Moving to Florida? Your Timing Matters.
Use the Florida Amendment 3 calculator to see how your move date and home purchase could affect your homestead timeline and estimated savings.
Explore my timeline
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What changed?
For qualifying homesteads, Amendment 3 raises the non-school exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments beginning in 2029. School taxes remain subject to a separate $25,000 exemption. People who were not Florida residents by December 31, 2026 generally must complete four qualifying homestead years before the larger exemption starts in their fifth year.
The exemption reduces taxable assessed value; it is not a cash payment. Tax bills and actual savings vary.
Find your buyer scenario
Adjust the assumptions below. Your results update automatically.
Assumes purchase and permanent occupancy are completed before December 31 of the selected year. A closing on January 1 or later shifts the first ordinary homestead year accordingly. Assessed value is not necessarily the purchase price. Other Florida counties require their own millage rates.
Your timeline
Savings compare the expanded non-school exemption with a modeled $50,000 non-school exemption in the same tax year. For 2029 and later, this calculator holds the larger exemption at $250,000 and the smaller at $50,000 for illustration only, without predicting inflation, assessed-value changes, or future tax rates. The five-year total adds estimated annual differences, not a prediction of your tax bills.
10 buyer scenarios at a glance
Example uses a $500,000 assessed-value home in the City of Tampa and 2026 non-school millage. Dollar figures represent additional annual savings versus a $50,000 non-school exemption, not total property-tax savings or a guaranteed tax bill reduction.
| Buyer situation | First homestead year | First expanded year | Illustrative extra annual savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Existing FL resident buys and occupies by Dec. 31, 2026 | 2027 | 2027 | ~$1,340 in 2027; ~$2,680 in 2028+ |
| 2. Existing FL resident buys in 2027 | 2028 | 2028 | ~$2,680 from 2028 |
| 3. Resident by Dec. 2026, rents first, buys 2027 | 2028 | 2028 | ~$2,680 from 2028 |
| 4. Resident by Dec. 2026, closes January 2027 | 2028 | 2028 | ~$2,680 from 2028 |
| 5. New resident moves and buys 2027 | 2028 | 2032 | ~$0 extra in 2028–31; ~$2,680 from 2032 |
| 6. New resident moves and buys 2028 | 2029 | 2033 | ~$0 extra in 2029–32; ~$2,680 from 2033 |
| 7. Moves in 2027, rents, buys 2029 | 2030 | 2034 | ~$0 extra in 2030–33; ~$2,680 from 2034 |
| 8. Existing FL resident moves between primary homes in 2027 | 2028 on new home | 2028 | ~$2,680 from 2028; portability may change actual bill |
| 9. Vacation/investment home, not primary residence | Not eligible | Not eligible | $0 homestead benefit |
| 10. Longtime FL renter buys $200,000 primary home in 2027 | 2028 | 2028 | Up to ~$2,010 from 2028 at $200k assessed value |
Amendment 3 FAQs
Do I have to buy a home by December 31, 2026?
No. Under current property-appraiser guidance, someone who genuinely establishes Florida residency by that date can qualify for the larger exemption after purchasing and qualifying for homestead later.
If I close in January 2027, can I apply by March 1 for 2027?
Generally no. You ordinarily must own and permanently occupy the qualifying home on January 1 of the tax year. A January closing usually means the first homestead year is 2028.
Does the five-year wait start when I move or when I own?
For people who first establish Florida residency in 2027 or later, the expanded exemption generally starts with the fifth qualifying homestead year, after four years with the smaller exemption.
Does a $250,000 exemption mean I save $250,000?
No. It reduces the amount of assessed value subject to eligible non-school ad valorem taxes. Savings depend on millage, assessed value, eligibility, and other factors.
Can I use this estimate for a home outside Tampa?
The timeline principles apply statewide, but millage rates and assessed values differ. This calculator's listed tax rates are for Hillsborough County taxing areas only.
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Contact LeannaSources & important disclosures
This educational illustration is not legal, tax, financial, or appraisal advice. Florida residency is fact-dependent and requires documentation. Eligibility is determined by the county property appraiser under applicable law and any implementing legislation. Homestead requires qualifying ownership and permanent occupancy as of January 1 and a timely application (generally March 1). The exemption is for eligible non-school ad valorem levies; school levies remain separate. Local-option exemptions, Save Our Homes, portability, assessed-value limits, property use, special districts, other exemptions, tax-rate changes, CDD and non-ad valorem charges may materially change actual taxes. Do not use purchase price as a substitute for assessed value without qualification. Inflation-adjusted exemptions for future years are not yet known. The calculations are illustrative, not guarantees or personalized tax determinations.
Official sources: Florida Department of State — Amendment 3 · Leon County Property Appraiser FAQ · Hillsborough County 2026 millage. Prepared November 2026.