For many retirees in Northwest Florida, the monthly budget has become harder to predict. Homeowners insurance has changed. Grocery prices have changed. Healthcare costs can shift from year to year. Even people who own their homes outright can feel pressure from rising property taxes.
That is why one question is worth asking: Are you receiving every property tax benefit for which you may qualify?
Many senior homeowners in Pace, Milton, Pensacola, Jay, and Gulf Breeze know about Florida’s basic Homestead Exemption. Fewer understand the additional senior exemptions that may be available, the Save Our Homes assessment limitation, or how portability works when moving within Florida.
My name is Mark Garrett, and at AJ Health & Wealth, most of my work centers on helping local residents understand Medicare. But retirement is not lived in separate boxes. Medicare premiums, prescription costs, homeowners insurance, property taxes, and everyday expenses all come from the same retirement income.
This article is not tax or legal advice, and eligibility rules can change. The goal is to help local senior homeowners know which questions to ask and which offices to contact.
1. Start With Florida’s Homestead Exemption
Florida homeowners who own and use a property as their permanent residence may qualify for the Homestead Exemption. It can reduce the taxable value of a qualifying primary residence and opens the door to another important protection: the Save Our Homes assessment limitation.
One mistake retirees sometimes make is assuming Homestead Exemption happens automatically after buying a home. It does not. A homeowner generally must apply and meet the eligibility requirements. If you recently moved, purchased a home, changed how the property is titled, or experienced a major life change, verify your exemption status with the appropriate county property appraiser.
2. Understand the Save Our Homes Protection
After a property qualifies for Homestead Exemption, the Save Our Homes limitation generally restricts annual increases in the property’s assessed value to the lower of 3 percent or the change in the Consumer Price Index, subject to Florida law.
That does not mean your actual tax bill can never increase. Taxing authorities can change millage rates, non-ad valorem assessments can change, and other factors can affect the final bill. But Save Our Homes can create a growing difference between a home’s market value and its assessed value. For someone who has lived in the same Pace or Milton home for many years, that difference can become significant.
When your TRIM notice arrives, compare the just (market) value, assessed value, taxable value, and exemptions. Those numbers are related but they are not the same thing.
3. Senior Homeowners May Qualify for Additional Exemptions
Santa Rosa County
This is where many older homeowners should pay closer attention. Florida law allows certain local governments to offer additional homestead exemptions for qualifying residents age 65 or older who meet household income requirements.
The Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser offers two additional senior exemptions under Florida Statute 196.075. The first is a $50,000 exemption for homeowners age 65 or older whose household adjusted gross income does not exceed $38,686 for 2026. The second applies to homeowners who have maintained permanent residency for at least 25 years, are age 65 or older, and whose household income does not exceed that same limit, with a home just value under $250,000. Neither exemption applies to school district taxes.
Escambia County
Escambia County senior residents who have Homestead Exemption, are age 65 or older as of January 1, and whose household adjusted gross income meets the state income limit are entitled to an additional senior exemption. The county exemption is up to $50,000 and applies only to county taxes. The City of Pensacola offers a separate exemption of up to $50,000 that applies only to city taxes. Contact the Escambia County Property Appraiser to confirm current eligibility and application requirements.
Do not assume that turning 65 automatically triggers a discount. Senior exemptions generally require an application, annual income verification, and proof that all eligibility rules are met. Ask a simple question when you call: “I am over 65 and have Homestead Exemption — are there any additional exemptions I should apply for?” That one phone call may be worth making.
4. Income Rules Can Be More Complicated Than They Sound
The phrase “household income” causes confusion. The $38,686 income limit for 2026 refers to the household adjusted gross income — the combined adjusted gross income of all members of the household, not just the age-qualified applicant. This is the figure from Line 11 of a federal Form 1040 or 1040-SR for each household member.
Because everyone’s situation is different, avoid relying on a neighbor’s experience or a social media post. Ask the property appraiser what documentation is required and how household income is calculated for the specific exemption. This is especially important for married couples, multigenerational households, widows or widowers, and people whose income changed significantly after retirement.
5. Moving Within Florida? Ask About Portability
When moving from one Florida homestead to another, you may be able to transfer — or “port” — some or all of the Save Our Homes assessment difference to the new homestead. Portability is not the same as transferring the Homestead Exemption itself. You must establish the new homestead and complete the required filing.
Timing matters. Florida’s rules generally require the new homestead to be established within a specific period after abandoning the old one. Before buying or selling, ask the property appraiser how portability may apply to your situation. A move that looks affordable based only on purchase price may feel different once you understand the future property tax assessment.
6. Do Not Ignore Your Annual TRIM Notice
Every year, Florida property owners receive a Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice. Many people glance at it and throw it away because it is not the actual tax bill. That can be a mistake.
