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Homestead exemption in Pinellas County
If you own and live in your home in 33773 as your permanent residence on January 1, a homestead exemption can cut your property tax bill by several hundred dollars or more a year, and it caps how fast your assessment can rise. It is the single most valuable form most Florida homeowners will ever file.
How much it's worth
According to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, a homestead exemption can reduce assessed value by up to $51,411:
- The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, including school taxes.
- An additional exemption of up to $26,411 applies to assessed value between $50,000 and roughly $76,400, and only to non-school taxes. This second amount is indexed to inflation each year.
To estimate your savings, multiply each exemption by the relevant millage rates on your TRIM notice, or use our homestead calculator.
Save Our Homes: the bigger benefit over time
Once your home is homesteaded, the "Save Our Homes" cap limits annual increases in its assessed value to 3 percent or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. In a market where values rose quickly, long-time owners can have an assessed value far below market value. That gap is why moving can raise your taxes, and why portability exists.
Portability
When you move from one Florida homestead to another, you can transfer up to $500,000 of your accumulated Save Our Homes benefit to the new home, if you apply on time. You must establish the new homestead within the required window after giving up the old one. Ask the property appraiser before you sell.
Other exemptions worth checking
- Senior exemption for qualifying residents 65 and older with limited household income, where adopted by the local government.
- Veterans and disabled veterans exemptions, including a full exemption for qualifying 100% service-connected disability.
- Widow and widower, blind and total and permanent disability exemptions.
How and when to file
- Own and occupy the home as your permanent residence on January 1 of the tax year.
- File by March 1 with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, online or in person.
- Have your Florida driver licence or ID with the property address, vehicle registration, voter registration if registered, and Social Security numbers for owners.
- Once granted, it renews automatically each year as long as you remain eligible. You must notify the appraiser if you rent out the home or move.
The November 2026 ballot amendment
Florida voters are deciding a proposed constitutional amendment, listed as Amendment 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, that would change property taxes. As described by Ballotpedia and the Property Appraiser, it would:
- Raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then index it to inflation.
- Keep a separate $25,000 exemption for school taxes.
- Phase in the full exemption over five years for people who move to Florida after December 31, 2026.
- Lower the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10 percent to 5 percent for non-school taxes.
It needs 60 percent of the vote to pass. Supporters say it delivers meaningful relief for homeowners. Opponents, including the Florida Policy Institute, argue it shifts costs to renters, businesses and local services, which may need cuts or new fees to replace lost revenue. This guide will be updated with the result.