PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION REQUIREMENTS GUIDE

All legal Florida residents are eligible for a Homestead Exemption on their homes, condominiums, co-op apartments, and certain mobile home lots if they qualify. The Florida Constitution provides this tax-saving exemption on the first and third $25,000 of the assessed value of an owner/occupied residence. While a complicated formula is used to explain this -- as the additional $25,000 only applies to the non-schools portion of your tax bill -- the bottom line is that the basic homestead exemption saved an average homeowner in 2022 anywhere from $644 to $1,034 (depending upon your city's millage rate) in annual tax savings for all homes with a value of $75,000 or higher.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Legal/equitable title as of January 1st (If title is held in a Trust, provide a copy of the trust document)

  • Permanent residence on the property as of January 1st (Residence address listed on the driver’s license, voter’s registration, car

    registration, and Federal Income Tax returns determine permanent residence)

  • Owner (or others legally or naturally dependent upon such person) must be a US Citizen or Permanent US Resident and Florida Resident as of January 1st

When qualifying for the Homestead Exemption, you will need the following documents for all property owners applying:

  • Florida Driver’s License or Florida ID if you do not drive

  • Florida car registration

  • Florida Voter’s ID (if you vote)

  • Immigration documents if not a U.S. citizen.

Documents should reflect the address of your homesteaded property.

Homeowners can now complete the entire application process for Florida’s Homestead Exemption and for the Homestead Assessment Difference (commonly referred to as Portability) on this website, and submit their application directly to the Property Appraiser’s Office.

  • Miami Date County : https://www.miamidade.gov/Apps/PA/PAOnlineTools/AutoOnlineFile/ExemptionOnlineMainMenu.aspx

  • Broward County: https://web.bcpa.net/homesteadonline_with_portability/web/index.aspx

  • Palm Beach County: https://secure.co.palm-beach.fl.us/papaefile/web/heapplication/login.aspx

Homestead Exemption also qualifies you for the 3% Cap Save our Homes (SOH)

3% Save Our Homes Cap (SOH)

In 1994 the State of Florida established a 3% Save Our Homes Cap (SOH) assessment limit on all residential properties that receive a homestead exemption. The 3% SOH Cap limits any increase to the assessed value of a homestead exempt property for tax purposes to a maximum of 3% each year or the amount of the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.

Properties are assessed at the Fair Market Value when a change of ownership occurs and in the first year it receives the homestead exemption. Once the exemption is applied for, the cap or base year is established, each year thereafter, the SOH cap applies. The 3% SOH Cap remains in effect as long as the property is homestead exempt or until the property is sold.

When the Fair Market Value of a property assessed under the 3% SOH Cap drops below the 3% value the property is assessed at the lower of the two. The Taxable Value for a homestead exempt property is the assessed value minus the amount of the exemption or exemptions granted to the property owner.

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