Hillsborough County, Florida • Homestead Exemption Guide • 2026
Hillsborough County FL Homestead Exemption: Rules, Savings, Save Our Homes & Filing
A qualifying Hillsborough County homestead exemption does more than subtract value from your property-tax assessment. It can reduce taxable value, establish Florida’s Save Our Homes assessment limitation, and allow an eligible homeowner moving from another Florida homestead to transfer as much as $500,000 of accumulated assessment difference through portability.
Florida’s homestead rules also changed recently. The second portion of the exemption is now adjusted for inflation for continuing homesteads. For the 2026 assessment roll, Florida’s Department of Revenue lists the indexed additional non-school exemption at $26,411. The first $25,000 continues to apply to all ad valorem property taxes, including school taxes.
Start here
Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption Quick Facts
The regular 2026 filing deadline has passed, but Hillsborough County Property Appraiser accepts qualifying late-filed homestead applications through the 25th day after the mailing of the annual TRIM Notice. Hillsborough’s 2026 TRIM notices began mailing August 13.
Do not calculate your deadline from a generic web article. Check the mailing date on your own Notice of Proposed Property Taxes and contact HCPA immediately if you still need to file for 2026.
HCPA determines property value, administers exemptions and determines Save Our Homes assessments. Taxing authorities set millage rates. The Hillsborough County Tax Collector later sends and collects the property-tax bill.
Avoid the wrong office
Property Appraiser vs. Tax Collector vs. Taxing Authorities
Hillsborough County Property Appraiser
- Homestead exemption applications
- Save Our Homes assessments
- Portability
- Senior exemptions
- Veteran and disability exemptions
- Market and assessed values
- Property characteristics
- TRIM assessment information
County, School Board, Cities & Districts
- Set millage rates
- Adopt budgets
- Determine revenue needs
- May adopt qualifying local exemptions
Hillsborough County Tax Collector
- Mails property-tax bills
- Collects payments
- Issues receipts
- Administers payment plans
- Handles delinquent taxes
Qualification rules
Who Qualifies for a Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption?
Hillsborough County applies Florida’s residence-homestead rules. Homestead is based on ownership, permanent residence and legal domicile, not merely on owning property in the county.
Hold legal or beneficial title
HCPA requires the applicant to have legal or beneficial title to the property by January 1 of the year for which the exemption is claimed.
Occupy the property by January 1
The property must be the applicant’s qualifying permanent residence as of January 1.
Establish Hillsborough as legal domicile
Homestead requires more than simply receiving mail at the address. HCPA looks for evidence that Florida and the Hillsborough residence are genuinely your permanent legal home.
Be a qualifying U.S. citizen or permanent resident
HCPA’s current requirements identify U.S. citizenship or qualifying permanent-resident status as part of its filing review.
Provide Florida residency evidence
A Florida driver’s license is commonly used. HCPA specifically warns that a license carrying only a “Valid in Florida” designation is not sufficient for its homestead residency requirement.
Do not claim conflicting residency benefits
Claiming another residence-based exemption, tax benefit or legal domicile elsewhere can conflict with a Florida homestead claim.
Rental homes, investment properties, second homes and vacation properties generally do not qualify merely because the owner spends part of the year there.
Current exemption calculation
How Much Is the Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption in 2026?
A common explanation says Florida homestead is simply “$50,000.” That is now incomplete for a continuing homestead because Florida began indexing the second portion of the exemption for inflation.
Applies to qualifying assessed value and reduces taxable value for all ad valorem taxes, including school district taxes.
Applies to assessed value above $50,000 and reduces non-school property taxes.
Florida DOR’s 2026 assessment-roll exemption coding reflects the inflation-adjusted additional exemption amount.
A qualifying continuing homestead with enough assessed value can therefore have up to $25,000 exempt from school and non-school taxes plus up to $26,411 more exempt from non-school taxes.
That does not mean $51,411 is removed from the taxable value used for school taxes.
