Florida property-tax guide • homestead amount and savings • reviewed September 2, 2026
Florida Homestead Exemption Amount & Savings: How Much It Can Lower Your Property Taxes
The Florida homestead exemption can reduce taxable value on a home you own and use as your permanent residence.
For 2026, the first $25,000 of homestead exemption applies to all property taxes, including school taxes.
The additional non-school exemption is CPI-adjusted. For 2026, Florida DOR lists the maximum additional amount as $26,411.
That means a Florida homestead can show up to $51,411 in total exemption value for non-school taxes, while school taxes generally receive only the first $25,000.
Fast answer
How Much Is the Florida Homestead Exemption?
Applies to all property taxes, including school district taxes.
Applies to assessed value above $50,000 and only to non-school taxes.
Maximum combined 2026 value for non-school tax calculations when the full additional amount applies.
The additional homestead exemption does not apply to school district levies.
The county property appraiser determines homestead eligibility.
File Form DR-501 with the county property appraiser by March 1 of the tax year.
Florida homestead is not just “$50,000 off your bill.” It is a taxable-value reduction, and the school and non-school portions are calculated differently.
Office decoder
Who Handles Florida Homestead Exemption?
Florida property tax is administered locally.
The county property appraiser reviews homestead applications and applies exemptions, assessment limitations and classifications.
County Property Appraiser
Use for: homestead applications, exemption approval, Save Our Homes, portability, property value, assessment notices and VAB evidence.
Best action: file the homestead application in the county where the property is located.
Find your county property appraiserCounty Tax Collector
Use for: property-tax bills, payments, receipts, tax deferrals, installment plans, refunds and delinquent tax questions.
Important: the tax collector usually does not decide whether your homestead application qualifies.
Find your county tax collectorValue Adjustment Board
Use for: petitions about assessment value, classification, exemptions and some portability disputes.
Deadline clue: VAB petitions are commonly tied to the TRIM notice period.
Open DOR VAB resourcesFlorida Department of Revenue
Use for: statewide forms, rules, DOR brochures, local official finder and property-tax oversight information.
Address: 5050 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Role: oversight and guidance, not individual county approval.
Open Florida DOR Property TaxGoogle Map: Florida Department of Revenue
Address: 5050 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Use this as the state reference address. For filing, use your county property appraiser’s office.
Content gap solved
What Most Florida Homestead Amount Guides Miss
It is not simply $50,000: the first $25,000 applies to all taxes, while the second portion applies only to non-school taxes.
The second portion is now adjusted: Florida DOR lists the 2026 maximum additional amount as $26,411.
There is a value gap: assessed value between $25,000 and $50,000 is generally taxable.
School taxes are different: school levies usually receive only the first $25,000 exemption.
SOH is separate: Save Our Homes limits future assessed-value increases after homestead starts, but it is not the same as the exemption amount.
Portability is separate: a homeowner moving from one Florida homestead may transfer some SOH benefit with Form DR-501T.
Tax collectors do not approve it: the county property appraiser decides exemption eligibility.
New buyers can be surprised: the seller’s old exemption and SOH benefit can make the first bill misleading.
Qualification checklist
Who Qualifies for Florida Homestead Exemption?
You generally must own the property on January 1 of the tax year.
You must make the property your permanent residence or the permanent residence of a legal or natural dependent.
File the original application with the county property appraiser.
Florida property appraisers may review residency facts such as driver license, Florida ID, vehicle registration, voter registration, declaration of domicile, IRS address, utilities and prior out-of-state residency.
A person claiming an ad valorem exemption or tax credit in another state based on permanent residency is generally not entitled to the Florida homestead exemption.
The issue is not only where you own property. The property must be your real permanent residence for Florida homestead purposes.
Deadline guide
Florida Homestead Exemption Deadline
Homestead is generally based on ownership and permanent residence status as of January 1.
File Form DR-501 with the county property appraiser by March 1.
Florida has late-filing and VAB-related rules, but deadlines are strict and county-specific in practice.
If March 1 has passed, contact the county property appraiser immediately.
Do not wait for the November tax bill because exemption and appeal deadlines may already be gone by then.
