Florida Property Tax Estimator

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How Florida Property Taxes Work

Florida has no state property tax. Every dollar of property tax you pay is levied locally — by your county, your city, the school board, the water management district, and any special districts that cover your parcel. The formula is simple: taxable value × millage rate ÷ 1,000 = your annual tax. Taxable value is your property's assessed value minus any exemptions you qualify for, and the millage rate is the combined "per $1,000" rate set by all of those taxing authorities added together.

The estimator at the top of this page applies your county's approximate average millage to your purchase price. That is a reasonable proxy for a new buyer's first assessed value, because Florida generally reassesses a property to market value on the January 1 after it sells. If you will live in the home, the calculator also subtracts the homestead exemption of up to $50,000 to show your likely taxable value. The result is a planning estimate — your exact bill depends on the specific city and districts your address falls in.

What Is a Millage Rate?

A "mill" is one dollar of tax for every $1,000 of taxable value. A home taxed at 18 mills pays $18 per $1,000, or 1.8% of its taxable value. Your total millage is the sum of every taxing authority that overlaps your property. Two identical homes on opposite sides of a city line — or one inside a Community Development District (CDD) and one outside — can have meaningfully different total millage. That is why a statewide "average" only gets you in the ballpark, and why the county averages in this tool should be treated as estimates.

The Florida Homestead Exemption

If the property is your permanent primary residence as of January 1, Florida grants a homestead exemption of up to $50,000 off your assessed value. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes. The second $25,000 — which applies to assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 — applies to all taxes except school district taxes. Because school taxes are usually the single largest slice of your bill, the real-world value of the exemption is a little less than a flat $50,000 reduction, which is why our estimate is intentionally conservative.

Homestead status does more than lower this year's bill. It also activates the Save Our Homes cap, which limits how much your assessed value can rise each year to 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower — even in years when market values jump much faster. Over time, this cap is the single biggest reason a long-time Florida homeowner's tax bill can be a fraction of what a brand-new buyer next door pays.

Non-Homestead Properties and the 10% Cap

Second homes, rentals, and investment properties do not receive the homestead exemption or the 3% Save Our Homes cap. They are instead protected by a separate 10% annual assessment cap on non-school taxes. If you are buying an investment property, select "No" in the homestead field above — your taxable value will equal the full assessed value, and your bill will be correspondingly higher than an owner-occupant's on the same property.

Why Your First-Year Tax Bill Is Often Higher Than the Seller's

This is the single most common property-tax surprise for Florida home buyers. When you look up a home you are buying, the tax figure you see is the current owner's bill — which may reflect decades of Save Our Homes protection holding their assessed value far below today's market. The moment the home sells, two things happen: the property is reassessed to full market value on the following January 1, and the prior owner's accumulated cap savings disappear. Your first bill as the new owner is based on what you paid, not what the seller was assessed at.

The practical takeaway: never budget from the seller's current tax bill. Use a market-value estimate like the one on this page. If you are moving from another Florida homestead, you may be able to transfer part of your prior Save Our Homes benefit through portability, which can reduce your new assessed value — ask your county property appraiser about filing for it.

Estimated Property Tax by Florida County

Total millage varies widely across Florida. The table below shows the approximate average combined millage used in this estimator, plus the estimated annual tax on a $500,000 homestead home (taxable value $450,000) in each county. These are planning averages — your exact rate depends on your city and districts.

When Florida Property Taxes Are Due

Florida taxes are paid in arrears. Bills are mailed on or around November 1 for that calendar year and are due by March 31. Paying early earns a discount — 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February — so most escrow companies pay in November to capture the full 4%. Taxes become delinquent on April 1, at which point the county can begin the tax-certificate process. If your mortgage escrows taxes, your servicer pays the bill for you from your monthly escrow deposits, which is why the estimator also shows a monthly figure.

Property Taxes at Your Closing

Because the bill for the year is not issued until November, the buyer and seller prorate the taxes at closing based on the closing date. The seller credits the buyer for their share of the year — the days they owned the home — and the buyer then pays the entire bill when it arrives. Your closing agent calculates this proration on the settlement statement using the most recent tax figures or an estimate for a newly reassessed property. To see how that credit is calculated on your deal, use our Florida property tax proration calculator, and for the full picture of what you will owe at the table, our closing cost calculator and title insurance calculator.

Florida Property Tax Frequently Asked Questions

How much are property taxes in Florida?

There is no state property tax; taxes are local and average roughly 0.8%–1.0% of market value per year. Statewide effective millage averages about $18 per $1,000 of taxable value, so a $500,000 homestead home often runs $7,000–$9,000 annually depending on county and districts. Use the estimator above for a county-specific figure.

How are Florida property taxes calculated?

Taxable value × millage ÷ 1,000. Taxable value is assessed value minus exemptions. Example: a $500,000 home minus a $50,000 homestead exemption at 18.6 mills = $450,000 / 1,000 × 18.6 = $8,370 per year.

What is the Florida homestead exemption?

Up to $50,000 off assessed value for your permanent primary residence as of January 1. The first $25,000 applies to all taxes; the second $25,000 (on value between $50K and $75K) applies to all taxes except school taxes. Homestead also triggers the 3% Save Our Homes assessment cap.

Will my property taxes go up after I buy?

Usually yes. Florida reassesses to market value the January 1 after a sale, and the prior owner's Save Our Homes cap disappears. If the seller owned the home for years, your first bill can be much higher than theirs. Budget from a market-value estimate, not the seller's current bill.

When are Florida property taxes due?

Bills are mailed around November 1 and due by March 31. Discounts: 4% in November, 3% December, 2% January, 1% February. Taxes go delinquent April 1.

Who pays property taxes at a Florida closing?

They are prorated between buyer and seller as of the closing date. The seller credits the buyer for their share of the year, and the buyer pays the full bill in November. See our property tax proration calculator.