Florida State Taxes: What You’ll Pay in 2025

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How is property taxed in Florida?

Property tax in Florida is a county tax that’s based on the assessed value of your home. Homes are appraised for market value as of Jan. 1 of each year by county appraisers. The average tax rate is 0.79 percent of the assessed value of your home, but property taxes vary widely across the state.

Residents who own property and make it their permanent residence may be eligible for a property tax break of up to $50,000 through Florida’s homestead exemption. Further discounts are available to property owners with disabilities, veterans and active-duty military service members, disabled first responders and owners 65 years and older who meet certain qualifications. Find more information on the state’s Department of Revenue website.

Once you qualify for a homestead exemption, property assessments for each following year can’t increase more than 3 percent or the percent change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less. This is known as the Save Our Homes program, offering another break on property taxes.

Learn more about property taxes, including how to contest the value of your property, on the state’s Department of Revenue website.

What about sales tax and other taxes?

• Sales and use tax: There’s a 6 percent tax on many, but not all, consumer goods and services. All counties, excluding Collier County, levy an additional surtax, with rates currently ranging from 0.5 percent to 2.0 percent. For certain transactions, like sales on vehicles, boats, aircraft and mobile homes, the local surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of sales. Find your local tax rate using the Department of Revenue’s informational chart.

• Florida doesn’t tax most groceries, although some food prepared and sold for immediate consumption, such as sandwiches, is taxable.

• Prescription and nonprescription drugs are not taxed, and neither is medical equipment or most over-the-counter medical items. New exemptions, as of 2023, include baby and toddler products, diapers and incontinence products, oral hygiene products and firearm safety devices. A list of nontaxable items is available on the Florida Department of Revenue’s website. Sometimes Florida also has “sales tax holidays,” when certain taxable items, like qualifying tools and equipment, become tax-free for limited time periods.

• Florida’s use tax applies to items purchased out of state when brought into Florida within six months of the purchase date. Examples include items bought online and furniture delivered from another state. No use tax is due if a sales tax of 6 percent or more was paid to the out-of-state seller. If the seller charged less than 6 percent, you must pay the difference.

• Gas and diesel: The state gas tax is adjusted annually. As of Jan. 1, 2025, Florida’s combined state tax rate on motor fuel is $0.37325 per gallon, up less than one penny from last year. The combined tax rate on diesel fuel is $0.382, an increase of less than one penny from 2024. Additional local taxes vary per county.

• Alcohol: Beer is taxed at $0.48 per gallon. Wine is taxed at $2.25 to $3.50 per gallon, depending on the percentage of alcohol and whether it’s sparkling wine. Liquor is taxed at $2.25 to $9.53 per gallon, depending on the percentage of alcohol. The purchase of beer, wine and liquor is also subject to Florida’s general sales tax, plus any additional surtax imposed by the county.

• Lottery winnings: There’s no state tax on lottery winnings, but you’ll still owe federal income tax on your prize money. Find more information on the Florida Lottery website.

Will I or my heirs have to pay inheritance and estate tax in Florida?

There is no inheritance or estate tax in Florida.

What happens to the homestead exemption when the property owner dies?

If the deceased was a homestead property owner and has a surviving spouse, the property will continue to receive the homestead exemption in the surviving spouse’s name. If another person owns the property as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship, and the joint tenant previously applied for the exemption and lives on the property as his or her permanent residence, the property will continue to receive the homestead exemption in the joint tenant’s name. The homestead exemption will remain in place for as long as the spouse or joint tenant owns the property and maintains it as his or her permanent residence.

Are there any tax breaks for older Florida residents?

On top of the state’s homestead exemption program, some county and municipal governments offer an additional $50,000 property tax break for residents 65 years or older who meet certain requirements, including a household income at or below $36,614. Veterans 65 or older who are permanently disabled may also receive an additional homestead property tax break.

Widows and widowers, permanently disabled individuals and others who qualify can receive a $5,000 property tax exemption.

Some counties offer a reduction in a property’s assessed value when an increase in property value results from the owner constructing the property to provide living quarters for the owner’s or spouse’s parent(s) or grandparent(s).

Find more tax information on the Florida Department of Revenue’s website or by contacting your county’s property appraiser office.

Can I qualify for Florida’s tax benefits and breaks as a part-time resident?

If you split your time between Florida and another state that has a personal income tax, you must refer to the other state’s tax laws to determine whether you must pay income tax. Many states use a “183-day rule,” which would require you to live in Florida at least 183 days per year to be considered a Florida resident and escape paying income tax in the other state.

To qualify for Florida’s homestead exemption, you must provide proof of permanent residency and relinquish any similar property tax exemptions in all other states where you reside. Valid residency documentation includes a Florida driver’s license, vehicle license plate number or voter registration number. Find the full list on the homestead exemption application form.

Are military benefits taxed in Florida?

Because Florida does not have a personal income tax, military pensions and active-duty pay are not taxed.

What is the deadline for filing Florida state taxes in 2025?

Florida does not have a personal income tax, but property taxes are due by Monday, March 31. Property owners may receive a discount for early payment (4 percent in November, 3 percent in December, 2 percent in January, 1 percent in February). The deadline for filing a 2024 federal tax return is May 1. The IRS extended the deadline for residents of states affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Feb. 8, 2023. It has been updated to reflect new information. 

Grace Dickinson is a former writer for aarp.org who covered federal and state policy. She previously wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Her work has also appeared on sites including HuffPost and Eater.

Also of Interest:

• States With Highest and Lowest Sales Tax Rates
• How to Get Free Tax Help
• Federal Income Tax Brackets for 2025