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Taxes
Property tax relief for seniors in Florida
Florida has 3 programs that can lower property taxes for older adults: Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes assessment limitation, Additional homestead exemptions for persons 65 and older and Homestead Tax Deferral. Each one has its own rules and deadline.
Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes assessment limitation
If you own your Florida home and it is your permanent residence, the homestead exemption takes $25,000 off its taxable value for all property taxes, and up to $26,411 more off non-school taxes in 2026. It also qualifies the home for Save Our Homes, which limits how fast its assessed value can rise each year. You apply once with your county property appraiser by March 1.
How to apply
- In person
- File Form DR-501 with your county property appraiser; many accept it online on their own websites
Who may qualify
| Age | Any age |
|---|---|
| Income limit | No income limit |
| Home | You own the home and it is your permanent residence (or your dependent's) on January 1 |
What you may get
| Exemption, 2026 tax year | The first $25,000 of value off all property taxes, including school taxes, plus up to $26,411 more off assessed value above $50,000 for non-school taxes |
|---|---|
| Save Our Homes | Once you have the exemption, each year's increase in the home's assessed value is limited |
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Application deadline | March 1 of the tax year |
|---|---|
| Reapply each year? | No new application each year; the property appraiser mails exemption renewal notices by February 1 |
How Florida is different
Where Florida's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.
- The second part of the exemption grows with inflation each year, starting in 2025
- Save Our Homes limits yearly increases in the assessed value of your home, and you may carry part of that savings to a new Florida home
Good to know
- You lose the exemption if you rent out the home, stop living in it as your permanent home, or stop being a permanent Florida resident.
- If the property appraiser denies your application, you may petition the county value adjustment board.
Additional homestead exemptions for persons 65 and older
Many Florida counties and cities offer an extra homestead exemption of up to $50,000 for homeowners 65 or older with household income of $38,686 or less in 2026. Some also fully exempt a home worth under $250,000 if you have lived in it 25 years. These are local options, so ask your county property appraiser whether yours offers them.
How to apply
- In person
- File Form DR-501 and the household income statement, Form DR-501SC, with your county property appraiser
- Who runs it
- Your county property appraiser
Who may qualify
| Age | 65 or older |
|---|---|
| Household income limit, 2026 | $38,686 or less |
| Home | You hold title to the home and it is your permanent residence |
| Extra rules for the full exemption | Lived in the home at least 25 years, and its just value was under $250,000 the first year you applied |
What you may get
| Extra exemption | Up to $50,000 off the county or city taxes that adopted it |
|---|---|
| Long-time resident exemption | The full assessed value of the home, off the county or city taxes that adopted it |
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Application deadline | March 1 |
|---|---|
| Reapply each year? | You submit your household income to the property appraiser each year by March 1 |
How Florida is different
Where Florida's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.
- Local option: each county or city decides whether to offer one, both or neither
- Doesn't lower school district taxes or taxes of other bodies that didn't adopt it
Good to know
- The income limit rises with inflation each January; it was $37,694 in 2025 and is $38,686 in 2026.
Homestead Tax Deferral
If you have a Florida homestead exemption, you may put off paying part of your property tax. At 65 or older you may defer the part above 3% of last year's household income, or all of it if your income was under the yearly limit. You apply each year with your county tax collector by March 31.
How to apply
- In person
- File Form DR-570 with your county tax collector
- Who runs it
- Your county tax collector
Who may qualify
| Age | Any homestead owner; better terms at 65 or older |
|---|---|
| Income limit for deferring all of the tax at 65 or older | Last year's household income below the current income limit the Department of Revenue publishes each January |
| Home | You are entitled to the homestead exemption and are a permanent Florida resident |
What you may get
| What you may defer at 65 or older | The part of your taxes above 3% of last year's household income, or all taxes and non-ad valorem assessments if income was under the limit |
|---|---|
| What you may defer under 65 | Taxes above 5% of last year's household income, or all of them if that income was under $10,000 |
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Application deadline | March 31 following the year the taxes were assessed |
|---|---|
| Reapply each year? | Yes, you file a new application every year |
How Florida is different
Where Florida's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.
- Lower threshold for people 65 or older: 3% of income instead of 5%
Good to know
- How much you can defer may be limited by mortgages and other liens on the home.
- If the tax collector denies your application, you may appeal to the county value adjustment board within 30 days.
Free help
Free help with this in Florida
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Florida
Property tax relief in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Florida Department of Revenue, Property Tax Exemptions and Benefits (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Florida Department of Revenue, Property Tax Information for Homestead Exemption (PT-113, R. 08/25) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Florida Department of Revenue, Additional Homestead Exemption Adjustment (revised January 2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Florida Department of Revenue, Property Appraiser Calendar (PT-902018, R. 10/24) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Florida Department of Revenue, Two Additional Homestead Exemptions for Persons 65 and Older (revised January 2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Florida Department of Revenue, Property Tax Benefits for Persons 65 or Older (PT-110, R. 08/24) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Florida Department of Revenue, Property Tax Information for Taxpayers (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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