Missing the deadline can delay savings, corrected bills, escrow updates, portability review and Value Adjustment Board options.
Savings math
Florida Homestead Exemption Savings Calculator
Florida tax bills use taxable value and millage rates.
A millage rate of 7.0000 means $7 per $1,000 of taxable value.
Simple 2026 example
$300,000 assessed value receives $25,000 against school taxes.
It can receive up to $51,411 against non-school taxes when the full 2026 adjusted amount applies.
At 7 school mills and 11 non-school mills, estimated savings are about $1,202.52.
Open Florida homestead savings calculator
School exemption used: $25,000.00
Non-school exemption used: $51,411.00
Estimated school-tax savings: $175.00
Estimated non-school savings: $565.52
Total estimated savings: $740.52
Assessment cap
Save Our Homes: Why the Exemption Amount Is Not the Full Story
Save Our Homes begins after the first year a home receives homestead exemption.
In later years, the assessed value generally cannot increase by more than 3% or the CPI change, whichever is lower.
The home is assessed at just value before the SOH cap builds future protection.
The annual assessed-value increase is limited while the property remains qualified.
A change of ownership can remove the SOH benefit and reset assessed value.
Moving within Florida
Florida Homestead Portability: Transfer of Save Our Homes Benefit
Portability lets many homeowners transfer part of their Save Our Homes assessment difference from an old Florida homestead to a new Florida homestead.
It is not automatic. You must apply for the new homestead and file the portability form with the county property appraiser.
Form: DR-501T, Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference.
Deadline: file with the homestead application by March 1.
Timing: generally tied to establishing a new homestead within three years of January 1 of the year the old homestead was abandoned.
Risk: the transferred amount depends on the old SOH benefit, new home value and statutory limits.
Extra benefits
Florida Senior, Disability, Veteran, Widow, Widower and Military Benefits
Florida has additional benefits beyond the basic homestead exemption.
Some are statewide. Others require local county or city adoption.
Age 65 and older local option
Some counties or cities adopt an additional exemption up to $50,000 for qualifying low-income seniors.
A separate long-term senior exemption may apply when the just value is under $250,000 and other requirements are met.
Widow, widower, blind or total disability
Florida Form DR-501 lists $5,000 benefits for widowed, blind and totally and permanently disabled categories.
Proof requirements depend on the category.
Total and permanent disability
Some disability categories can exempt all taxes when strict medical, disability and income rules are met.
Use the county property appraiser and current DOR forms.
Veterans and surviving spouses
Disabled veteran exemptions and discounts depend on disability rating, age, combat-related status and survivor rules.
Some categories use DR-501DV or other DOR forms.
Active-duty deployed military
Qualifying deployed service members may receive an additional exemption based on deployment percentage.
DOR provides a tax-year-specific deployed military form.
Tax deferral
Homestead owners may be able to defer part of the combined taxes and non-ad valorem assessments.
Deferral is handled by the county tax collector and is not tax forgiveness.
After filing
How to Check Whether Your Florida Homestead Exemption Posted
Check your property appraiser record: look for homestead, Save Our Homes, portability and special exemption codes.
Read the TRIM notice: the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes usually arrives in August and shows proposed value and tax information.
Compare the tax bill: tax collectors usually send tax bills in late October or November.
Check escrow: send corrected tax information to your mortgage servicer if the bill or exemption changes.
If denied: ask the property appraiser why and calendar the Value Adjustment Board deadline.
If no longer eligible: notify the property appraiser to avoid back taxes, penalties, interest and liens.
Appeals and corrections
What If Your Florida Homestead Exemption Is Missing or Your Value Is Too High?
A missing exemption and a wrong assessed value are different problems.
Start with the property appraiser, then use the Value Adjustment Board process if needed.
Exemption missing
Check whether Form DR-501 was submitted, approved and posted to the correct parcel.
Contact the county property appraiser with your confirmation and proof.
Value too high
Review just value, assessed value, SOH benefit, exemptions and classification.
Use comparable sales, property-condition evidence and county review options.
Portability missing
Confirm that DR-501T was filed with the new homestead application.
Ask the property appraiser whether the old SOH benefit transferred correctly.
