Widow/Widower Exemption (2024)

FAQs

How do I get $50 000 homestead exemption in Florida? ›

When someone owns property and makes it his or her permanent residence or the permanent residence of his or her dependent, the property owner may be eligible to receive a homestead exemption that would decrease the property's taxable value by as much as $50,000.

In addition to the proof of Florida residency, you must be residing on the property as your primary residence as of January 1st. Social Security numbers are required for all owners and their spouses making application, even if the spouse does not own and/or reside on the property, per Florida Statute.

Senior Citizen Exemption – Property tax benefits are available to persons 65 or older in Florida. Seniors may qualify for an extra exemption for an additional $50,000 of home value.

The widow/widowers exemption reduces the assessed value of your property by $5,000. This provides a tax savings of approximately $100 annually. Any widow/widower who owns property and is a permanent Florida resident may file for this exemption.

To qualify for homestead exemption, you have to declare Florida as your permanent residence. For example, if you vote, you must vote in Florida. If you drive, you must have a Florida driver's license. Your home address on your federal income tax return should be Florida.

Certain property tax benefits are available to persons 65 or older in Florida. Eligibility for property tax exemptions depends on certain requirements. Information is available from the property appraiser's office in the county where the applicant owns a homestead or other property.

Under the homestead exemption, Florida law allows up to $50,000 to be deducted from the assessed value of a primary / permanent residence. The first $25,000 of value is entirely exempt. The second $25,000 exemption applies to the value between $50,000 and $75,000 and does not include a benefit on the school tax.

Do I need to re-apply for my Homestead Exemption every year? No, you do not. The Property Appraiser mails out in January an “Automatic Residential Renewal Receipt” to every homesteaded property owner. If you do not have any changes, you can keep the receipt as proof that you are eligible for the automatic renewal.

Your Homestead will become effective on January 1^st of the year FOLLOWING the year in which you ESTABLISHED your Homestead, SO LONG as you FILE for Homestead no later than March 1^st of the year following the year in which you established your Homestead.

Appealing your Home's Taxable Value

Any homeowner can ask for their home to be reassessed to determine its taxable value. If the appeals board reduces the value of the home, the tax burden will be lowered, because the property tax is computed by multiplying the home's taxable value by the current tax rate.

What is the $5 000 property tax exemption in Florida? ›

Property to the value of $5,000 of every widow, widower, blind person, or totally and permanently disabled person who is a bona fide resident of this state is exempt from taxation. See Form DR-501. (see section 196.202, F.S.)

Every person who owns and resides on real property in Florida on January 1st and makes the property his or her permanent residence is eligible to receive a Homestead Exemption up to $50,000. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, including school district taxes.

The qualifying widow(er) tax filing status allows for tax breaks to a widow(er) for two years following the death of a spouse. You have to remain single and you have to have a dependent living at home to use this status. And you can't use it in the year in which your spouse died.

Note: The Qualifying Surviving Spouse standard deduction is the same as Married Filing Jointly. Although there are no additional tax breaks for widows, using this filing status means your standard deduction will be double the Single filer status amount.

The widow or widower who is age 60 or older but not at the full retirement age is awarded 71½ -99 percent of the deceased worker's basic benefit amount. The widow or widower at any age and who has a child younger than 16 is awarded 75 percent of the deceased's benefit amount.

Under the homestead exemption, Florida law allows up to $50,000 to be deducted from the assessed value of a primary / permanent residence. The first $25,000 of value is entirely exempt. The second $25,000 exemption applies to the value between $50,000 and $75,000 and does not include a benefit on the school tax.

Proof of ownership of your property in the form of a copy of a tax bill or your deed. In many cases, particularly if you have owned the residence for a while and are applying for the homestead exemption online, the Appraiser's office will have a record of your ownership of the property.

The homestead exemption can result in exempting up to $50,000 of your home's assessed value from tax liability. Please see our homestead exemption brochure for more details.

Do I need to re-apply for my Homestead Exemption every year? No, you do not. The Property Appraiser mails out in January an “Automatic Residential Renewal Receipt” to every homesteaded property owner. If you do not have any changes, you can keep the receipt as proof that you are eligible for the automatic renewal.