Solid Waste Hardship & Affordability Credit

The solid waste exemption provides a credit (a $53 credit for the disposal fee and $15 credit for the collection fee) that will be issued against the solid waste collection and disposal fee on your annual property taxes.

Eligibility

You must apply for the program, submit all required supporting documentation, and meet all criteria listed below for the property and household income:

1. Single-family residence
2. Owner-occupied
3. Have homestead exemption
4. The total income of all residents within the household, including owners of the property, must be at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level
5. The property must have a taxable value of less than $100,000 after exemptions

Questions we will ask to determine eligibility:

1. Are you a Hillsborough County resident?
2. Do you own your property?
3. Is your property located in unincorporated Hillsborough County?
4. Is your property a single-family residence?
5. Do you claim a homestead exemption on your property?
6. How many people live in the household?
7. What is your household’s adjusted gross income (as listed on your 1040)?
8. Does the property have a taxable value of less than $100,000 after exemptions?

To check your property’s taxable home value use the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s Basic Property Search tool.

We may required additional qualifications to determine eligibility and will inform you at the time of application.

Things to consider

• You must submit all required information online by July 31 to receive the credit for the next tax year (the bill that comes in the mail in November)
• Note: The deadline application for the 2025 tax bill has been extended to Oct. 1, 2024
• If approved, we let you and and will apply the credit for the approved year on the tax bill
• You must reapply every year

How to

If you think you qualify for assistance, please apply online during the eligibility period for the Solid Waste Hardship Affordability Credit Program.

All necessary documentation includes:

• Social Security number verification for each household member
• Identification for all members of the household:
• Copy of valid (not expired) identification for all adult household members, including yourself
• Copy of identification for all minor household members (birth certificate, school records, or immunization records)
• Copy of your most recent Federal income tax return to verify household income (Form 1040 – both pages)
• Verification of Solid Waste Management Disposal and/or Collection Assessment obligation
• Additional requirements may be necessary for eligibility determination depending on each household situation
• All eligible applicants who apply for the hardship affordability credit program will be considered, but must apply and provide all necessary eligibility documents by July 31 of the current year to get the credit on the tax bill received that November
• Note: The deadline application for the 2025 tax bill has been extended to Oct. 1, 2024

Get help

Department: Solid Waste Services
Email: solidwaste@hcfl.gov
Phone: (813) 272-5680 Ext. 0