Tax bill wrong
Once the exemption is corrected, ask the tax collector about corrected bills, discounts or refunds.
Do not ignore tax-bill deadlines while waiting for a correction.
Document checklist
Documents to Prepare Before Applying
Florida driver license or Florida ID: property appraisers commonly review address and residency details.
Social Security numbers: Form DR-501 asks for the applicant and spouse or co-applicant information.
Vehicle registration: Florida plate or registration may support residency.
Voter registration: useful if you are a U.S. citizen and registered at the homestead address.
Declaration of domicile: useful when proving Florida permanent residence.
Utility or bank records: may support occupancy and mailing-address facts.
IRS return address: property appraisers may consider the address used on your last federal return.
Special proof: age, income, disability, veteran, deployed military, widow, widower or blind exemption documents may be required.
Avoid costly errors
Common Florida Homestead Exemption Mistakes
Thinking it is cash off the bill: the exemption reduces taxable value, not the bill dollar-for-dollar.
Ignoring school vs. non-school taxes: the second exemption portion does not apply to school taxes.
Missing March 1: file early and confirm county-specific late-filing rules immediately if you miss it.
Using the seller’s tax bill: previous-owner exemption and SOH benefit can make your future bill look lower than it will be.
Forgetting portability: moving from one Florida homestead to another may require DR-501T.
Not updating ownership changes: sale, trust transfer, divorce, death or title changes can affect the exemption.
Renting the home: renting or abandoning the permanent residence can make the exemption improper.
Not reporting ineligibility: improper exemptions can lead to back taxes, penalty, interest and liens.
Important caution
Independent Information, Tax Caution and Property-Records Notice
This page is independent informational content for Florida homeowners.
It is not the official website of the Florida Department of Revenue, any county property appraiser, any county tax collector, any Value Adjustment Board or any government agency.
It is not legal advice, tax advice, an official tax bill, a TRIM notice, an exemption approval or an appeal decision.
Verify exemption amounts, CPI adjustments, forms, deadlines, office hours, county portals and appeal procedures directly with official sources before acting.
Property records should be used only for property-tax, appraisal, ownership-reference and public-record purposes.
Do not use property-record information for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or any Fair Credit Reporting Act regulated purpose.
FAQs
Florida Homestead Exemption Amount FAQs
How much is the homestead exemption in Florida for 2026?
The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, including school taxes.
The additional 2026 non-school exemption can be up to $26,411, so the total non-school exemption can be up to $51,411 when the full amount applies.
Is the Florida homestead exemption $50,000 or $51,411?
The traditional explanation is up to $50,000.
For 2026, the additional non-school portion is CPI-adjusted to a maximum of $26,411, which can make the total non-school exemption up to $51,411.
Does the full Florida homestead exemption apply to school taxes?
No. The first $25,000 generally applies to all property taxes, including school taxes.
The additional exemption applies only to non-school taxes.
What assessed value range gets the Florida homestead exemption?
The first $25,000 of assessed value is exempt from all property taxes.
The next $25,000 is generally taxable. The additional exemption applies to assessed value above $50,000 and only to non-school taxes.
Who approves Florida homestead exemption?
The county property appraiser determines whether a parcel is entitled to the exemption.
Submit the application and documents to the property appraiser in the county where the property is located.
What is the Florida homestead exemption deadline?
The standard filing deadline is March 1 of the tax year.
If you miss March 1, contact the county property appraiser immediately about any late-filing or VAB-related options.
Does Save Our Homes start the same year I file?
The exemption can affect the current tax year if approved.
The Save Our Homes assessment limitation generally begins after the first year the home receives homestead exemption.
Can I transfer my Florida homestead savings when I move?
You may be able to transfer, or port, all or part of your Save Our Homes assessment difference to a new Florida homestead.
File Form DR-501T with the new homestead application by the deadline.
Does the Florida homestead exemption remove non-ad valorem assessments?
No. Non-ad valorem assessments are different from ad valorem property taxes.
They can still appear on a tax bill even when homestead exemption is approved.
What if my homestead exemption is removed or denied?
Contact the county property appraiser first and ask for the reason.
If you disagree, review the Value Adjustment Board petition process and deadline.
Official resources