Florida Homestead Exemption Savings
Florida's homestead exemption (Florida's primary-residence tax break) isn't one benefit — it's three stacked together. A $25,000 exemption that applies to every taxing authority, a second $25,000 that applies to everything except school taxes, and the Save Our Homes cap (Florida's 3%/CPI annual cap on assessed-value increases for homestead property) that limits annual increases in assessed value to the lesser of CPI or 3% for as long as you keep the home. The cap is where the long-term money is. The filing deadline is March 1 for the calendar year.
Today's market value of the property — what you'd sell it for.
Combined county + city + school + special-district. FL counties range ~0.8–2.2%.
Annual home-value appreciation in your area. The SOH cap is most valuable when this is high.
Must be your primary FL residence on Jan 1 of the year you claim. Filing deadline: March 1.
FL counties can offer an additional exemption up to $50,000 for seniors meeting income limits. Adds the full benefit at non-school rate.
Adds a $5,000 exemption beyond the standard homestead. 100% service-connected disabled = full exemption (not modeled here).
Estimated annual tax drops from $4,800 to $4,299 if homestead is approved. Over 10 years the Save Our Homes cap adds up to $12,226.
$501 year-one savings
- Tax with homestead
- $4,299
- Year-one savings
- $501
- Without homestead
- $4,800 / yr
- With homestead
- $4,299 / yr
- Exemption stack
- $50,000
- 10-year cumulative
- $12,226
Free during pilot
The three things "homestead" actually does
- $25,000 exemption on all taxes. Removed from taxable value before every taxing authority — county, city, school, special districts.
- $25,000 exemption on non-school taxes. Removed from taxable value only for non-school taxing authorities. School taxes still apply to this slice.
- Save Our Homes assessment cap. Once you've had homestead for one full calendar year, the annual increase in your assessed value is capped at the lesser of CPI or 3%, even if market value rises faster. The gap between market and assessed value compounds.
Together those move you from paying tax on full market value at full millage rate (your county's tax rate, in dollars per $1,000 of assessed value) to paying tax on a capped, exemption-reduced taxable value. The math:
With homestead = (Assessed − $25k) × school + (Assessed − $50k) × non-school
Statewide, school millage is roughly one-third of the combined rate and non-school is the rest. We use that split (67% non-school) as a statewide average; your county will be a few percent off either way.
How to file (the part most people miss)
- Deadline: March 1 of the year you're claiming. The property must be your primary residence as of January 1.
- File with your county property appraiser, not the tax collector. Most counties allow online filing.
- Most counties require a Florida ID showing the home address, a vehicle registration to that address, and either a utility bill or your deed. Required documents vary by county — confirm with your property appraiser's office.
- Once approved, the exemption renews automatically each year as long as you stay in the home.
Additional exemptions worth checking
- Senior (65+) + income-limited. Counties can offer up to $50,000 more at the non-school rate. Florida statewide income limit is set annually; check your county.
- Disabled veteran (10%+). Adds $5,000. A 100% service-connected total disability rating exempts the entire homestead.
- Widow/widower. Adds $5,000.
- Permanent total disability. Full exemption.
- First responders permanently disabled in the line of duty. Full exemption.
What the calculator doesn't model
- Portability. If you sold a prior FL homestead, you can carry up to $500k of accumulated SOH benefit to the new property within 3 years.
- Non-ad-valorem fees (CDD, MSTU, garbage, stormwater). Homestead doesn't reduce these.
- Special assessments, agricultural classifications, or the historic-property classification.
Frequently asked questions
What is Florida's homestead exemption?
Florida's homestead exemption is a property tax benefit for homeowners who use their home as their primary residence. It reduces the taxable value of your home by up to $50,000 — the first $25,000 applies to all taxing authorities (county, city, school, special districts), and a second $25,000 applies to everything except school taxes. The result is a lower annual property tax bill, starting the year after you file.
What is the Save Our Homes cap and why does it matter?
The Save Our Homes cap limits how fast the county can raise the assessed value of your homesteaded property each year — to the lesser of 3% or the rate of inflation (CPI). Even if your home's market value rises 15% in a year, your taxable assessed value can only grow by up to 3%. That gap compounds over time and is where most of the long-term savings come from. This calculator projects the estimated benefit over 10 years.
When is the filing deadline and how do I apply?
The deadline is March 1 of the year you want the exemption to apply. The property must be your primary Florida residence as of January 1 of that year. You file with your county property appraiser — not the tax collector — and most counties allow online filing. Once approved, the exemption renews automatically each year as long as you remain in the home. Required documents vary by county; your county property appraiser's office is the authoritative source.
Are the savings estimates in this calculator exact?
No — they're estimates based on the home value, millage rate, and assumptions you enter. Each Florida county has its own assessment practices, school vs. non-school millage split, and additional exemptions. This calculator uses a statewide average school/non-school split (about 67% non-school) and the 3% Save Our Homes ceiling. Your actual savings may be higher or lower. Confirm with your county property appraiser before making financial decisions based on this estimate.
Related calculators
Estimates only — not a tax bill, exemption application, or legal advice. Florida counties differ on assessment practice, the school vs. non-school millage split, the senior income limit, and which additional exemptions are offered. We model an average ~67% non-school millage share and the 3% Save Our Homes ceiling; actual CPI-based caps may be lower in any given year. Portability of an existing SOH benefit, agricultural classifications, widow/widower exemptions, and the 100% service-connected total exemption are not modeled. Confirm with your county property appraiser. Methodology last reviewed: May 26, 2026.