Florida’s current DR-501 explains that the first-year additional portion starts at $25,000. The inflation adjustment applies when the homeowner remains in the property and continues receiving the exemption.
Understand your tax record
How Homestead Changes a Hillsborough County Property-Tax Calculation
See where the exemption lands
Homestead Exemption Examples by Assessed Value
| Assessed Value | First $25,000 | Additional Portion | School Tax Effect | Non-School Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | Up to $20,000 | None | $0 taxable value in simplified example | $0 taxable value in simplified example |
| $45,000 | $25,000 | None | About $20,000 remaining | About $20,000 remaining |
| $65,000 | $25,000 | About $15,000 | About $40,000 taxable | About $25,000 taxable |
| $100,000+ | Full $25,000 | Up to applicable annual maximum | First $25,000 only | First + additional exemption |
A long-time homesteaded homeowner can have a just value substantially higher than assessed value because of accumulated Save Our Homes protection.
Potentially the biggest long-term benefit
Save Our Homes: Hillsborough County’s 2026 Homestead Assessment Cap
Florida’s Save Our Homes provision limits annual increases in the assessed value of a qualifying homestead. It does not place a 3% limit on the property’s market or just value.
The cap cannot exceed 3% of the previous year’s assessed value, subject to statutory adjustments.
Because the CPI measure was lower than 3%, the 2026 SOH cap is 2.7%.
First-year homestead property is generally assessed at just value; SOH protection begins the following assessment year.
If a qualifying homestead’s 2025 assessed value was $300,000, a simple 2.7% SOH calculation produces approximately $308,100 before accounting for qualifying new construction, additions or other statutory adjustments.
Compare assessed value to assessed value. Just or market value can increase by much more than 2.7%. New construction can also be added at market value rather than being protected by the existing cap in the same way.
The buyer’s tax trap
Why the Seller’s Hillsborough Property Tax Bill Can Be Misleading
When a homesteaded property is sold, the seller may have years of accumulated Save Our Homes protection. A new buyer normally does not inherit the seller’s assessed-value cap.
The seller’s exemptions and accumulated SOH difference may disappear after the ownership change. Your new homestead and any portability benefit must be calculated based on your own qualification.
Moved from another Florida homestead?
Hillsborough County Save Our Homes Portability
Portability allows an eligible Florida homeowner to transfer all or part of the accumulated difference between the prior homestead’s just value and assessed value to a new Florida homestead.
Subject to Florida’s portability calculation and ownership rules.
A prior homestead can be in another Florida county.
Establish the new homestead within the statutory three-year window measured from January 1 of the year the previous homestead was abandoned.
File the Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference with the new homestead application.
If you buy a more expensive home
Prior homestead just value: $400,000
Prior assessed value: $250,000
Accumulated assessment difference: $150,000
If the new homestead has a just value of $600,000, the qualifying homeowner may potentially transfer the full $150,000 assessment difference because the new property is worth at least as much as the old property and the amount is below the $500,000 statutory maximum.
If you buy a less expensive home
Downsizing uses a proportional calculation. The transferred difference is generally the same percentage of the new homestead’s just value that the prior assessment difference represented relative to the old homestead’s just value.
A $150,000 assessment difference on a $400,000 prior just value equals 37.5%.
If the new homestead has a $200,000 just value, 37.5% of $200,000 is $75,000. That would be the simplified portability amount in the example.
File for the new homestead and request the transfer. HCPA determines the official prior assessment difference and the amount that can be transferred.
2026 filing calendar
Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption Deadline & Late Filing
Ownership, occupancy and permanent-residence facts are measured for the applicable tax year.
Florida’s ordinary filing deadline for real-property exemptions.
March 1, 2026 fell on Sunday, so Hillsborough’s filing deadline moved to the next business day.
Hillsborough announced that 2026 TRIM notices would begin mailing August 13.
