These answers apply to property throughout Orange County, Florida, including Orlando, Winter Park, Apopka, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Maitland, Windermere and unincorporated communities. They are general information. For decisions about your own property, confirm with the official office responsible.
Property taxes and payments
When are Orange County property taxes due?
Tax bills are mailed around November 1 and are due by March 31 of the following year. Taxes unpaid on April 1 are delinquent. Paying early earns a discount: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. See the property tax guide for the full calendar.
Who collects property taxes in Orange County?
The Orange County Tax Collector mails bills and collects payments. The Property Appraiser sets values and applies exemptions but does not collect taxes. Elected boards, such as the county commission, school board and city councils, set the tax rates.
How are Orange County property taxes calculated?
Your tax equals your taxable value multiplied by the combined millage rate, divided by 1,000, plus any flat non-ad valorem assessments. Taxable value is your assessed value minus exemptions. One mill is $1 of tax per $1,000 of taxable value.
What is the property tax rate in Orange County, Florida?
It depends on where the property sits. Total millage combines county, school, library, water management district and city or county service levies. Most properties fall somewhere between the mid-teens and about 20 mills. Your TRIM notice lists the exact rates for your parcel.
Why is my tax bill higher than the previous owner's?
A sale resets the assessed value to market value on the next January 1, and the prior owner's homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap do not transfer to you. Your first full-year bill often jumps. Filing your own homestead exemption, and portability if you had a prior Florida homestead, reduces it.
Can I pay property taxes online?
Yes, through the official Orange County Tax Collector website, by e-check or card (card payments usually carry a processing fee). Avoid third-party sites that imitate tax payment pages.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes. The Tax Collector offers a quarterly installment plan. You generally apply by April 30 for the next tax year, and payments are due in June, September, December and March.
What happens if I don't pay my property taxes?
After April 1 the taxes are delinquent, and a tax certificate is typically sold on the parcel around June 1. If it is not redeemed, the certificate holder can eventually apply for a tax deed, which can lead to an auction of the property.
Do renters pay property tax?
Not directly. The owner pays property tax, although it is usually reflected in rent. Renters do not qualify for the homestead exemption because they do not own the home.
Does Florida have a state income tax or estate tax?
No. Florida has no personal income tax, no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. Property taxes, sales taxes and fees fund most local government services.
Values and assessments
What is the difference between market value and assessed value?
Market (just) value is the Property Appraiser's estimate of what the property would sell for on January 1. Assessed value is market value after any caps, such as Save Our Homes. Taxable value is assessed value minus exemptions. Our post on assessment versus market value explains the three in detail.
How often is Orange County property reassessed?
Every year. The Property Appraiser values every parcel as of January 1, using sales and market data from the prior year.
Why did my assessed value go up when home prices went down?
Under Save Our Homes, a homestead's assessed value can keep rising by up to 3% or inflation each year until it catches up to market value. This is called recapture and is required by law.
Does the Property Appraiser have to inspect my home?
Not necessarily. Most values are set through mass appraisal using sales, records, permits and aerial imagery. Staff may do field reviews. If your home has condition problems that aren't visible from outside, tell the office and provide documentation.
Will a new pool or addition raise my taxes?
Yes. New improvements are added to your assessed value at market value, outside the Save Our Homes cap. Improvements not substantially complete on January 1 are generally not assessed until the following year.
What is a just value?
Just value is the legal term Florida uses for market value: the price a willing buyer would pay a willing seller, neither under pressure, as of January 1. The Florida Constitution requires property to be assessed at just value before caps and exemptions are applied.
Does the Property Appraiser raise values based on my sale price?
Your sale is one data point among many. The office analyzes qualified sales across neighborhoods to set values for everyone. A recent arm's-length purchase can be strong evidence of your home's value, so if you bought for well under the market value shown, it is worth raising in an informal review.
What is the rolled-back rate?
It is the millage rate that would raise the same property tax revenue as last year from properties that already existed, excluding new construction. If a taxing authority adopts a rate above the rolled-back rate, Florida law treats it as a tax increase, even if the rate itself is unchanged. Our post on what "no new taxes" means explains it.
What is the 10% non-homestead cap?
Rentals, second homes and commercial property are protected by a separate cap that limits annual increases in assessed value to 10% for non-school taxes. It resets when the property sells or control changes.
TRIM notices and appeals
What is a TRIM notice?
TRIM stands for Truth in Millage. The TRIM notice, officially the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes, is mailed each August. It shows your values, exemptions, proposed taxes from each taxing authority, budget hearing dates and the deadline to challenge your value. It is not a bill.
What is a notice of proposed property taxes?
It is the official name for the TRIM notice. It compares last year's taxes, this year's taxes if proposed budgets are adopted, and this year's taxes if no budget change is made (the rolled-back rate).
How do I appeal my property value in Orange County?
