Money & Debt · Homestead (property tax)
Homestead Property-Tax Exemption in Florida
How much the homestead exemption cuts the property-tax bill on an owner-occupied home in Florida, which taxes it touches, and how to claim it, cited to the statute.
How the benefit works in Florida
The size of the break, which taxes it applies to, and how to claim it.
Unlike the creditor homestead, which is usually automatic, the Florida property-tax homestead has to be claimed. Apply with your county property appraiser by March 1, owning and occupying the home as your permanent residence as of January 1. Once granted, it renews automatically each year.
| Rule | In Florida | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Benefit | Up to $50,000 | The first $25,000 of assessed value is exempt from all property taxes. An additional exemption of up to $25,000 applies to assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000, but not to school district taxes. So the benefit is up to $50,000 for non-school levies and $25,000 for school taxes. |
| Applies to | All taxes ($25k) plus non-school ($25k more) | Which property taxes the benefit reduces. Some homestead breaks touch only school taxes, not the full bill. |
| Must apply | Yes | Apply with your county property appraiser by March 1, owning and occupying the home as your permanent residence as of January 1. Once granted, it renews automatically each year. |
| Assessment cap | Yes | The Save Our Homes cap (Art. VII §4) limits the annual increase in a homestead’s assessed value to 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. Over years this cap often saves more than the exemption itself. |
| Authority | Fla. Stat. §196.031; Fla. Const. Art. VII §6 | The controlling statute or agency rule. Read the full text through the source link below. |
The second $25,000 tier is adjusted for inflation (about $25,722 for 2025). A measure headed to the November 2026 ballot could raise the homestead exemption substantially in later years, but it is not law unless voters approve it, so the current figures still govern.
Next steps to claim it
Concrete, neutral steps to get the homestead break in Florida. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
- Apply by March 1
File with your county property appraiser by March 1, and be sure you owned and occupied the home as your permanent residence as of January 1. After the first approval it renews automatically.
- Understand the two tiers
The first $25,000 cuts all your property taxes; the second $25,000 helps only with non-school taxes. So your school-tax bill sees a smaller exemption than the rest of your bill.
- Let Save Our Homes work over time
The 3% assessment cap builds savings the longer you stay. If you move, the cap resets, though Florida’s portability rules can let you carry some of the benefit to a new homestead. Ask your property appraiser.
To claim or check the homestead exemption on your property tax, start with your state tax agency or county assessor. This resource explains the steps.
→ Florida Department of RevenueThis is general information, not tax or legal advice. These figures change often and vary by locality, so confirm the current amount with your county before you rely on it.
What people get wrong in Florida
Florida is famous for its homestead, but two different homesteads share the name, so start here: this page is the property-tax break that lowers your annual bill, not the constitutional protection that shields your equity from creditors. On the tax side, Florida gives a $25,000 exemption that reduces all your property taxes, plus an additional exemption of up to $25,000 on the value between $50,000 and $75,000 that does not apply to school district taxes. So a typical homesteaded owner sees up to $50,000 off for non-school levies and $25,000 off for schools. You have to apply with your county property appraiser by March 1, but once granted it renews on its own. The quieter benefit is the Save Our Homes cap, which limits how fast your assessed value can rise to 3% a year, and over a long stay that cap often saves more than the exemption. Figures here move: the second tier is inflation-adjusted, and a 2026 ballot measure could raise the exemption in future years.
Common questions
How much is the Florida homestead property-tax exemption?
Up to $50,000. The first $25,000 is exempt from all property taxes, and an additional up to $25,000 on value between $50,000 and $75,000 is exempt from everything except school district taxes. So school taxes get a $25,000 exemption and other taxes get up to $50,000.
Do I have to apply for the Florida homestead exemption?
Yes. File with your county property appraiser by March 1, and you must own and occupy the home as your permanent residence as of January 1. After you are approved once, the exemption renews automatically each year.
What is Save Our Homes in Florida?
Save Our Homes is a separate cap that limits the yearly increase in a homestead’s assessed value to 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. It rides with the homestead exemption and, over a long ownership, often saves more than the exemption itself.
What is the difference between the homestead tax and homestead creditor exemption in Florida?
They are separate. This tax exemption, which you apply for by March 1, lowers your annual property-tax bill. The creditor homestead, which is automatic and unlimited in value, protects your home equity from a judgment creditor forcing a sale. One is a tax break; the other is asset protection.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.