HCPA states that late-filed exemption applications are accepted through the 25th day after the mailing of the yearly TRIM notice.
As of August 23, 2026, homeowners who failed to file earlier should contact HCPA immediately rather than assuming the 2026 exemption is lost.
HCPA states that after the statutory late-filing period expires, Florida law does not permit the Property Appraiser to accept a homestead application for that calendar year.
Do not assume every property owner has the same 25-day deadline simply because Hillsborough announced that mailing began August 13.
Application walkthrough
How to Apply for Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption
HCPA Homestead E-File
Hillsborough County Property Appraiser allows new homestead and several related personal exemptions to be filed online.
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1
Confirm you qualified on January 1
Make sure you held qualifying title and used the Hillsborough property as your permanent residence on January 1 of the tax year.
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2
Find your HCPA property record
Go to the official HCPA site and search by address, folio, parcel number or owner name. Confirm that you selected the correct parcel before beginning the application.
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3
Check how ownership is shown
Confirm that the property record reflects the deed or beneficial ownership arrangement under which you are applying.
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4
Prepare Florida residency evidence
Have the residency and identification information HCPA requests available before opening the online application.
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5
Open Homestead E-File
Use the Property Appraiser’s official portal rather than a third-party company advertising paid “homestead filing.”
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6
Enter applicant and spouse information
Complete the required ownership, residency, spouse and Social Security number fields accurately.
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7
Answer prior-residence questions
The application asks about prior residency and prior homestead benefits. These answers help establish domicile and determine possible portability.
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8
Request portability if you moved from another Florida homestead
Do not skip this because the prior home was in another county. Florida portability can cross county lines.
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9
Select related personal exemptions
The HCPA e-file system can also handle certain widow/widower, blindness, disability and service-connected disability benefits.
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10
Review everything before certifying
Homestead is a legal residency claim. Correct an old address, conflicting exemption or inaccurate ownership answer instead of knowingly submitting inconsistent information.
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11
Submit and save the confirmation
Keep the confirmation number, PDF, email or screenshot showing when your application was submitted.
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12
Check application status
Do not assume a submitted application has been approved. Use HCPA’s exemption-status tool or contact the office.
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13
Review your TRIM notice
When your Notice of Proposed Property Taxes arrives, verify the exemption, assessed value and taxable values shown for the parcel.
Prepare before you file
Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption Document Checklist
HCPA advises applicants to have the property address, tax bill or deed/title information available.
Common proof of Florida residency and domicile.
HCPA lists examples such as voter registration or a qualifying permanent resident card.
HCPA requires Social Security numbers for the spouse and owners residing on the property as required by Florida law.
Keep the old address, county and parcel or folio number available.
Senior, disability, veteran, first-responder and military programs can require additional forms.
Homestead applications can contain Social Security numbers, immigration status information, driver’s-license details and medical or veteran documentation. Use HCPA’s official e-file system or official office channels.
Non-standard ownership situations
Trusts, Mobile Homes & Active-Duty Military
Property held in a trust
HCPA states that a trust beneficiary with the right to occupy the home may qualify for homestead when the applicable legal requirements are met.
Manufactured / mobile home
HCPA may require the mobile-home title or registration plus the deed to the real estate. The home generally must be declared real property for this treatment.
Active-duty Florida resident
HCPA says an active-duty member may establish Florida residency using documentation such as a Florida driver’s license or qualifying Leave and Earnings Statement.
Do not stop at “submitted”
How to Check Your Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption
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1
Open HCPA’s Homestead & Other Exemptions page
HCPA provides a dedicated link titled “Check the status of your exemption application.”
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2
Use the correct application or parcel
Confirm the property address or folio before relying on the status.
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3
Confirm the tax year
A prior-year homestead does not prove that a new application or transferred benefit was correctly processed for 2026.
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4
Review the TRIM notice
Your TRIM notice shows assessed value, exemptions and proposed taxable values. It is one of the most important verification documents of the year.
