Do 100% disabled veterans pay property taxes in Florida?

An honorably discharged Florida veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability gets a full exemption from property tax on the homestead under s. 196.081.

How much is the Florida disabled veteran exemption for a 10% rating?

Veterans disabled 10% or more get a $5,000 reduction in assessed value under s. 196.24. It can apply to any property they own.

When is the deadline to apply for a veteran exemption in Okaloosa County?

March 1 for the tax year. File with the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser in Shalimar or Crestview, or online at hx.okaloosapa.com.

Can I apply before my VA disability letter arrives?

Yes. Florida lets eligible veterans apply first; once the appraiser gets the VA documents, the exemption dates back to the original application.

Florida homestead exemptions for disabled veterans: amounts and how to apply by county

Florida gives disabled veterans some of the largest property tax breaks in the country. As of Oct. 30, 2026, an honorably discharged Florida veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability pays no property tax on the homestead, and a veteran disabled 10% or more gets a $5,000 reduction in assessed value, per the Florida Department of Revenue’s PT-109 guide (revised October 2026).

You apply once with the property appraiser in the county where the home is. The deadline for the 2027 tax year is March 1, 2027, under section 196.011 of the Florida Statutes.

What exemptions can veterans claim?

Benefit	Amount	Who qualifies	Law	Form
Total and permanent disability	Full exemption from property tax on the homestead	Honorably discharged Florida-resident veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability; some surviving spouses keep it	s. 196.081, F.S.	DR-501
Wheelchair-bound disabled veteran	Full exemption on the homestead	Disabled veterans confined to wheelchairs who meet the statute’s conditions	s. 196.091, F.S.	DR-501
Disability of 10% or more	$5,000 off assessed value, on any property	Florida-resident veteran discharged under honorable conditions, disabled 10% or more by misfortune or during wartime service; some surviving spouses keep it	s. 196.24, F.S.	DR-501
Combat-related disability, age 65+	Discount equal to the VA disability percentage	Veteran 65 or older by Jan. 1, honorably discharged, with a partial or total permanent disability that is combat-related	s. 196.082, F.S.	DR-501
Deployed service member	Share of taxable value equal to the share of last year spent deployed	Current or former members deployed outside the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii in a designated operation	s. 196.173, F.S.	DR-501M

Source: Florida Department of Revenue, PT-109, and s. 196.082.

These sit on top of the regular homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap that every Florida homeowner can claim.

What do I need to apply?

For the combat-related discount at 65, the law asks for a VA letter stating the percentage of your service-connected disability with evidence that it is combat-related, a copy of your honorable discharge and proof of age as of Jan. 1. For the other disability exemptions, bring your VA rating letter and discharge papers.

You can apply before the VA paperwork arrives. Once the appraiser receives it, the exemption is effective from the date of your original application, per the Department of Revenue. A next of kin or someone with written authorization can file for a service member who is away on duty.

Your county veterans service office can print the VA benefit letter appraisers ask for. Bay County Veteran Services lists “property tax exemption letters” among its services.

Where do I apply in my county?

County	Property appraiser office	Phone	Online homestead filing
Okaloosa	1250 Eglin Parkway N., Suite 201, Shalimar; 302 Wilson St., Suite 201, Crestview; weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.	850-651-7240 (Shalimar); 850-689-5900 (Crestview)	hx.okaloosapa.com
Walton	571 U.S. Highway 90 E., DeFuniak Springs; weekdays 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	850-892-8123	Call the office
Santa Rosa	6495 Caroline St., Suite K, Milton; 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze	850-983-1880	srcpa.gov/HX
Bay	860 W. 11th St., Panama City; weekdays 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	850-248-8401; beach office 850-248-8470	hx.baypa.net

Sources: Okaloosa County Property Appraiser, Walton County Property Appraiser, Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser and Bay County Property Appraiser, checked Oct. 30, 2026.

Santa Rosa County says exemptions renew automatically each year; you return the January renewal postcard only if you no longer qualify.

What if I miss March 1?

Florida law allows a late application up to 25 days after the property appraiser mails the annual notice of proposed taxes, usually in August. If an exemption is denied, you can petition the county Value Adjustment Board.

Do surviving spouses keep the exemption?

Often, yes. The Department of Revenue says the total and permanent exemption and the $5,000 exemption can pass to a surviving spouse in certain cases, and the 65-and-older discount carries over if the spouse holds title, lives in the home and has not remarried. The Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser also lists a full homestead exemption for the surviving spouse of a veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty.

This story is information, not legal or financial advice.

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