Florida Property Tax Exemptions 2026: Homestead, Senior, Veteran & Disability

Florida (FL) homeowners have several ways to legally reduce their property tax bill — homestead reductions, senior credits, veteran exemptions, and disability programs. This page lists every Florida property tax exemption available in 2026, who qualifies, dollar amounts, and how to apply.

All Florida property tax exemptions at a glance

Exemption	Who qualifies	Benefit	Typical savings
Homestead (general)	Owner-occupied primary residence	~$50,000 value reduction	$393/yr est.
Senior / Age 65+	Owner-occupied; age 65+; often income-capped	Additional reduction or freeze	$200 – $2,000/yr
Disabled veteran	Service-connected disability rating	Up to 100% exemption in many states	$1,000 – full bill
Disability (non-veteran)	Permanent total disability	Reduction + sometimes freeze	$200 – $1,500/yr
Surviving spouse	Of veteran, first responder, or senior	Continuation of decedent's exemption	Same as deceased's benefit
Agricultural / farm	Active agricultural use	Use-value assessment instead of market	30% – 80% lower bill

Estimated savings use Florida's effective property tax rate of 0.79% on the median home value of $325,000. Your actual savings depend on your county assessor's millage and how exemptions are applied to assessed (vs. market) value.

The Homestead Exemption — File by March 1

Florida's homestead exemption has two tiers:

• First $25,000: exempt from all taxing authorities (county, city, school, special districts)
• Next $25,000 (on the portion of value from $50,000 to $75,000): exempt from all taxing authorities EXCEPT school district taxes

Combined, an owner-occupant with assessed value at or above $75,000 receives the full $50,000 exemption.

Who qualifies

• Florida resident (established with Florida driver's license, voter registration)
• Own and occupy the property as your permanent residence on January 1 of the tax year
• Have no similar exemption in another state

How to apply

File with the county property appraiser using form DR-501. Deadline: March 1 of the tax year (or late-filed until the certification of the tax roll, typically September, with good cause).

What you gain automatically

Once approved, homestead exemption continues automatically unless you sell, move, or rent the property. You also gain:

• Save Our Homes cap (3% annual increase limit on assessed value)
• Portability of up to $500,000 of SOH savings when you move

Save Our Homes Cap

Approved by Florida voters in 1992, Save Our Homes caps the annual increase in assessed value of a homestead property at 3% or CPI, whichever is lower. For tax year 2025, the cap applied was 2.9% (CPI rate).

How it compounds

Over time, assessed value drifts below just (market) value. A Florida homestead purchased in 2005 at $200,000 can have just value of $500,000 in 2026 but assessed value of only $300,000. The "SOH savings" is the $200,000 difference — protected from tax until the property is sold.

Reset on sale

When a homestead is sold, the SOH cap resets for the buyer. The new owner's first-year assessed value equals just value. Then their own 3% cap begins accumulating.

Not applicable to non-homestead

Rental property, vacation homes, and commercial property have a separate 10% annual cap on non-homestead property (approved in 2008). Still better than uncapped, but not as generous as the 3% SOH cap for primary residences.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Florida homestead exemption in 2026?

$50,000 total for Florida residents who own and occupy the property as their permanent residence. The first $25,000 is exempt from all taxing authorities; the next $25,000 (on value from $50,000 to $75,000) is exempt from all except school district taxes. File with your county property appraiser by March 1.

What is Save Our Homes in Florida?

A constitutional amendment that caps the annual increase in assessed value of a homestead property at 3% or CPI, whichever is lower. For tax year 2025 the cap was 2.9%. Over years of ownership, assessed value drifts below market value, protecting long-term owners from tax increases caused by market appreciation.

Does Florida offer senior property tax exemptions?

Yes. The additional senior homestead exemption, adopted by most Florida counties, adds up to $50,000 on top of the regular $50,000 homestead exemption for homeowners age 65+ with income below approximately $37,000 (2026 threshold, indexed). Check with your county property appraiser for local adoption and exact income limit.