Additional local relief
Hillsborough County Senior Homestead Exemption for Age 65+
Florida permits counties and municipalities to adopt additional homestead exemptions for qualifying low-income homeowners age 65 or older. These are local-option exemptions, so the amount depends on where the home is located.
| Tax Area | Additional Senior Exemption | School Taxes? | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated Hillsborough County | Up to $50,000 | No | 65+ + homestead + income qualification |
| City of Tampa | Up to $50,000 | No | 65+ + homestead + income qualification |
| Temple Terrace | Up to $25,000 | No | 65+ + homestead + income qualification |
| Plant City | Not listed by HCPA among its current qualifying local-option senior areas | — | Check HCPA for any future ordinance change |
What income does the senior program use?
HCPA states that eligibility is based on the prior year’s household adjusted gross income as defined under the Internal Revenue Code.
HCPA specifically tells first-time senior applicants to apply by the deadline even when they do not yet know the household’s final total income.
HCPA states that the low-income senior exemption automatically renews while the homeowner continues to meet the annual household-income limit. The homeowner remains responsible for reporting loss of eligibility.
A much larger local senior benefit
25-Year Long-Term Residency Senior Homestead Exemption
Florida law permits an adopting county or municipality to exempt the qualifying assessed value of a long-term senior residence from that government’s levy when strict conditions are met.
Age 65+
At least one qualifying owner must be age 65 or older.
Low-income senior qualification
The applicant must satisfy the applicable annual household-income limit.
25 consecutive years
The property must have been maintained as the applicant’s permanent residence for at least 25 consecutive years.
Just value under $250,000
The property’s just value must have been below $250,000 in the first year the owner applied and qualified for this exemption.
HCPA currently lists City of Tampa and Unincorporated Hillsborough County as local taxing areas that have adopted the long-term residency senior benefit.
The exemption applies against the levy of the local government that adopted it. School district and other taxing-authority levies remain separate.
Additional personal exemptions
Widow, Widower, Blind & Disability Exemptions
Applicant must meet Florida residency requirements and generally must not have remarried. HCPA requests evidence such as the deceased spouse’s death certificate or obituary.
Qualifying Florida residents who are legally blind can receive this exemption with acceptable certification.
Florida provides a personal disability exemption for qualifying permanently disabled residents.
Older Florida articles may still incorrectly show a $500 widow, blind or disability exemption. The current statutory amount is $5,000.
Potential total exemption
Total and Permanent Disability Property-Tax Exemptions
Florida has separate disability provisions that can provide substantially more relief than the standard $5,000 personal-disability exemption.
| Qualification | Potential Benefit | Income Test | Common Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quadriplegic | Potential exemption from all ad valorem taxes | Different statutory treatment | Qualifying physician or federal documentation |
| Hemiplegic, paraplegic, wheelchair required for mobility or legally blind | Potential exemption from all ad valorem taxes | 2026 maximum: $37,712 | DR-416 / DR-416B / required medical + income documents |
Florida uses different statutory income calculations for these separate exemption programs.
Service-related property-tax benefits
Veteran & First Responder Homestead Exemptions
| Program | General Benefit | Important Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran disabled 10% or more | Up to $5,000 exemption | Qualifying wartime/service disability documentation |
| Service-connected totally and permanently disabled veteran | Potential total homestead exemption | Qualifying VA / federal certification |
| Veteran confined to wheelchair | Potential total exemption | Qualifying service-connected total disability |
| Veteran age 65+ with combat-related disability | Homestead tax discount equal to qualifying disability percentage | Age 65+, combat-related disability + required records |
| First responder totally and permanently disabled in line of duty | Potential exemption from all ad valorem taxes | Employer, disability and medical documentation |
| Qualifying surviving spouse | Partial or total continuation depending on program | Program-specific remarriage, residence and survivor rules |
HCPA directs homeowners needing assistance with a DD-214 or current combat-related disability rating to Hillsborough County Veterans Affairs at 813-635-8316.
