Florida Homestead Exemption
The Deadline to File for a Florida Homestead Exemption is March 1
Your can file for your Florida Homestead Exemption at your county’s Property Appraiser’s Office. Some counties even allow you to file for your Homestead Exemption online:
Saint Johns County:
https://hx.sjcpa.us/ApplyOnline
Duval County:
https://homestead.coj.net/WebForm1.aspx
From the Duval County Property Appraiser’s website:
Homestead Exemption
All legal Florida residents are eligible for a Florida Homestead Exemption on their homes, condominiums, co-op apartments and certain mobile home lots. The exemption removes $25,000 off the assessed value of an owner-occupied residence and could provide up to another $25,000 additional exemption off assessed value over $50,000. (This additional exemption does not apply to school millage.) Not only does the homestead exemption lower the value on which you pay taxes, it also triggers the ‘Save Our Homes‘ benefit which limits future annual increases in assessed value to 3% or less. The sale of the property, changes in ownership or changes to the property can cause the exemption and benefit to be removed or altered. (When a home is sold, the assessed value increases to market value for the next tax roll.)
You are entitled to a Homestead Exemption if, as of January 1, you have made the property your permanent home or the permanent home of a person who is legally or naturally dependent on you. To be eligible for a homestead exemption, you must own and occupy your home as your permanent residence on January 1.
Florida Homestead Exemption Filing Deadline and Late Filing
The deadline to timely file for a homestead exemption is March 1, 2024. Late filing is permitted through early September. (The deadline for late filing is set by Florida law and falls on the 25th day following the mailing of the Notices of Proposed Property Taxes which occurs in mid-August.)
Florida Homestead Exemption Application Requirements
| Benefit | Details & Requirements | Application Requirements |
| Homestead ($25,000/$50,000) F.S.196.031(1)(a) & F.S.196.031(1)(b) Additional $25,000 exemption does not apply to school millages. | Any person who, on January 1, has the legal title or beneficial title in equity to real property in Florida and who in good faith makes the property his or her permanent residence or the permanent residence of another or others legally or naturally dependent upon him or her, is entitled to an exemption up to the assessed valuation of $25,000 on the residence and contiguous real property. Every person who qualifies to receive homestead exemption is entitled to receive up to an additional $25,000 homestead exemption for assessed values exceeding $50,000. | To complete your DR-501 Application, you will need: Recorded Deed or Tax Bill in the applicant’s name. Florida Driver’s License or Florida Identification Card with the homestead address. Social Security Number for each applicant. (If you are married, Florida law requires both spouses provide a social security number even if both do not live at the homestead property and only one is applying for exemption.) If you or your spouse own additional property, proof of no exemption/residency tax benefit. If applicable, you may be required to provide the following additional documentation: Resident Alien Card OR proof that you are the parent of a minor child born in the United States who is a U.S. citizen and who lives on the property. Mobile Home Registration(s) or Mobile Home Title(s). Copy of Trust (if the property is held in a trust.) ***Rental of all or a portion of your property may jeopardize your homestead exemption. |
| Save our Homes & Homestead Portability Amendment 10 & F.S.193.155(8) Applies to all taxes. | The year following application of homestead exemption, the assessment on your home cannot increase by more than the lesser of the change in the CPI or 3% each year. Eligible homestead property owners can now transfer their Save-Our-Homes benefit within three tax roll years after relinquishing their previous homestead. If the new homestead has a higher just value than the previous one, the accumulated benefit can be transferred; if the new homestead has a lower just value, the amount of benefit transferred will be reduced. Benefit may not exceed $500,000. | DR-501 DR-501T |