When yours arrives, ask yourself: Is the property description correct? Are the exemptions I expect listed? Does the assessed value make sense? Has an exemption disappeared? If something looks wrong, contact the property appraiser promptly. Deadlines for challenging an assessment or filing certain applications matter, and waiting until the tax bill arrives may limit your options.
7. Know the Difference Between the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector
The property appraiser determines property values and administers exemptions. The tax collector sends and collects the tax bill. If your question is about Homestead Exemption, a senior exemption, assessed value, or portability, the property appraiser is generally the place to start. Calling the correct office first can save time and frustration.
8. Veterans and Other Homeowners May Have Additional Options
Northwest Florida has a large military and veteran community. Florida provides several property tax exemptions that may apply based on disability, military service, surviving spouse status, and other qualifying situations. There are also exemptions that may apply to widows and widowers and homeowners with qualifying disabilities.
If you are a veteran, surviving spouse, or homeowner with a qualifying disability, ask the property appraiser to review the full list of exemptions that may apply to you. Do not assume that receiving one exemption means every other applicable benefit was automatically added.
9. Be Careful With “Property Tax Relief” Promises
Senior homeowners are frequent targets for misleading mail, phone calls, and online advertisements. Be cautious if a company claims it can guarantee a dramatic tax reduction, pressures you to sign immediately, or asks for personal information before clearly explaining the service and any fees. You can contact your county property appraiser directly at no cost to ask about exemptions and your property assessment.
10. Property Taxes Are Part of the Bigger Retirement Budget
A retired couple may spend hours trying to save money on a Medicare plan while overlooking a property tax exemption, an expensive insurance renewal, or a household expense that has quietly increased for years. Retirement planning works better when you look at the whole picture — Medicare premiums, prescription drug expenses, property taxes, homeowners and flood insurance, utilities, transportation, and emergency savings.
The goal is not to obsess over every dollar. It is to make sure you are not paying more than necessary simply because you did not know a benefit or better option existed.
A Simple 2026 Property Tax Checklist for Local Seniors
If you own your home in Northwest Florida, take 20 minutes and work through this list:
- Confirm your Homestead Exemption appears on your property record.
- If you are 65 or older, ask whether you qualify for an additional senior exemption (and whether both county and city exemptions apply).
- Verify the 2026 household income limit ($38,686) and what documentation is required.
- If you have lived in your home for 25 or more years, ask about the long-term residency senior exemption in Santa Rosa County.
- If you recently moved within Florida, ask about Save Our Homes portability.
- Review your TRIM notice carefully when it arrives.
- Ask about veteran, disability, or surviving spouse exemptions if relevant.
- Keep copies of applications and supporting documents.
- Mark filing deadlines on your calendar (generally March 1).
- Contact the property appraiser if anything on your record looks incorrect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Florida seniors automatically get a property tax discount at 65?
No. Additional senior exemptions depend on local adoption, Homestead Exemption status, age, household income, and other eligibility requirements. Turning 65 does not automatically create a discount.
What is the 2026 senior income limit in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties?
The 2026 household adjusted gross income limit is $38,686 for both counties. This figure is set annually by the state and applies to all members of the household. Confirm current requirements directly with the property appraiser before applying.
Does Homestead Exemption stop my taxes from increasing?
No. It can reduce taxable value and qualify the property for Save Our Homes protections, but tax bills can still change because of millage rate changes, assessments, and other factors.
Can I take my Homestead Exemption with me when I move?
The exemption itself is not transferred. However, eligible Florida homeowners may be able to transfer some or all of their Save Our Homes assessment difference through portability when establishing a new Florida homestead.
Where do I call if I think an exemption is missing?
Start with the property appraiser in the county where the home is located. For Pace, Milton, Jay, and most of Gulf Breeze, that is the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser. For Pensacola and the rest of Escambia County, contact the Escambia County Property Appraiser.
How AJ Health & Wealth Can Help
My name is Mark Garrett, and as a licensed independent Medicare broker serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, I help Medicare beneficiaries throughout Pace, Milton, Pensacola, Jay, Gulf Breeze, and surrounding Northwest Florida communities understand their coverage and make informed decisions.
I am not a property tax professional, and AJ Health & Wealth does not determine eligibility for property tax exemptions. But I believe local seniors benefit when they know which questions to ask — about property taxes, Medicare, or anything else that affects their retirement budget.
If you would like a complimentary Medicare review, I am happy to help you understand your current coverage and available options.
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Accuracy Note: Property tax rules, income limits, exemption amounts, and filing deadlines can change. Information in this article reflects sources available in July 2026, including the Florida Department of Revenue, Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser, and Escambia County property tax offices. Readers should verify current eligibility and deadlines directly with the appropriate county property appraiser.
AJ Health and Wealth is not connected with the Federal Medicare program. By contacting this number, you will be connected with a licensed insurance agent. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE or your local State Health Insurance Program to get information on all of your options.