Benefits often missed by generic guides
Deployed Military & Parent/Grandparent Living-Quarter Relief
Deployed Military Exemption
Qualifying active-duty military members, reservists, Coast Guard members and Florida National Guard members who already have homestead can receive an additional exemption based on qualifying days deployed outside the United States, Alaska or Hawaii in support of specified operations.
This exemption does not automatically renew. It generally must be applied for annually because qualifying deployments and approved operations can change.
Parent / Grandparent “Granny Flat” Reduction
Florida can reduce assessed value for qualifying construction or reconstruction that creates living quarters for a parent or grandparent who maintains that space as a primary residence.
Current statewide rules generally limit the reduction to the lesser of qualifying construction cost or 20% of total assessed value after improvement.
Educational calculation
Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption Savings Calculator
The actual dollar savings depends on your assessed value and the millage rates that apply to the parcel. School and non-school rates must be calculated separately because the additional homestead portion does not reduce school taxable value.
Estimate Direct Homestead Savings
Enter assessed value and the school/non-school millage shown on your TRIM notice. Select whether 2026 is the first year of the homestead or a continuing exemption.
Educational estimate only. The calculator treats one mill as $1 per $1,000 of taxable value. It excludes Save Our Homes accumulated benefit, portability, senior exemptions, veteran/disability exemptions, assessment changes, non-ad-valorem assessments and any special district treatment. Use rates from your own 2026 TRIM notice.
The document to inspect every August
How to Read Your Hillsborough County TRIM Notice After Filing Homestead
HCPA’s estimate of the property’s market value as of January 1.
May be lower than just value because of Save Our Homes or another assessment limitation.
Check homestead plus any approved senior, veteran, disability or other personal exemptions.
School, county, municipality and other authorities can show different taxable values.
Rates proposed by the individual taxing authorities.
Assessment petitions generally must be filed within 25 days after the TRIM notice is mailed.
If HCPA denies the exemption
Hillsborough Homestead Denial & Value Adjustment Board Appeal
HCPA states that exemption denial notices are mailed by July 1 for ordinary timely applications. A taxpayer can challenge a denial before the Hillsborough County Value Adjustment Board.
Florida guidance generally provides 30 days after the denial notice is mailed to challenge an exemption denial.
Valuation and many TRIM-based petitions use the 25-day period after the notice is mailed.
Late-exemption petition timing can depend on the TRIM or later denial notice. Do not wait for a generic online deadline.
After exemption approval
Property-Tax Billing & Payment Savings
Homestead savings and payment discounts are separate. After HCPA certifies the assessment roll, the Hillsborough County Tax Collector mails real-estate tax bills, generally beginning in November.
Current Hillsborough Tax Collector guidance offers a 4% early-payment discount.
Hillsborough’s Tax Collector also administers a four-installment payment program. The application deadline is generally before May 1 for the tax year in which the taxpayer wants to participate.
In-person exemption help
Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Office Locations
HCPA currently lists four full-service locations. All four list regular weekday hours of 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding office closures and holidays.
County Center
601 E. Kennedy Boulevard
15th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602-4932
Phone: 813-272-6100
Brandon Office
311 Pauls Drive
Brandon, FL 33511
HCPA describes it as being across from the Post Office.
SouthShore Regional Service Center
410 30th Street SE
Ruskin, FL 33570
Useful for residents in southern Hillsborough County.
Plant City Office
307 N. Michigan Avenue
2nd Floor, Suite 230
Plant City, FL 33563-3400
HCPA Downtown Tampa
The Property Appraiser’s Downtown office is on the 15th floor of County Center. Use this office for homestead, exemption, assessed-value and property-record assistance—not for paying the final tax bill.
Customer service:
813-272-6100
Email:
custserv@hcpafl.org
A SouthShore homeowner does not need to travel into downtown Tampa simply to obtain ordinary exemption assistance.
