Palm Beach County Homestead Exemption: How to File by March 1 (2027)

How to File for the Homestead Exemption in Palm Beach County

If you own your home in Wellington or anywhere in Palm Beach County and live in it full time, the homestead exemption is one of the simplest ways to lower your property tax bill, generally by $750 to $1,000 a year, according to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. It also caps how fast your home's assessed value can rise. The deadline is March 1, and you must qualify as of January 1. Here's who qualifies, what to bring, the three ways to file, and how Amendment 3 changes the exemption starting in 2027.

Homestead exemption at a glance

Deadline: March 1 of the year you want the exemption. Missing it means losing the exemption for that year under Florida law.
Qualify as of: January 1. You must own the home and live in it as your permanent Florida residence on that date.
Typical savings: Generally $750 to $1,000 a year, per the Property Appraiser
How to file: Online (E-File), in person at a Property Appraiser service center, or by mail
Cost: Free
Questions: Exemption Services: (561) 355-2866 or MyExemption@pbcpao.gov

What the homestead exemption does

According to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office, the homestead exemption works in three parts:

First $25,000: A $25,000 exemption is applied to the first $50,000 of your home's assessed value. It applies to all property taxes, including school taxes.
Additional exemption: If your home's assessed value is at least $50,000, an additional exemption is applied to non-school taxes. It rises with inflation each year; the maximum for 2025 was $25,722. You don't have to apply for it separately.
Save Our Homes cap: Once you have homestead, increases in your home's assessed value are limited to 3% a year or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.

How Amendment 3 changes it

Florida voters approved Amendment 3 on Nov. 3, 2026. It raises the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then adjusts it for inflation. School taxes are not affected. People who were not Florida residents on Dec. 31, 2026 get the current exemption at first and the larger one starting in their fifth year, News4Jax reported. The Property Appraiser offers an Amendment 3 Homestead Calculator on pbcpao.gov to estimate your savings.

The bottom line for new buyers: you still need to file the regular homestead application by March 1 to get any of these benefits.

Who qualifies

As of January 1 of the tax year, you must:

Be a permanent resident of Florida
Hold title to the property
Make the property your permanent residence
Not receive residency-based tax benefits anywhere else, such as a homestead or STAR exemption in another state

Rental properties, second homes and vacation homes don't qualify. If you closed on your Wellington home in 2026 and were living in it by Jan. 1, 2027, you'd file by March 1, 2027.

What you'll need to apply

The Property Appraiser asks for:

Social Security numbers for all owners who are applying and their spouses
A valid Florida driver's license, or a Florida ID card for non-drivers
Proof of permanent residency (Alien Registration Card) if you're not a U.S. citizen
At least one of these: a Florida vehicle registration, Florida voter registration (with your voting address matching the home), a Declaration of Domicile, a federal tax return, or utility bills for the home

Tip: Update your driver's license, car registration and voter registration to your Wellington address before you apply, so your documents match the home you're claiming.

Three ways to file

Online: Use the Property Appraiser's homestead E-File application, linked from pbcpao.gov.
In person: Visit a Property Appraiser service center, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The closest to Wellington is the Mayor Fred Pinto Midwestern Community Building, 200 Civic Center Way, Suite 200, Royal Palm Beach, (561) 784-1220. The main exemptions office is downtown at 301 N. Olive Ave., 1st floor, West Palm Beach, (561) 355-2866.
By mail: Fill out the application form, print it and mail it to the Property Appraiser's Office.

Other Property Appraiser service centers are in Delray Beach (14925 Cumberland Dr.), Palm Beach Gardens (3188 PGA Blvd., 2nd floor) and Belle Glade (2976 State Road 15).

Renewals, moving and changes

Automatic renewal: Once you qualify, the exemption renews each year as long as you still qualify. Homeowners get a pink and white homestead receipt card in the mail on the last business day of December.
If you move: Homestead doesn't transfer automatically. You must file a new application for your new home. You may be able to carry over some of your Save Our Homes savings through portability; the Property Appraiser has a portability calculator on its website.
If something changes: A sale, marriage, divorce, death or change in how the home is used or titled can affect your exemption. Florida law requires you to report changes that may make you ineligible. Call (561) 355-2866 or email MyExemption@pbcpao.gov

Other exemptions you may qualify for

Palm Beach County homeowners may also qualify for additional exemptions, such as those for seniors, widows and widowers, people with disabilities, and veterans, depending on eligibility rules. Check the Exemption Services section of pbcpao.gov or ask when you file.

What do you think?

Have you filed for homestead in Palm Beach County? Was the online application easy, or did you run into trouble? Share your tips for new Wellington homeowners.

Frequently asked questions

When is the homestead exemption deadline in Palm Beach County?

March 1. You must qualify as of January 1 of the tax year and apply by March 1 of that year. Under Florida law, missing the March 1 deadline means you lose the exemption for that year.

How much does the homestead exemption save in Palm Beach County?

The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser says it generally saves $750 to $1,000 a year in property taxes. It also limits increases in your home's assessed value to 3% a year or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. Amendment 3 raises the non-school exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.

How do I apply for homestead in Palm Beach County?

You can apply online through the Property Appraiser's E-File system on pbcpao.gov, in person at a Property Appraiser service center (the closest to Wellington is at 200 Civic Center Way, Suite 200, Royal Palm Beach), or by mailing a printed application.

What documents do I need for homestead in Palm Beach County?

Social Security numbers for all applying owners and their spouses, a Florida driver's license or ID, proof of permanent residency if you're not a U.S. citizen, and at least one more proof such as a Florida vehicle registration, Florida voter registration, Declaration of Domicile, federal tax return or utility bills for the home.

Do I have to reapply for homestead every year?

No. Once you qualify, the exemption renews automatically each year as long as you still qualify, and you'll get a pink and white receipt card in late December. You must file a new application if you move to a new home.

Sources

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By Ben Siegel. Ben is a Wellington resident and entrepreneur who founded Wellington List to bring local news, guides and businesses together in one place. More about Ben · Our editorial standards