Florida Property Tax Relief for Seniors 2026
Every statewide property tax break Florida offers older homeowners that we could confirm on an official page: the type of relief, the age and income limits, the amount, how to apply and the deadline.
Every Florida homeowner gets a homestead exemption of up to $51,411 for 2026 ($25,000 on all levies plus an inflation-indexed $26,411 on non-school levies). Save Our Homes caps yearly increases in the home's assessed value at 2.7% for 2026. Owners 65 and older can also get two local-option exemptions where their county or city has adopted them: up to $50,000 more, or a full exemption for long-term residents of homes with a just value under $250,000. Both require household income of $38,686 or less (2026). Florida has no circuit-breaker credit or rebate; instead, seniors can defer homestead taxes above 3% of household income, or all of them at low income. (sources)
Official sources Checked against official sources on November 4, 2026. This page lists only programs confirmed on an official state page; counties and cities may offer more.
Florida property tax relief programs for seniors
Amounts, how to apply and deadlines
Homestead exemption (all ages)
- Type
- Homestead exemption
- Age
- Any age (permanent Florida resident who owns and lives in the home on January 1)
- Income limit
- None
- Amount
- 2026: first $25,000 of assessed value exempt from all levies, plus an additional exemption of up to $26,411 on assessed value above $50,000, from non-school levies only. That is up to $51,411 in total; the second tier is CPI-indexed each year, and was $25,722 in 2025.
- How to apply
- File Form DR-501 with the county property appraiser; it renews automatically each year once granted.
- Deadline
- March 1 of the tax year
- Source
- Florida Department of Revenue, Additional Homestead Exemption Adjustment (s. 196.031(1)(b), F.S.)
Save Our Homes assessment limitation
- Type
- Assessment freeze
- Age
- Any age (applies to homestead property)
- Income limit
- None
- Amount
- Annual increase in a homestead's assessed value capped at the lower of 3% or prior-year CPI: 2.7% for 2026 (2.9% in 2025). Up to $500,000 of the accumulated difference between just and assessed value can be ported to a new Florida homestead established within 3 years. Changes enacted by ch. 2026-239 first apply to the 2027 roll.
- How to apply
- Automatic once the homestead exemption is granted. To port the difference, apply with the county property appraiser when you file the new home's homestead application.
- Deadline
- March 1 (with the homestead application)
- Source
- Florida Department of Revenue, Save Our Homes (s. 193.155(1), F.S.)
Local-option additional homestead exemption for persons 65 and older
- Type
- Homestead exemption
- Age
- 65 or older on January 1
- Income limit
- Household adjusted gross income of $38,686 or less for the 2026 tax year (prior-year income; $37,694 for 2025)
- Amount
- Up to $50,000 of additional exemption. It applies only to county or city millage where the local government has adopted an ordinance, not to school levies.
- How to apply
- File Form DR-501 and Form DR-501SC (household income statement) with the county property appraiser.
- Deadline
- March 1
- Source
- Florida Department of Revenue, Two Additional Homestead Exemptions for Persons 65 and Older (revised January 2026); s. 196.075(2), F.S.
Local-option long-term resident senior exemption
- Type
- Homestead exemption
- Age
- 65 or older, with the home as permanent residence for at least 25 years
- Income limit
- Household adjusted gross income of $38,686 or less (2026)
- Amount
- Exemption equal to the full assessed value of the home, on county or city millage where adopted (not school levies). The home's just value must be under $250,000 in the first year the owner applies and qualifies.
- How to apply
- File Form DR-501 and Form DR-501SC with the county property appraiser, and check with the appraiser that your county or city has adopted the ordinance.
- Deadline
- March 1
- Source
- Florida Department of Revenue, Two Additional Homestead Exemptions for Persons 65 and Older (revised January 2026); s. 196.075, F.S.
$5,000 widow/widower, blind, or totally and permanently disabled exemption
- Type
- Homestead exemption
- Age
- Any age
- Income limit
- None
- Amount
- $5,000 of assessed value exempt
- How to apply
- File Form DR-501 with the county property appraiser.
- Deadline
- March 1
- Source
- Florida Statutes s. 196.202 (2026)
Total exemption for totally and permanently disabled homeowners (wheelchair users, legally blind)
- Type
- Homestead exemption
- Age
- Any age
- Income limit
- Gross household income of $37,712 or less for 2026 ($36,745 for 2025). Quadriplegics have no income limit.
- Amount
- Full exemption from ad valorem taxes on the homestead
- How to apply
- File Form DR-501 with the county property appraiser, plus a certificate of total and permanent disability (Form DR-416 or DR-416B) from two Florida-licensed doctors or the VA.
- Deadline
- March 1
- Source
- Florida Department of Revenue, Total and Permanent Disability Income Limitations (s. 196.101(4)(b), F.S.)
Homestead property tax deferral
- Type
- Tax deferral
- Age
- Any homestead owner; better terms at 65 or older
- Income limit
- No cap to qualify. All taxes can be deferred if prior-year household income is under $10,000, or if the owner is 65+ with income under the s. 196.075 limit ($38,686 for 2026).
- Amount
- Defers ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments above 5% of prior-year household income (above 3% if 65 or older), or the entire amount at the low-income levels. The deferred amount becomes a lien; interest is 0.5% plus the Florida Retirement System long-term fixed-income yield, capped at 7% a year.