Start with a free informal review with the Property Appraiser. If that does not resolve it, file a petition with the Orange County Value Adjustment Board within 25 days of the TRIM mailing date. The TRIM notice and appeals guide walks through each step.
What is the Value Adjustment Board?
It is an independent board that hears disputes about property values, exemptions and classifications. In Orange County, hearings are conducted by special magistrates, and the board adopts their recommendations.
Can I appeal my tax rate?
No. Millage is set by elected boards at public hearings each September. The hearing dates are printed on your TRIM notice. The Value Adjustment Board can only decide value, exemption and classification issues.
I didn't get a TRIM notice. What should I do?
Check the mailing address on your property record. The official Property Appraiser website usually posts TRIM notices online by parcel. Not receiving a notice does not extend the appeal deadline.
Homestead and exemptions
What is the deadline for homestead exemption in Orange County?
March 1. You must have owned and lived in the home as your permanent residence on January 1 of that year. See the homestead exemption guide.
How much does the homestead exemption save?
It removes up to $50,000 of assessed value, with the second portion excluding school taxes. At typical Orange County rates, that is usually several hundred dollars a year. The Save Our Homes cap it unlocks is often worth much more over time. Try the homestead savings calculator.
Do I need to reapply for homestead every year?
No. It renews automatically while you continue to qualify. You must notify the Property Appraiser if you move, rent the home or otherwise stop qualifying.
Is there a property tax break for seniors in Orange County?
Yes. Owners 65 or older with household income below an annually adjusted limit may qualify for additional senior exemptions, and long-term residents may qualify for a larger version. There is no general property tax freeze for seniors. See the senior exemption guide.
What property tax exemptions do veterans get in Florida?
Veterans with service-connected disabilities of 10% or more may receive a $5,000 exemption. Veterans with total and permanent service-connected disabilities may have their homestead fully exempt. Certain combat-disabled veterans 65 and older may receive a percentage discount. See the veterans exemption guide.
Is there a disability exemption from property tax in Florida?
Yes. Florida offers a $500 disability exemption, a $500 exemption for blind persons, and full homestead exemptions for certain totally and permanently disabled owners, including quadriplegics and, subject to income limits, others who use wheelchairs or are legally blind. See the disability exemption guide.
What is the widow or widower exemption?
A $500 exemption for Florida residents whose spouse has died and who have not remarried. It applies to property you own and can be combined with homestead. Our post on five exemptions owners miss covers it.
What is homestead portability?
It lets you transfer up to $500,000 of your Save Our Homes benefit from a prior Florida homestead to a new one, if you establish the new homestead within three years. You must apply for it. See Save Our Homes and portability.
Does my homestead exemption transfer to my spouse if I die?
A surviving spouse who continues to live in the home generally keeps the homestead and the Save Our Homes cap, and may qualify for the widow or widower exemption.
What is agricultural classification?
It is a special assessment for land used primarily for bona fide commercial agriculture. The land is assessed on its agricultural use value rather than market value. It is sometimes called a greenbelt exemption. See the agricultural classification guide.
Property records and searches
How do I search Orange County property records?
Use the official Orange County Property Appraiser website to search by owner name, address or parcel ID. Records are free. Our property search guide explains how to read the results.
How do I find my parcel ID?
It appears on your TRIM notice, your tax bill and your property record. You can find it with an address search on the official Property Appraiser website.
Where do I find a copy of my deed?
Deeds and other recorded documents are kept by the Orange County Comptroller's official records, not by the Property Appraiser.
How do I change the mailing address on my property record?
Request the change through the official Property Appraiser. The mailing address controls where your TRIM notice and exemption letters go.
How do I change the name on my property record?
Ownership on the appraisal roll follows recorded deeds. Record a deed with the Comptroller (usually with help from an attorney or title company), and the Property Appraiser updates the owner after processing. Ask about homestead and Save Our Homes impacts before changing a deed.
Are Winter Park and Apopka covered by Orange County property search?
Yes. All 13 cities in Orange County and every unincorporated community are appraised by the Orange County Property Appraiser.
Is the Property Appraiser the same as the Tax Collector?
No. They are separate elected offices. The Property Appraiser values property and handles exemptions. The Tax Collector bills and collects taxes, and also handles services like driver licenses and vehicle registration.
Is this website the official Property Appraiser?
No. This is an independent informational website published by Abu Hurera LLC. We are not affiliated with any government office. For official records and filings, use the official Property Appraiser website.
Buying, selling and moving
How do I estimate property taxes on a home I'm buying?
Ignore the seller's current bill. Start with the purchase price as a rough market value, subtract the homestead exemption if you will live there, subtract any portability benefit you bring, and multiply by the total millage for that location. Add non-ad valorem assessments such as CDD fees. The property tax guide shows the math.
Who pays property taxes in the year I buy or sell?