| Seniors & Low- Income Seniors who maintain Long-Term Residency F.S.196.075(2)(a) & F.S.196.075(2)(b) Applies only to the taxing authorities that have passed this exemption; Long-term Residency Exemption applies to county millages only. | Applicants must be 65 years of age or older, be legally in possession of and living on said property as their primary residence as of January 1 of the year of application, and must have a total household adjusted income less than the amount set by the Florida Department of Revenue. Applicants meeting the above criteria, who have owned and maintained their permanent residency on the homestead property for at least 25 years and have a just value of less than $250,000 may be eligible for additional benefits. | DR-501SC DR-4506T Federal Income Tax Returns/Social Security 1099’s Income statements for all household members Affidavit for Additional Seniors who maintain Long-Term Residency must be completed in our office |
| Civilian Disability | Blind/Other Permanent Disability ($5,000) F.S. 196.202 | DR-501 or proof of Florida residency And one of the following: Certificate from the Div. of Blind Services Certificate from Veteran’s Administration Certificate from Social Security Administration DR-416 or DR-416B (for Blind Exemption) |
| Quadriplegic (Totally Exempt) F.S. 196.101 | DR-501 (2) DR-416 forms | |
| Totally & Permanently Disabled Persons (Totally Exempt) – must have a total household income less than the amount set by the Florida Department of Revenue. F.S. 196.101 **DR-501A must be submitted annually to maintain exemption | DR-501 **DR-501A (if paraplegic, hemiplegic or other totally and permanently disabled person who must use a wheelchair for mobility or who is legally blind) And one of the following: (2) DR-416 or DR-416B (for Blind Exemption) forms Certificate from Veteran’s Administration | |
| Veteran Disability | Disabled Veterans ($5,000) – service-connected disability of 10% or more; un-remarried surviving spouse may be eligible. F.S.196.24 | DR-501 or proof of FL residency Letter from Veteran’s Administration |
| Totally & Permanently Disabled Veterans (Totally Exempt) – veterans who have been honorably discharged with a service-connected total & permanent disability; un-remarried surviving spouse may be eligible. F.S. 196.081 | DR-501 Letter from Veteran’s Administration | |
| Seniors Combat-Related Disabled Veterans – veteran aged 65 or older as of January 1; honorably discharged; combat-related disability; exemption percentage equal to the percentage of the veteran’s disability rating; un-remarried surviving spouse may be eligible. F.S.196.082 | DR-501 Proof of age Rating Decision from Veteran’s Administration DD-214 Documentation of Combat-Related Disability Proof of Honorable Discharge DR-501DV | |
| Surviving Spouses of Veterans who died while on Active Duty (Totally Exempt) – un-remarried spouse F.S.196.081 | DR-501 Letter from Veteran’s Administration which attests to the veteran’s death while on active duty | |
| Deployed Servicemembers F.S.196.173 | Servicemembers deployed during the preceding calendar year on active duty outside of the continental U.S., Alaska, or Hawaii in support of a qualified military operation may be eligible to receive an additional exemption based on the number of days deployed. | DR-501 DR-501M Proof of qualifying deployment, which must include dates of deployment |
| Totally & Permanently Disabled First Responders (Totally Exempt) F.S.196.102 | First responders in the state of Florida, or a political subdivision of Florida, who is totally and permanently disabled as a result of injury sustained in the line of duty may be exempt from taxation. | Employer certificate of disability Documentation of total & permanent disability from Social Security Administration and/or DOR form |
| Surviving Spouses of First Responders (Totally Exempt) F.S.196.081 | Un-remarried surviving spouses of first responders who have died while in the line of duty may be exempt from taxation; surviving spouse and first responder must have been permanent residents of the state of Florida on January 1st of the year the first responder died. | Letter from the state, appropriate political subdivision of the state, other authority, or special district, which legally recognizes and verifies that the first responder died in the line of duty while employed as a first responder. |
| Widow/ Widowers ($5,000) F.S.196.202 | Un-remarried widow or widower | DR-501 or proof of Florida residency Deceased spouse’s death certificate |
If you have additional questions, please feel free to CONTACT US or
reach out to your local County Property Appraiser’s Office.