- How to apply
- File an annual application with the county tax collector on the Department of Revenue form, listing all outstanding liens and showing fire and extended insurance coverage at least equal to all liens, including deferred taxes and interest.
- Deadline
- March 31 following the year the taxes are assessed
- Source
- Florida Statutes s. 197.252 (2026), Homestead tax deferral; s. 197.2423 (annual application); s. 197.262 (interest)
Granny flat assessment reduction (living quarters for parents or grandparents 62+)
- Type
- Assessment freeze
- Age
- Parent or grandparent aged 62 or older living in quarters built for them
- Income limit
- None
- Amount
- Where the county has adopted it, the value of the added living quarters is excluded from assessment, up to the lesser of the assessed-value increase from the construction or 20% of the property's total assessed value as improved
- How to apply
- File Form DR-501PGP with the county property appraiser each year (the county may waive annual refiling, but a new application is needed after a sale or change of ownership or use).
- Deadline
- March 1 of each tax year
- Source
- Florida Statutes s. 193.703 (2026); Florida DOR PT-111 Other Available Property Tax Benefits (R. 08/24)
Florida income tax in retirement
Property tax relief is one half of a state’s cost to retirees; the other is income tax on pensions, IRA withdrawals and Social Security. See Florida state income tax for retirees, which states tax retirement income and which states tax Social Security.
Common questions
What property tax relief can seniors get in Florida?
Homestead exemption (all ages): homestead exemption; Save Our Homes assessment limitation: assessment freeze; Local-option additional homestead exemption for persons 65 and older: homestead exemption; Local-option long-term resident senior exemption: homestead exemption; $5,000 widow/widower, blind, or totally and permanently disabled exemption: homestead exemption; Total exemption for totally and permanently disabled homeowners (wheelchair users, legally blind): homestead exemption; Homestead property tax deferral: tax deferral; Granny flat assessment reduction (living quarters for parents or grandparents 62+): assessment freeze (floridarevenue.com, floridarevenue.com, floridarevenue.com, leg.state.fl.us, floridarevenue.com, leg.state.fl.us, leg.state.fl.us).
At what age do Florida seniors qualify for property tax relief?
Homestead exemption (all ages): Any age (permanent Florida resident who owns and lives in the home on January 1); Save Our Homes assessment limitation: Any age (applies to homestead property); Local-option additional homestead exemption for persons 65 and older: 65 or older on January 1; Local-option long-term resident senior exemption: 65 or older, with the home as permanent residence for at least 25 years; $5,000 widow/widower, blind, or totally and permanently disabled exemption: Any age; Total exemption for totally and permanently disabled homeowners (wheelchair users, legally blind): Any age; Homestead property tax deferral: Any homestead owner; better terms at 65 or older; Granny flat assessment reduction (living quarters for parents or grandparents 62+): Parent or grandparent aged 62 or older living in quarters built for them.
Is there an income limit for Florida senior property tax relief?
Homestead exemption (all ages): None; Save Our Homes assessment limitation: None; Local-option additional homestead exemption for persons 65 and older: Household adjusted gross income of $38,686 or less for the 2026 tax year (prior-year income; $37,694 for 2025); Local-option long-term resident senior exemption: Household adjusted gross income of $38,686 or less (2026); $5,000 widow/widower, blind, or totally and permanently disabled exemption: None; Total exemption for totally and permanently disabled homeowners (wheelchair users, legally blind): Gross household income of $37,712 or less for 2026 ($36,745 for 2025). Quadriplegics have no income limit.; Homestead property tax deferral: No cap to qualify. All taxes can be deferred if prior-year household income is under $10,000, or if the owner is 65+ with income under the s. 196.075 limit ($38,686 for 2026).; Granny flat assessment reduction (living quarters for parents or grandparents 62+): None.
What is the deadline to apply in Florida?
Homestead exemption (all ages): March 1 of the tax year; Save Our Homes assessment limitation: March 1 (with the homestead application); Local-option additional homestead exemption for persons 65 and older: March 1; Local-option long-term resident senior exemption: March 1; $5,000 widow/widower, blind, or totally and permanently disabled exemption: March 1; Total exemption for totally and permanently disabled homeowners (wheelchair users, legally blind): March 1; Homestead property tax deferral: March 31 following the year the taxes are assessed; Granny flat assessment reduction (living quarters for parents or grandparents 62+): March 1 of each tax year.
Sources
- Florida Department of Revenue, Additional Homestead Exemption Adjustment (s. 196.031(1)(b), F.S.)
- Florida Department of Revenue, Save Our Homes (s. 193.155(1), F.S.)
- Florida Department of Revenue, Two Additional Homestead Exemptions for Persons 65 and Older (revised January 2026); s. 196.075(2), F.S.
- Florida Statutes s. 196.202 (2026)
- Florida Department of Revenue, Total and Permanent Disability Income Limitations (s. 196.101(4)(b), F.S.)
- Florida Statutes s. 197.252 (2026), Homestead tax deferral; s. 197.2423 (annual application); s. 197.262 (interest)
- Florida Statutes s. 193.703 (2026); Florida DOR PT-111 Other Available Property Tax Benefits (R. 08/24)
Every row above is copied from the official page linked beside it. Benefits change with new laws and local decisions, so confirm the amount and the deadline with the office that runs the program before you apply. QuantCalc is calculation software, not legal, tax or benefits advice. Last updated November 4, 2026.
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