Have your address, folio and supporting documents ready so staff do not first have to determine which parcel you mean.
Trust ownership, veteran certification, disability documentation and late filing can require records that ordinary homestead filing does not.
Verify the actual parcel
How to Check Your Hillsborough Property Record
The HCPA homepage supports real-property searches using several identifiers. Searching before filing helps avoid applying against the wrong parcel, duplicate address or recently split property.
Often the cleanest Hillsborough identifier when you already have a tax or property document.
Useful when working from deeds, survey information or HCPA records.
Helpful when the property address is uncertain, but verify the correct parcel before relying on the result.
Usually the fastest option for an ordinary homeowner.
HCPA’s GIS disclaimer warns users not to rely on its map data in place of a title search, survey or definitive legal-ownership determination.
Prevent unnecessary tax loss
Common Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption Mistakes
Buying and occupying the home does not substitute for filing.
HCPA administers exemptions; the Tax Collector collects taxes.
The additional non-school portion is now inflation-adjusted for qualifying continuing homesteads.
The actual cap is the lower of 3% or the applicable CPI change. It is 2.7% for 2026.
It limits qualifying assessed-value growth, not HCPA’s just value.
A sale can reset assessment to market value for the new owner.
Moving from another Florida county does not eliminate the possibility of transferring SOH benefit.
Age 65+ homeowners should check location and annual income limits.
Tampa, Temple Terrace, unincorporated county and Plant City do not have identical local-option rules.
HCPA provides its own official online filing system.
Hillsborough permits statutory late filing through the post-TRIM deadline.
HCPA says it cannot accept that year’s application after the statutory late window closes.
It is your opportunity to catch a missing exemption or assessment problem before final tax billing.
A qualifying beneficiary with the right to occupy may qualify.
Improper exemptions can result in escaped taxes, liens, penalties and interest.
Homeowner questions
Hillsborough County Homestead Exemption FAQs
How much is the Hillsborough County homestead exemption in 2026?
The first $25,000 applies to all qualifying ad valorem taxes, including school taxes. For a first-year homestead, the additional non-school portion is up to $25,000. Florida DOR lists the inflation-adjusted additional amount for qualifying continuing homesteads at $26,411 for the 2026 assessment roll.
Does the full homestead exemption apply to school taxes?
No. The first $25,000 applies to school district taxation, but the additional homestead portion applies to non-school ad valorem taxes.
Why is the 2026 homestead amount more than $50,000 for some homeowners?
Florida began adjusting the second homestead portion for inflation for continuing homesteads. The 2026 DOR roll amount for that additional portion is $26,411, which can make the combined non-school exemption as much as $51,411 when sufficient assessed value exists.
Where do I apply for a Hillsborough County homestead exemption?
Apply with the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser. HCPA provides an official Homestead E-File system and in-person service at its Tampa, Brandon, Ruskin and Plant City locations.
What was the Hillsborough County homestead deadline for 2026?
Florida’s normal deadline is March 1. Because March 1, 2026 fell on a Sunday, Hillsborough’s timely filing deadline moved to Monday, March 2, 2026.
Can I still file a Hillsborough homestead exemption after March 2, 2026?
Potentially. HCPA states that late-filed applications are accepted through the 25th day after the annual TRIM notice is mailed. After that statutory period expires, HCPA says it cannot accept an application for that calendar year.
When were Hillsborough County 2026 TRIM notices mailed?
HCPA announced that 2026 TRIM notices would begin mailing August 13. Homeowners relying on a late-filing period should use the actual mailing date associated with their notice rather than assuming every parcel has an identical deadline.
Who qualifies for the Hillsborough homestead exemption?
A qualifying applicant generally must hold legal or beneficial title by January 1, occupy the Hillsborough property as a permanent residence, establish legal domicile and satisfy Florida/HCPA residency requirements.
