Will Florida Really End Property Taxes Forever?

Florida is back in the headlines—and this time it’s all about property taxes. If you live here, plan on moving here, or just want to understand what’s going on, you’ll want to keep reading.

What’s Being Proposed?

Governor Ron DeSantis has floated a big idea: get rid of property taxes altogether. It’s something that could show up on the 2026 ballot if lawmakers move it forward. His plan has two parts:

1. A $1,000 Rebate Right Away

The short-term relief is a one-time $1,000 rebate for anyone with a homesteaded property.

To qualify:

• Your home has to be your primary residence.

• You must live in Florida at least six months and one day each year.

• You can’t claim a homestead exemption in another state.

This is a quick boost—not a permanent tax cut.

2. The Bigger Goal: No Property Taxes

The bigger picture is the eventual elimination of property taxes in Florida. DeSantis calls property taxes “rent paid to Florida,” and he wants homeowners to stop paying them altogether.

But here’s the catch: property taxes bring in $50–55 billion a year to fund schools, police, fire departments, and local services. Cutting them would mean either raising other taxes (like sales tax) or trimming government programs.

What Would This Mean for Homeowners?

On the surface, not paying property taxes sounds like a dream. Homeowners, especially those who already own their homes outright, could save thousands every year.

But there’s another side: if Florida becomes more attractive to buyers, demand could spike—and home prices could climb even higher. So while some people would save, others might end up paying more when buying a home.

Where Things Stand Now

Right now, a committee in the Florida House is looking at different ideas. Options could include:

• Getting rid of property taxes completely

• Cutting them partially

• Raising sales tax while lowering property taxes

We won’t know until closer to 2026 what, if anything, will make the ballot.

How Property Taxes Work in Florida

If you’re buying a home here, you’ll notice something odd: two houses in the same neighborhood can have very different tax bills. One might be $3,200 while another is $6,200.

Why? It comes down to:

• Whether the home is homesteaded

• How long the owner has lived there

Breaking Down the Numbers

Here’s a quick example:

• Home price: $600,000

• Assessed at 90% = $540,000

• Minus $50,000 homestead exemption = $490,000 taxable value

• At about 1.2% tax rate, the bill would be around $5,880

For investment homes, second homes, or Airbnbs:

• No $50,000 exemption

• Slightly higher rate (about 1.4%)

The Save Our Homes Law

Florida also has something called the Save Our Homes Act. It puts limits on how much your assessed value can go up each year:

• Homesteaded homes: capped at 3% a year

• Non-homesteaded homes: capped at 10% a year

This has been a lifesaver for long-time homeowners, especially when property values shoot up.

Bottom Line

Right now, it’s too early to know if Florida will actually eliminate property taxes. For now, a safe estimate is:

• Homesteaded homes: ~1.2% of assessed value

• Non-homesteaded homes: ~1.4% of assessed value

If you want exact numbers, always check your local property appraiser’s website.

No property taxes sounds amazing—but it comes with big tradeoffs. Florida would have to figure out how to replace billions of dollars in revenue.

So, will this make homeownership more affordable, or will higher demand just push prices up? That’s the real question—and we’ll have to wait until 2026 to see if voters get to decide.