Start with the parcel, not a statewide tax-rate estimate. Florida property-tax bills depend on assessed value, exemptions and the separate millage rates levied on that parcel. A seller's tax bill is not a reliable forecast for a buyer: ask the county property appraiser for the current assessment and a buyer-specific estimate before you make a housing budget.
How the 2026 homestead exemptions apply
For an eligible permanent residence, the first exemption is up to $25,000 of assessed value and applies to school-district and other ad valorem levies. The additional exemption applies only to assessed value above $50,000 and does not apply to school-district levies. Florida adjusts that additional amount for inflation; the Department of Revenue lists a maximum of $26,411 for the 2026 tax year. The full amount is not available when assessed value is too low. Special assessments are a separate bill component and are not erased by these exemptions. Read Florida Statutes §196.031 and the Department of Revenue's 2026 adjustment.
A simple estimate without a fake universal savings figure
Ask the property appraiser for the parcel's estimated assessed value, taxable value for school and non-school levies, and the proposed millage for each taxing authority. Multiply each taxable value by its matching millage divided by 1,000, then add applicable non-ad valorem assessments. Compare the result with a no-exemption estimate using the same parcel and rates. Do not apply the additional homestead exemption to school millage or treat a $50,000 reduction as a universal 2026 rule.
Save Our Homes and moving
For qualifying homestead property, Save Our Homes limits annual growth in assessed value under Florida Statutes §193.155; it does not freeze the tax bill or set a purchase price. Changes in millage, special assessments, additions, ownership or use can affect the bill. If you already have a Florida homestead, ask both county property appraisers whether assessment-difference portability applies before assuming a transfer amount. A new buyer should not copy the prior owner's capped assessed value into a budget.
Next decision
Before choosing between two homes, obtain each parcel ID, ask its county property appraiser for a buyer estimate, and compare school and non-school taxes separately. For eligibility and the application process, continue to our homestead guide. This page is general research, not a determination of your tax liability.