Florida property taxes are paid in arrears, so the bill for the year of sale is usually prorated at closing. The seller credits the buyer for the portion of the year the seller owned the home, and the buyer pays the full bill in November. Your closing statement shows the proration.
Do I lose my homestead when I sell?
Yes. Homestead belongs to your ownership and residence. When you sell, the exemption ends, and the new owner must apply for their own. You can carry your Save Our Homes benefit to a new Florida homestead through portability.
I'm moving out but keeping my home as a rental. What should I do?
Notify the Property Appraiser. A rental does not qualify for homestead, and keeping the exemption on a home you no longer live in can result in back taxes, a 50% penalty and 15% annual interest. The home will switch to the 10% non-homestead cap.
Can I have homestead in Orange County and a home in another state?
You can own homes elsewhere, but you cannot claim a residency-based exemption or credit on another home while claiming Florida homestead. Your Florida home must be your permanent residence.
What are CDD fees and why are they on my tax bill?
Community development districts finance infrastructure in many newer subdivisions. Their assessments are collected on the property tax bill as non-ad valorem assessments. They do not depend on your home's value, and exemptions do not reduce them.
Does the property appraiser know my purchase price?
Yes. Florida is a disclosure state. Sale prices are recorded with deeds, and documentary stamp tax reveals the price. The Property Appraiser uses qualified sales to analyze market values.
Special situations
My home was damaged by a storm. Will my assessment go down?
If the damage affected the home's condition on January 1, the value may be lower for that year. Tell the Property Appraiser and provide photos, insurance claims and repair estimates. When you rebuild to substantially the same size, you can generally keep your Save Our Homes assessment.
What happens to property taxes when someone dies?
Taxes continue and are generally paid by the estate. Homestead and the Save Our Homes cap end on the next January 1 unless a surviving spouse keeps the home as homestead. Notify the Property Appraiser after a death so exemptions are updated correctly.
Can a trust or LLC claim homestead?
A qualifying trust where the resident holds a beneficial interest can generally receive homestead. Property owned by an LLC or corporation generally cannot.
I rent a room in my home. Do I lose homestead?
Renting a room while you continue to live in the home is treated differently from renting the entire home. Renting the entire dwelling for more than 30 days per year in two consecutive years is treated as abandonment. Check with the official office for your situation.
What is a tax certificate?
When taxes go unpaid, the Tax Collector sells a certificate representing the tax lien to an investor, who pays the taxes and earns interest. The owner can redeem the certificate by paying the taxes, interest and fees. If it is not redeemed, a tax deed application can eventually follow.
Are mobile homes taxed as real property?
A mobile home permanently affixed to land owned by the same person is generally taxed as real property and can qualify for homestead. A mobile home on rented land is typically registered and taxed differently.
Why do two identical homes on my street pay very different taxes?
Save Our Homes. An owner who has held a homestead for many years has a capped assessed value far below market value, while a recent buyer is assessed near market value. Exemptions such as senior or veteran exemptions can widen the gap further.
Business and tangible personal property
Does Florida have personal property tax?
Only on tangible personal property used in a business or to produce income, such as equipment, furniture, fixtures and rental furnishings. Household goods and personal vehicles are not taxed as tangible personal property, and inventory is exempt.
Who must file a tangible personal property return?
Anyone who owned business or income-producing personal property in Orange County on January 1, including home-based businesses and landlords of furnished rentals. Returns are due April 1. See the tangible personal property guide.
What is the $25,000 TPP exemption?
The first $25,000 of TPP value on each return is exempt. If your total value is $25,000 or less, you owe no TPP tax, but you must file an initial return to claim the exemption.
Maps, zoning and land
How do I find my zoning in Orange County?
Determine whether your property is inside a city or unincorporated, then open that jurisdiction's zoning map and click your parcel. The GIS and zoning map guide explains how.
How do I check if my property is in a flood zone?
Use the FEMA flood layer in a county map viewer or FEMA's Map Service Center. Zones starting with A are high-risk areas where lenders usually require flood insurance.
Are GIS parcel lines the same as my property boundaries?
No. GIS lines are approximate. Only a survey by a Florida licensed surveyor establishes legal boundaries.
Deadlines at a glance
What are the key Orange County property deadlines?
January 1 is the assessment date. March 1 is the deadline for homestead and most exemptions. April 1 is the TPP return deadline. TRIM notices arrive in mid-August, with the appeal deadline about 25 days later. Tax bills arrive around November 1 and are due by March 31. The deadline tracker counts down to each date.
I missed the March 1 exemption deadline. Is it too late?
Limited late filing may be possible through about 25 days after TRIM notices are mailed, usually with a showing of extenuating circumstances and sometimes a Value Adjustment Board petition. If that window has closed, file by March 1 for the following year.
Still have a question? Browse our guides or contact us. We cannot look up individual records or give tax advice, but we read every message and use them to improve our guides.