Florida Homestead Exemption: How to File and What Changes in 2027

If a Florida home is your main residence, the homestead exemption lowers your property taxes every year, and it caps how fast your taxes can rise. You have to apply for it yourself with the county property appraiser, by March 1 of the year after you buy. Starting in 2027, it gets much bigger: voters approved Amendment 3 on November 3, 2026.

Who qualifies

• You own the home (alone or with others) and it's your permanent residence on January 1 of the tax year.
• You don't claim a homestead or residence-based exemption anywhere else, in Florida or another state.
• You're not renting the whole home out. Renting it for more than 30 days a year for two years in a row ends the homestead.

How and when to apply

1. Close on the home and move in. What counts is where you live on January 1. Buy in 2026 and live there on January 1, 2027, and you file for 2027.
2. Apply by March 1 with your county property appraiser. Most counties let you file online in about 15 minutes.
3. Have these ready: a Florida driver's license or ID with the new address, Social Security numbers for all owners who live there, and usually your Florida vehicle registration and voter registration (or a declaration of domicile).
4. You only file once. It renews automatically each year as long as you live there.

Missed March 1? Some counties accept late applications until about 25 days after they mail the August tax notice, if you have a good reason. Ask your property appraiser right away.

How much it saves

For 2026 tax bills (current rules): up to $50,722 off the home's taxable value. The first $25,000 counts against all property taxes. The second part counts against everything except school taxes, and it grows with inflation.

Starting with 2027 tax bills (Amendment 3):

On a $400,000 home with a combined tax rate of 2%, about half of it non-school, the 2027 exemption saves roughly $1,000 more a year than today's.

New to Florida? If you weren't a Florida resident on December 31, 2026, you get the current exemption (about $50,000) for your first four years of homestead, and the larger one from your fifth year.

The cap that keeps your taxes from jumping

Once your home is homesteaded, its assessed value can rise only 3% a year or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower (2.7% for 2026). This is the "Save Our Homes" cap, and over time it saves more than the exemption itself. It starts the year after your first homestead year, from the value of the home when you bought it.

Homes without a homestead, like rentals and second homes, have a 10% yearly cap today. Amendment 3 lowers it to 5% starting in 2027 for non-school taxes.

Moving from another Florida homestead (portability)

If you're selling a Florida homestead, you can usually bring its tax savings with you: up to $500,000 of the difference between its market value and its capped value. You have to establish the new homestead within three years of leaving the old one and apply for portability when you file.

Other exemptions to ask about

Seniors with limited income, veterans with a service-connected disability, surviving spouses, first responders and people with disabilities may qualify for more. Ask your county property appraiser when you file.

How YourTruePayment handles it

YourTruePayment figures your taxes from that home's own tax rates and the homestead exemption you'll get, including the 2027 increase. We ask whether you lived in Florida before 2027, so newcomers see the amount for their first four years. The payment you see is what you'll pay after the sale, not the seller's bill.

This article is general information, not tax or legal advice. Your county property appraiser has your exact figures and deadlines.