How Much Homestead Exemption Saves

Use the free tool — Homestead Exemption FL

What the homestead exemption saves

Florida's homestead exemption can lower your home's taxable value by up to $50,000. It also caps how fast your assessed value can rise each year under Save Our Homes. Together, this can add up to hundreds of dollars a year and thousands over time. The exact number depends on your home's value and your county's tax rate, which the tool cannot verify — the county property appraiser sets your actual assessed value and final savings.

Portability: taking your savings cap with you

If you moved within Florida, you may be able to "port" your old home's Save Our Homes cap to your new home. This only happens if you apply — it is not automatic. The form for this is DR-501T. Homestead Exemption FL can walk through the math using your old house's numbers and your new home's numbers, so you can see roughly what portability might be worth before you file.

Extra exemptions many people miss

Beyond the basic homestead exemption, Florida offers additional exemptions based on your circumstances:

Seniors (65 and older, with income limits)
Widows and widowers
People with disabilities
Veterans
First responders

These are based on Florida Statutes chapters 193 and 196 and Florida Constitution Art. VII §§4 and 6. Many eligible homeowners never apply for these because they don't know they exist.

The March 1 deadline and how to apply

The deadline to apply for homestead exemption is March 1. Because exemption amounts and county rules can change from year to year, confirm the exact date and any local details with your county property appraiser before you file.

The main form is DR-501. You can typically apply online or in person with the county property appraiser. The checklist of documents, and the forms you need — including DR-501T if you're applying for portability — depend on your situation.

What's unknown and important cautions

Homestead Exemption FL is not legal or tax advice. It cannot verify your residency or your property's value — only the county property appraiser can do that, and they make the final decision on your application. Trusts, LLC-owned homes, and non-citizen owners have special rules that this tool does not fully cover; confirm your specific situation with the county property appraiser. If you're 65 or older, income limits may apply to some senior exemptions — check current limits with your county.

If your concern is disputing your property's assessed value rather than applying for exemptions, that is handled through a TRIM notice appeal, not this tool — see Property Tax Appeal FL for that process.

What to do next

Answer a few questions about your home and your situation — move-in date, county, values, prior homestead, age, veteran/disability/widow status, and income if you're 65 or older. The free tool reads your own numbers and tells you whether you likely qualify, roughly what it could save, whether portability applies and the math behind it, which extra exemptions you may be missing, and the document checklist to bring to your county property appraiser. It's free, available in English and Spanish, and applying costs nothing even if you're not sure you qualify.

Use the free tool

Homestead Exemption FL is an informational tool based on Florida Constitution Art. VII §§4 and 6 and Florida Statutes chapters 193 and 196 as of 2025–26. It is not legal or tax advice and does not file applications; exemption amounts, senior-income limits and county options change yearly. The county property appraiser is the authority. TRIM appeals are handled by Property Tax Appeal FL. It is not affiliated with any county or agency.