Can a rental property receive homestead exemption?
A property generally must be the qualifying owner’s permanent residence. An investment or rental property does not qualify merely because the owner owns it.
Can a trust-owned home qualify for homestead?
Potentially. HCPA states that the beneficiary of a trust who has the right to occupy the home may be entitled to homestead when Florida’s legal requirements are satisfied.
Can a mobile home receive Hillsborough homestead exemption?
Potentially. HCPA states that the owner may need the mobile-home title or registration plus the deed to the real estate, and the manufactured home generally must be declared real property.
What is Save Our Homes?
Save Our Homes is Florida’s assessment limitation for qualifying homestead property. Beginning after the first year of homestead, annual assessed-value increases are generally limited to the lower of 3% or the applicable CPI percentage, subject to statutory exceptions.
What is the Save Our Homes cap for 2026?
The 2026 Save Our Homes assessment limitation is 2.7% because the applicable CPI change was below the 3% statutory maximum.
Does Save Our Homes prevent market value from rising more than 2.7%?
No. Save Our Homes limits qualifying assessed-value growth. HCPA’s just or market value can increase by more than the SOH percentage.
When does the Save Our Homes cap start?
HCPA explains that the property is generally assessed at full just value in the first year it receives homestead. Save Our Homes applies beginning the following year.
Does new construction receive the existing Save Our Homes cap?
New construction or additions are generally assessed at market value as of the first January 1 after substantial completion and can be added to the capped assessment under Florida’s statutory rules.
Does the seller’s Save Our Homes cap transfer automatically to me?
No. A change of ownership can cause reassessment at just value. A buyer must establish their own homestead and separately qualify for portability when moving from another Florida homestead.
How much Save Our Homes benefit can I port to Hillsborough County?
Florida allows a qualifying transfer of up to $500,000 of homestead assessment difference, subject to the portability calculation, ownership rules and time requirements.
Can I port homestead from another Florida county to Hillsborough?
Yes. Portability works between Florida counties. You establish a new Hillsborough homestead and submit the required portability information for the prior Florida homestead.
Can I port my Florida homestead benefit from another state?
No. Save Our Homes portability transfers a qualifying assessment difference from a previous Florida homestead to another Florida homestead.
What form is used for Florida homestead portability?
Form DR-501T, Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference, is used with the new homestead application.
How long do I have to use Save Our Homes portability?
The new Florida homestead generally must be established within three tax years measured from January 1 of the year the previous homestead was abandoned.
How does portability work if I buy a cheaper home?
A downsizing calculation uses the same proportion of the new property’s just value that the prior homestead assessment difference represented relative to the previous property’s just value, subject to the $500,000 maximum and other rules.
Is there a Hillsborough County senior homestead exemption?
Yes. HCPA lists local-option low-income senior benefits for qualifying homeowners age 65 or older in unincorporated Hillsborough County, City of Tampa and Temple Terrace.
What is the 2026 income limit for the Hillsborough senior exemption?
Florida’s 2026 adjusted household-income limitation for the local-option age-65 homestead exemptions is $38,686.
How much is the Hillsborough senior exemption?
HCPA currently lists up to $50,000 for qualifying low-income seniors in unincorporated Hillsborough County and City of Tampa, and up to $25,000 for qualifying Temple Terrace homeowners. These benefits apply only to the levy covered by the adopting local ordinance.
Does the senior exemption reduce school taxes?
The local-option age-65 exemption under Florida Statute 196.075 applies to the levy of the county or municipality adopting it and does not reduce school district millage.
What is Hillsborough’s 25-year senior exemption?
Qualifying owners age 65 or older who meet the low-income requirements, have maintained the property as a permanent residence for at least 25 consecutive years and satisfy the under-$250,000 initial just-value test can potentially receive the long-term local-option exemption. HCPA currently lists City of Tampa and unincorporated Hillsborough County.
How much is the Florida widow or widower exemption?
