Updated November 4, 2026
Start with the basics
Florida's homestead exemption applies to your permanent residence. On top of it, Florida law offers extra property tax breaks to some veterans, mainly those with service-connected disabilities. Rules, amounts and eligibility are set in Chapter 196 of the Florida Statutes and are administered by your county property appraiser. Always confirm with the appraiser before relying on any of this.
The main veteran exemptions
The Florida Department of Revenue and the Pinellas County Property Appraiser describe these:
- Total exemption for total and permanent disability: For honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected total and permanent disability who are Florida permanent residents as of January 1. It exempts the homestead from property taxes. Some benefit may carry over to a surviving spouse.
- $5,000 exemption for a 10 percent or greater service-connected disability: An additional $5,000 exemption, with a letter from the U.S. Government or VA showing the disability rating as of January 1. The Florida Statutes address this in section 196.24.
- Discount for age 65 and older with a combat-related disability: A percentage discount on the homestead equal to the VA-rated service-connected disability percentage, if the veteran is 65 or older on January 1, honorably discharged, and part of the disability is combat-related.
- Wheelchair-confined veterans: An exemption for certain veterans with a total service-connected disability who must use a wheelchair and received assistance for specially adapted housing.
- Surviving spouses: Some exemptions can carry over to a surviving spouse who has not remarried. Conditions differ by exemption.
- Deployed servicemembers: A prorated exemption based on days deployed in a designated operation the prior year.
A note on statute numbers
Florida's section numbers for these exemptions have been amended and renumbered over the years, and county websites cite them differently. Use the benefit names above and ask the property appraiser which applies to you. You can read statute text at flsenate.gov.
How to apply
Applications go to the county property appraiser. Pinellas lists a March 1 deadline for some veteran benefits, including the 65-plus combat-related discount and the deployed servicemember exemption. Deadlines can differ by exemption, so check with your county. Veterans can apply before they have all VA paperwork. If approved, the exemption is dated to the original application, according to the Florida Department of Revenue.
Pinellas County Property Appraiser: personal exemptions page. The Pinellas Veteran's Service Office can help gather VA documents.
Timing your application
Several exemptions depend on your status as of January 1, and Pinellas lists a March 1 filing deadline for some of them. The details of timing after a purchase depend on your situation, so call the property appraiser (Pinellas: 727-464-3207) rather than guessing. Veterans can apply before they have every VA document in hand, as noted above.
Documents to gather
Property appraisers commonly ask for some mix of the following:
- A VA or federal letter showing your disability rating and whether it is total and permanent
- Your honorable discharge paperwork, such as the DD214
- Proof of Florida residency
- For the combat-related discount, evidence the disability is combat-related and proof of age
- For surviving spouses, a marriage certificate, death certificate and the veteran's latest VA rating decision
Requirements differ by exemption and county, so ask your appraiser for the exact list.
Where to get help
County Veteran Service Offices help veterans gather VA documents and file. In Pinellas, the Veteran's Service Office phone number listed by the Property Appraiser is 727-464-8460. Hillsborough and Pasco have their own offices and property appraisers.
If an application is denied, the Florida Department of Revenue says you can petition the county's value adjustment board.
Next step
An agent can tell you how taxes are likely to change after a sale, and which questions to ask the appraiser. We can introduce you to agents who work with veterans.
Disclosure: TheBayPros' owner is related to Krystal Crichlow (eXp Realty), who may be among the agents introduced to you. You can choose any agent you like. We are not a lender and do not make loans.
Frequently asked questions
Do exemptions apply to the whole county the same way?
State law sets the exemptions, but each county property appraiser processes applications and has its own forms and local details. Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas each have their own office.
Do I need all VA paperwork before applying?
The Florida Department of Revenue says veterans may apply before receiving VA documentation, and if approved the exemption is effective as of the original application date.
Do these exemptions help with the VA loan itself?
No. They reduce property taxes only. They are separate from the loan, though lower taxes lower your monthly housing cost.