Signal at every turn.
- Be aware of your surroundings and stop signs.
Hopefully, if you are about to embark upon your first road test, you find this information helpful. Coleen, Madison and our staff members are always ready to answer your questions and help you be successful in getting your driver license. It is rewarding for us to see the smiles on the faces of our new Florida drivers!
For more information for first time drivers or to make your reservation for a road test, visit www.pbctax.gov.
At the TCO, you will hear our staff using numerous acronyms and phrases for terms associated with our services, for example, TCO is Tax Collector’s Office. To help you, here are some common terms you might hear the staff speaking “the lingo” during your interaction with us.
Ad Valorem: From the Latin term “according to worth,” that refers to taxes levied annually based on the value of an object. Pertains to both property tax and tangible personal property tax.
BTR/LBTR: Local Business Tax Receipt is required to operate a business in Palm Beach County. For more information visit pbctax.gov/taxes/business-tax/.
CCR: Client Care Representative is the title of our staff that assists you over the phone and when you email our office at [email protected].
CSS: Client Service Specialist is the title of our staff that assists you in our service centers when you transact with us.
If either of these two positions sound interesting to you and you would like to join our award-winning organization, we are hiring! Visit pbctax.gov/resources/culture-and-careers/.
DETS: Driver Education Traffic Safety Course is a six-hour course required if you are under 18 years old prior to obtaining a driver license for the first time. For more information visit pbctax.gov/driver-license/get-your-first-driver-license/.
eCheck: Electronic check payment. This free, secure service uses your bank account and routing numbers to process your payment.
IPP: Installment Payment Plan, for real estate and tangible personal property taxes. IPP divides your taxes into four quarterly payments due in June/July, September, December and March. To enroll, visit pbctax.gov/taxes/installment-payment-plan/.
ELT: When an e-titled vehicle is purchased using a loan, the lender issues an Electronic Lien Title (ELT). For more information, visit pbctax.gov/motor-vehicle/titles/.
Non-Ad Valorem Tax: Assessments not determined by millage or value. The levying authority calculates the tax using a unit of measure to assess the cost of services. For example, Solid Waste Authority fees are based on the property producing the waste.
TDT: Tourist Development Tax is required of anyone offering accommodation for short-term rental of six months or less. Also known as “bed tax,” and applies to all hotels, motels, accommodations, and privately-owned homes listed for short-term rental. For more information visit pbctax.gov/taxes/tourist-development-tax/.
These are just a few of the common acronyms and phrases we use regularly. Visit pbctax.gov/tpsg for more information on all of these and much more in the latest edition of our signature publication Tax Planner & Services Guide, also known as TPSG!
If you prefer to make your payments to our office via mail, here is some important information that you need to be aware of before you send in your next payment.
Traditionally, we have all been used to the mail we drop off at the post office being postmarked that same day. But recent processing changes at the U.S. Post Office have changed that. Dropping off your mail at the post office is no longer a guarantee it will be postmarked that same day.
Now, once you drop off your mail, it is then transported to a processing facility where the postmark is applied. Due to changes in transportation, the time it is postmarked may not be the same day you dropped the payment off, possibly causing your payment to arrive at our office late.
If you need a same day postmark, you can visit a Post Service retail location and request a manual (local) postmark at the counter. Manual postmarks are free of charge.
So, keep in mind when sending in payments that you need to allow some extra time for the postmark to be applied to your mail, unless you opt for the manual postmark.
To ensure you don’t miss any upcoming deadlines if you plan to mail us your payment, here are some important upcoming payment deadlines:
· 2025 Property Tax – March 31, 2026
· 2026 Installment Payment Plan Payment 1 – June 30 or July 31, 2026
· 2026 Installment Payment Plan Payment 2 – September 30, 2026
· 2026 Installment Payment Plan Payment 3 – December 31, 2026
· 2026 Installment Payment Plan Payment 4 – March 31, 2027
Of course, to avoid all this, and not stress about the timeliness of the postmark, you can simply pay online at pbctax.gov/pay-online.
Important Dates & Holidays
| March 2 | 1% Property Tax Discount Ends |
| March 2 | Tourist Development Tax Due |
| March 8 | Daylight Saving Time Begins |
| March 31 | Last Day to Pay 2025 Propety Tax |
| March 31 | Final 2025 IPP Payment Due |
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