What this office does
The Tax Collector's office bills and collects property taxes on behalf of the county, cities, the school board, and other local taxing authorities, then distributes the money to each of them. It also acts as an agent for the State of Florida on services most residents interact with far more often than property taxes: driver's licenses and ID cards, vehicle and vessel registration and tags, hunting and fishing licenses, and business tax receipts. It additionally collects the county's tourist development ("bed") tax on short-term rentals and hotel stays.
How the office works
The Tax Collector is elected countywide to a four-year term. Before the 2024 election, Miami-Dade's tax collection functions were run as an appointed county department rather than an independent elected office; Amendment 10 to the Florida Constitution required the county to make it an elected constitutional office again, restoring an arrangement the county had not used in 67 years. The office keeps a portion of what it collects as a statutory fee to fund its own operations rather than drawing a budget directly from the County Commission.
Current officeholder
Dariel Fernandez, a Republican, was elected the first Tax Collector under the restored office in November 2024 and took office January 7, 2025, becoming the first Cuban-American to hold the position. Born in Güines, Cuba, he immigrated to the United States in 2002 and studied at Miami Dade College. He built a media and business career before entering government, hosting a program on Radio Paz 830AM and later a Mega TV show, and founding the marketing and software firm Ponemus Group in 2015. He served on the Miami-Dade Community Council from 2021 to 2024 and on the county's Cryptocurrency Task Force, and serves in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Official Tax Collector website ↗