What are property tax exemptions?

Property tax exemptions reduce your tax bill by lowering your property's taxable value, with common types including the Homestead Exemption for primary residences (like Florida's $50k exemption) and specific exemptions for seniors, veterans, the disabled, and non-profits, often requiring an application with your local assessor; these vary by state and locality but offer significant savings for qualifying homeowners.

Common Types of Exemptions

  • Homestead Exemption: For your primary residence, reducing taxable value (e.g., Florida offers up to $50,000 off assessed value, with different amounts applying to school vs. other taxes).
  • Senior Exemptions: For residents 65 and older, often with income or residency requirements.
  • Disability Exemptions: For totally and permanently disabled persons or disabled first responders.
  • Veteran & Military Exemptions: For service members and veterans.
  • Widow/Widower Exemptions: For surviving spouses.
  • Non-Profit/Government: Exempts qualifying religious, charitable, and government properties. 

Key Benefits

  • Tax Bill Reduction: Directly lowers the amount of property tax you owe.
  • Assessment Caps (Like "Save Our Homes"): Limits how much your property's assessed value can increase each year, protecting against rapid tax hikes. 

How to Get an Exemption

  1. Check Eligibility: Confirm you meet your state and county's criteria for specific exemptions (residency, age, disability, etc.).
  2. Apply: Submit an application, often with proof, to your local tax assessor or county property appraiser's office.
  3. Meet Deadlines: Apply by the set deadlines, usually by a specific date (e.g., March 1st in Florida). 
  4. Or you could select one of our packages below and immediately began working your way to a lower property tax bill.

 

Are you interested in exploring all the tax benefits you could be enjoying? Allow our team of property tax experts navigate the entire process. We guarantee maximum tax savings or our services are totally free.

Here are our Tax deed exemption packages

Basic Property Tax Exemption

Our BasicProperty Tax Exemption Package includes:

  • Live consultation
  • Property tax exemption applications
  • Personal Property Tax Specialist
  • Title Check

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ProProperty Tax Exemption Package

The Claylegal ProProperty Tax Exemption offers our clients the luxury of our full scale property tax exemtions services:

  • Live Consultation
  • Property Assessment Evaluation
  • Maximum Property Tax Exemptions
  • Personal Property Tax Expert 
  • Legal representation in case of a value assessment appeal
  • Title Check
  • Deed Creation

For just $5 a month

Ron DeSantis is pushing major property tax reform in Florida, proposing a constitutional amendment to eventually eliminate property taxes on homesteads, backed by immediate actions like a proposed $1,000 homestead rebate for homeowners and covering school-related taxes, with the goal of making homeownership more accessible and reducing local government reliance on these taxes, though the plan faces legislative debate and requires voter approval. 

Key Initiatives and Proposals

  • Proposed Constitutional Amendment: DeSantis has called for a constitutional amendment, which would require 60% voter approval on the November 2026 ballot, to phase out or eliminate non-school property taxes for primary residences. He argues that property taxes are like paying "perpetual rent" to the government.
  • $1,000 Rebates: As immediate relief, the Governor proposed legislation in March 2025 for average $1,000 rebates for each homesteaded property, covering state-mandated school property taxes. These rebates were planned for December 2025 if the Legislature acted.
  • Targeting "Snowbirds" and Airbnb Owners: DeSantis has also proposed eliminating certain tax perks or breaks for non-residents and short-term rental owners to help offset costs and ensure fairness for full-time residents.
  • Recent Legislation Signed: In June 2025, DeSantis signed HB 7031 into law, which made various tax changes, including eliminating the state sales tax on commercial leases effective October 1, 2025, and revising property tax appeal procedures. 

 

Legislative Status and Concerns

Several proposals are currently making their way through the state legislature during the January 2026 session, but there is no final consensus yet, and a special session may be needed. 

  • Local Government Impact: Critics, including many local government leaders, express concern that eliminating property taxes would create a fiscal crisis and force cuts to essential services such as law enforcement, fire departments, and EMS, as property taxes are a primary source of local funding.
  • Funding Safeguards: The current House proposals aim to protect funding for schools, law enforcement, and first responders, with the state potentially using general revenue (like sales tax) to backfill local budgets.
  • Voter Decision: The ultimate fate of these major property tax changes will likely rest on the Florida voters in the 2026 general election.