The Florida homestead exemption is important for your primary residence because it provides tax reductions and creditor protections. The homestead exemption causes up to $50,000 worth of a property’s taxable value to be exempt from taxes and the annual increase of the assessed value of the homestead for tax purposes is limited to at most 3% per year under the Save Our Homes assessment limitation. For some creditors, it will be impossible for them to attach liens against your property if the property is homestead and creditors cannot force you to sell your homestead to pay their debt.
You cannot keep your homestead exemption if you move to a new property. Instead, you will lose the homestead exemption and need to apply for a new one for your new property. However, you can transfer the Save Our Homes assessment limitation from your old homestead to your new homestead, which will lower the assessed value of your new homestead lowering your property tax.
To accomplish transferring your Save Our Homes assessment limitation, you will need to fill out a Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference Form (DR-501T) along with a homestead application Form (DR-501) for your new home. The forms will need to be filed with your county property appraiser. The due date for filing these forms is March 1 of the first year after you moved to your new home.
You can call your County Property Appraiser for more information.