The current exemption is $5,000 for a qualifying Florida resident widow or widower. Older pages showing $500 are outdated.
How much is the Florida blindness exemption?
Qualifying blind Florida residents can receive a $5,000 exemption with acceptable certification.
Can a totally disabled person receive more than the $5,000 disability exemption?
Yes. Florida has separate total-and-permanent disability programs that can exempt all ad valorem taxes for certain qualifying disabilities, subject to the applicable medical and income requirements.
What is the 2026 total-disability income limit?
For the income-tested total and permanent disability exemption under Florida Statute 196.101, Florida DOR lists the 2026 maximum at $37,712.
Can a totally and permanently disabled veteran receive a full homestead exemption?
A qualifying service-connected totally and permanently disabled veteran can receive a total property-tax exemption on the qualifying Florida homestead when the statutory requirements are met.
Is there a discount for veterans age 65 or older with combat-related disability?
Yes. Florida provides a homestead tax discount for qualifying veterans age 65 or older based on the percentage of combat-related disability. HCPA uses Form DR-501DV and supporting veteran documentation.
Does Hillsborough have a deployed military exemption?
Yes. Qualifying deployed service members who already receive homestead can claim an additional exemption based on qualifying deployment days. The program generally requires a new application each year.
Can building living quarters for a parent or grandparent reduce assessed value?
Potentially. Florida provides an assessment reduction for qualifying construction of living quarters for a parent or grandparent on an existing homestead property, subject to statutory requirements.
How do I check whether HCPA approved my homestead exemption?
Use HCPA’s Homestead & Other Exemptions page and its exemption-status link, then verify the exemption again on the current property record and TRIM notice.
Can I appeal if HCPA denies my homestead exemption?
Yes. A denied exemption can be challenged through the Hillsborough County Value Adjustment Board. Florida’s ordinary exemption-denial petition period is generally 30 days from mailing of the denial notice.
Where is the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser main office?
The Downtown Tampa office is at 601 E. Kennedy Boulevard, 15th Floor, Tampa, Florida 33602-4932. HCPA also has offices in Brandon, Ruskin and Plant City.
What is the Hillsborough Property Appraiser phone number?
HCPA’s main customer-service number is 813-272-6100.
Does the Hillsborough Property Appraiser collect my property taxes?
No. HCPA determines assessments and administers exemptions. The Hillsborough County Tax Collector bills and collects property taxes.
Primary-source research
Official Hillsborough County & Florida Homestead Resources
This guide consolidates current Hillsborough County and Florida government material so homeowners can understand the rules without opening numerous government pages merely to determine the basic process.
Florida’s inflation adjustment creates an important distinction between a first-year homestead and a continuing homestead. The current Florida DR-501 explains the first-year additional $25,000 portion, while the Florida Department of Revenue’s 2026 exemption-code material lists $26,411 as the inflation-adjusted additional homestead amount for the 2026 roll.
Hillsborough’s ordinary statutory filing deadline remains March 1, but HCPA’s published 2026 schedule treated Monday, March 2 as the filing deadline because March 1 fell on Sunday.
HCPA also states that late applications can be accepted through the statutory post-TRIM period. Because TRIM mailing dates and petition deadlines are time-sensitive, homeowners seeking 2026 relief after the ordinary deadline should contact HCPA instead of relying solely on a calculated date from this guide.
Independent Property-Tax Guide: This website is an independent educational resource. It is not operated by, affiliated with or endorsed by the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser, Hillsborough County Tax Collector, Hillsborough County Government, Florida Department of Revenue, City of Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City, Hillsborough County Public Schools or another government agency.
This page explains publicly available property-tax exemption rules and official filing resources. It does not provide legal, tax or financial advice and cannot determine your residency, approve an exemption, establish assessed value, calculate an official tax liability or decide an appeal. Verify consequential filing, deadline and eligibility questions with HCPA or the responsible government authority.