It lowers taxable value
The exemption reduces the value used to calculate property taxes. It is not a cash payment or a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the tax bill. Actual savings depend on assessed value and the tax rates that apply to your unit.
| Part of the benefit | How it works |
|---|---|
| First exemption | Up to $25,000 of assessed value is exempt from school and non-school property taxes. |
| Additional exemption | Applies to assessed value above $50,000, for non-school taxes only. The maximum is $26,411 for 2026, following the annual inflation adjustment. |
The 2026 combined maximum is $51,411 for non-school taxes when the assessed value is high enough to use both portions. Confirm the applicable amount for each tax year; do not assume the 2026 figure applies in 2027.
Florida Department of Revenue: exemptions · Official 2026 inflation adjustment
A $100,000 example
Assume your unit has an assessed value of $100,000 before homestead and no other exemptions. Using the 2026 amounts:
| Tax category | Calculation | Taxable value |
|---|---|---|
| School taxes | $100,000 − $25,000 | $75,000 |
| Non-school taxes | $100,000 − $25,000 − $26,411 | $48,589 |
If an illustrative non-school tax rate were 10 mills ($10 per $1,000 of taxable value), the $51,411 reduction would save $514.11 on that portion. School-tax savings would be calculated separately. This is an illustration, not a quote of Century Village’s actual rates.
Who qualifies and how to apply
For the tax year claimed, eligibility is generally established on January 1: you must hold qualifying title and make the property your permanent Florida residence. A vacation unit or seasonal stay alone does not establish eligibility. Residency-based property-tax benefits elsewhere can disqualify you.
- Check your eligibility. Ask the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser about ownership, residency, or immigration-status questions.
- Gather the required proof. The office requests Social Security numbers for applying owners and spouses, Florida driver’s license or ID, and residency evidence such as registration or utility records; additional documents may apply. Submit sensitive information directly to the office.
- File by March 1. Use the official online filing link, file in person, or mail the application. For 2027, plan around January 1 eligibility and March 1 filing.
- Keep confirmation. Retain submission records and check your property record and tax notices.
Use the official application instructions and document list. Missing the regular deadline requires prompt contact with the office about possible late filing; approval is not automatic.
Save Our Homes
Beginning the year after homestead is granted, annual increases in assessed value are generally limited to the lesser of 3% or the applicable CPI change. Changes such as improvements or ownership transfers can affect the calculation.
This is an assessed-value limit, not a cap on your total tax bill. Tax rates and other charges can change. A buyer should not use the seller’s tax bill as a reliable estimate of future taxes.
Moving? Ask about portability
Eligible owners moving between Florida homesteads may transfer up to $500,000 of their Save Our Homes assessment difference. This is an assessment benefit, not cash.
The new homestead must be established by January 1 of the third year after abandoning the old one. Apply for portability with your new homestead application; downsizing and joint ownership can affect the amount.
Official portability guide and calculatorKeep your eligibility current
Renewal and ownership changes
Regular homestead normally renews automatically while you remain eligible. Report changes in ownership or use, including a move, sale, death, or title change. Trusts and life estates need individual review.
Renting your unit
Renting can affect homestead eligibility. Limited short-term exceptions exist, but a rental approval from the association does not decide your tax status. Ask the Property Appraiser before relying on an exception.
Additional help for eligible seniors
Age 55 alone does not qualify an owner for a senior tax exemption. Palm Beach County offers an additional county-tax exemption of $25,000 for qualifying homeowners age 65 or older with limited household income and homestead.
The published household income limit for the 2026 exemption is $38,686, based on the prior year’s income. Non-taxable Social Security income is excluded. Ask about the required income documentation and any other available benefits.
A “West Palm Beach” mailing address does not by itself establish eligibility for a city exemption. Ask which taxing authorities cover your parcel.
Senior exemption requirementsWhere Century Village owners can get help
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser — Exemption Services
561-355-2866 · myexemption@pbcpao.gov
301 N. Olive Avenue, First Floor, West Palm
Beach, FL 33401
The Property Appraiser administers eligibility. Your association, UCO, WPRF, and Board Synergy Club do not grant the exemption.
A helpful role for association boards
Put the official application link in welcome packets, remind owners of the filing deadline, and encourage buyers to obtain their own tax estimate. Direct individual eligibility questions to Exemption Services rather than collecting owners’ tax or identity documents.
Owner rights & responsibilitiesUnit salesProperty Appraiser websiteSources & scope
This page links directly to Palm Beach County Property Appraiser and Florida Department of Revenue guidance in each section. Figures labeled 2026 are specific to that tax year.
Reviewed October 17, 2026. General education about the property-tax exemption. Other uses of “homestead,” including creditor protection and inheritance restrictions, involve different rules. Confirm your circumstances and current requirements with the Property Appraiser or a qualified adviser.
After filing, verify the result and revisit changes
Board Synergy recommended practice Keep your application receipt, tax year, any request for additional documents, and the office’s determination. Check the property record and notices to see whether the exemption was applied as expected. Submission confirmation alone is not an eligibility decision.
- If information appears wrong: contact Exemption Services promptly. Read any denial or TRIM notice for the applicable challenge deadline; do not assume a telephone call extends it.
- After a deed or life-estate change: ask whether the new title arrangement affects eligibility, renewal, or a new application.
- Before renting or moving: ask how the planned use affects homestead and any portability application. Association rental approval is a separate question.
- For 2027 planning: retain the January 1 eligibility and March 1 filing reminders, but confirm the 2027 inflation-adjusted amount and senior income limit when officially published. Do not carry forward 2026 figures as guaranteed 2027 benefits.
Three uses of “homestead”: property-tax exemption, creditor protection, and inheritance or deed restrictions involve different legal questions. An exemption approval does not resolve every title or succession issue. Obtain qualified advice before changing ownership.
Connected Board Synergy guides
- Property taxes and payment records
- Deeds and ownership searches
- Understanding life estates
- Unit sales and association procedures
- Occupancy process overview
- UCO Reporter archive
Independent educational guidance. Official agencies determine tax eligibility and account status; controlling instruments and applicable law govern ownership rights.