Moving to Florida: What New Residents Pay in Property Tax

Updated October 3, 2026

Florida has no state income tax, but property tax is where local services get paid for, and newcomers usually pay more than long-time neighbors in identical homes. Here is why, and what to budget.

Why your bill is higher than the seller's

The seller's bill reflects years of the Save Our Homes cap. When you buy, the assessed value resets to market value on the next January 1. A seller who paid $3,000 a year may hand you a home that will be taxed at $7,000. Always estimate taxes from the purchase price, not the listing's "last year's taxes."

Use the calculator with your expected purchase price as the assessed value to get a realistic first-year number.

First-year checklist

1. Close and move in before January 1 if you can. Homestead eligibility is set by your status on January 1.
2. Establish Florida residency: Florida driver license, vehicle registration and voter registration. Many appraisers ask for all three.
3. File for homestead by March 1. See the homestead guide.
4. Drop any homestead or residency-based tax benefit in your previous state.
5. Budget for non-ad valorem charges on the tax bill, which exemptions don't reduce.

Watch for CDD and special district fees

Many newer Florida subdivisions sit inside a Community Development District (CDD) that financed roads, water and amenities with bonds. Owners repay those bonds through a yearly assessment on the property tax bill that can run into the thousands of dollars and lasts for decades. Ask the seller or builder for the exact CDD amount and payoff schedule before you buy.

Amendment 3 and newcomers

If voters approve Amendment 3 on November 3, 2026, anyone who establishes a Florida homestead on or after January 1, 2027 would get a $50,000 non-school exemption for four years, then the full exemption ($250,000 in 2028 dollars, adjusted for inflation) from the fifth year. That makes the timing of a move more valuable than usual: being homesteaded by the end of 2026 means qualifying immediately.

Picking a county with taxes in mind

Average rates range from about 8.229 mills in Monroe County to 21.599 mills in St. Lucie County. On a $400,000 homestead that is a difference of several thousand dollars a year. Compare them in the county table, and remember that insurance, HOA and CDD costs can outweigh tax differences.

Frequently asked questions