Homestead exemption — state-by-state property tax savings

What a homestead exemption does

Reduces your home's assessed value (the amount taxed) by a fixed dollar amount or percentage. The reduction applies only to your primary residence.

Some states also cap how fast assessed value can grow year-over-year for homestead properties (Florida 3%, Texas 10%). This makes homestead massively valuable in fast-appreciating markets.

Generous-state highlights

Florida: $50,000 exemption + Save Our Homes 3% annual cap. Plus additional $50,000 for over-65, $5,000 for disabled veterans, $25,000+ for fully-disabled veterans.

Texas: $40,000 exemption (raised from $25k in 2025), 10% appraisal cap, optional school-district homestead.

California: Prop 13 caps assessed value to 1976 base + 2% annual. No homestead exemption per se, but the cap effectively gives long-term owners a deep tax break.

Mississippi: $7,500 of assessed value (state-mandated) on a 10% assessment ratio = effective $750 exemption.

How to file

Each state has its own form. File with your county assessor (not your state). Most states require you to be in the home as primary residence by Jan 1 of the tax year.

Florida: form DR-501 with the County Property Appraiser. Deadline March 1.

Texas: form 50-114 with the County Appraisal District. Deadline April 30.

If you forgot to file in past years, most states allow back-filing for 1–3 years with the difference refunded.

What zipradar shows

On every ZIP page, the county-level millage rate. The homestead exemption is filed at the county or state level, not zipradar — but every county assessor's portal we link to has the form.

Don't pay assessed-tax on a primary residence without first filing your exemption. It's free money you have to ask for.