Florida Property Tax Exemptions: Homestead, Senior and Veteran Relief

A person who owns property and makes it his or her permanent residence (or the permanent residence of a dependent) may receive a homestead exemption of up to $50,000. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, including school taxes. The additional exemption of up to $25,000 applies to assessed value over $50,000 and only to non-school taxes; since a 2024 base year, this additional amount is adjusted each January 1 for inflation (CPI) when the change is positive. The home must be the permanent residence by January 1 of the tax year.

File Form DR-501 (Original Application for Homestead and Related Tax Exemptions) with the county property appraiser; many appraisers accept applications online. Be ready to give the names on the title on January 1, Social Security numbers for you and your spouse/co-applicant, and proof of residency such as a Florida driver license or ID, Florida vehicle registration, voter registration, a declaration of domicile, and your IRS return address. Only the property appraiser decides eligibility. Notify the appraiser if the home is rented, is no longer your permanent home, or you are no longer a Florida resident.

Submit Form DR-501 to the county property appraiser by March 1 of the tax year. The Save Our Homes portability transfer form (DR-501T) is also due March 1, filed with the homestead application.

Counties and cities may adopt an ordinance allowing an additional homestead exemption of up to $50,000 for owners 65 or older whose household income does not exceed the state income limitation (a $20,000 base adjusted annually for the cost of living), and a further local option exempting the full assessed value for owners 65 or older with household income under the limit who have lived in the home at least 25 years and whose home has a just value under $250,000 (Form DR-501SC). Check with the county property appraiser whether the local exemption is offered. Homeowners 65 or older may also defer the portion of homestead taxes that exceeds 3% of the prior year's household income (see tax_relief_programs).

Florida-resident veterans honorably discharged with a service-related total and permanent disability may receive a total exemption on their homestead (a similar exemption applies to disabled veterans confined to wheelchairs); a surviving spouse may carry over the exemption in some cases. An honorably discharged Florida-resident ex-servicemember disabled 10% or more (wartime misfortune or service) may get a $5,000 reduction in assessed value, on any property. Veterans 65 or older who are partially or totally permanently disabled may receive a discount on homestead assessed value equal to their VA service-connected disability percentage, which carries over to an unremarried surviving spouse who lives there. Service members deployed outside the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii in designated operations may receive a partial exemption (Form DR-501M). Veterans may apply before receiving VA documentation; the exemption is effective from the original application date.

Homestead real estate owned and used by a quadriplegic is exempt from all property tax. Homestead of a paraplegic, hemiplegic or other totally and permanently disabled person who must use a wheelchair, or who is legally blind, is exempt if gross household income is below the current limit; first-time filers present a certificate of total and permanent disability (Form DR-416) from two Florida-licensed doctors or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Every Florida-resident widow, widower, blind person, or totally and permanently disabled person receives a $5,000 exemption. Homestead of the surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty is fully exempt.

Save Our Homes: after the first year a home receives the homestead exemption and is assessed at just value, its assessed value cannot increase more than 3% or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less, and never above just value. A change of ownership or loss of homestead triggers reassessment at just value the next January 1 (transfers between spouses and certain transfers at death do not). Owners moving to a new Florida homestead may transfer ('port') all or part of the accumulated benefit if they establish the new homestead within three years of January 1 of the year they left the old one.

Homestead Tax Deferral: homeowners may defer homestead taxes that exceed 5% of the prior year's household income (all taxes and non-ad valorem assessments if household income was under $10,000; for owners 65 or older, the portion above 3% of household income). Apply each year on Form DR-570 to the county tax collector by March 31 following the assessment year; denials may be appealed to the value adjustment board within 30 days. Counties may also reduce assessed value for living quarters built for a parent or grandparent age 62 or older (Form DR-501PGP), and installation of renewable energy devices after January 1, 2013 does not raise assessed value.

The property appraiser mails the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM notice) in August. To challenge the assessed value, file a petition (Form DR-486) with the clerk of the value adjustment board within 25 days of the TRIM notice. If the property appraiser denies an exemption application, a petition may be filed with the value adjustment board within 30 days after the denial letter is mailed.

Tax collectors generally mail tax bills in November. Early payment discounts are 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. Unpaid taxes become delinquent on April 1, and tax certificates are sold on unpaid items by June 1. Installment payment plans are available; the application is due by May 1 of the assessment year.