6 minute read
The Sunshine State attracts hundreds of newcomers on a daily basis. Many people move to the tropical state of Florida because of the year-round warm weather and beautiful beaches. But, there is another reason why so many businesses and individuals are attracted to the area: Florida has a lower tax burden.
One of the biggest tax perks is the lack of state income tax. Florida is one of the few states in the nation that doesn’t make its residents fork out money on state income taxes.
On the flip side of the coin, you will still have to pay sales and property taxes. Even at that, there’s a silver lining. Florida has the country’s lowest property tax rate.
Any taxpayer who owns real property in Florida is subject to property taxes. This includes any individual or business and any land that is owned (including rental properties) or gifted through an estate.
The property tax system requires owners of any buildings or land to pay taxes based on the value of the property and the predetermined tax rate for the area.
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Not only do property tax rates vary from state to state, but they also vary by county and city. Florida’s property taxes are usually collected on a county level by local tax authorities instead of by the state.
Each county may have its own method for the assessment and collection of property taxes, which tend to be the lifeline of local governments, but tax rates are typically easy to find. Taxes that are levied on homes and land are used to fund roads, parks, schools, first responders, law enforcement, and other public services.
Property taxes are calculated on the assessed value of your property times the tax rate. Assessors usually take three things into consideration when determining property tax liability: (1) the property tax rate for the area; (2) the property value; and (3) the assessment ratio (the percentage of the property value that is subject to tax).
To put the tax rate into context, at the end of 2021 the average property tax rate across the U.S. was 1.09%. This is based on the median home value across the U.S., which is $222,041. Hence, the median amount of property taxes paid in the U.S. is $2,412.
The annual property tax rate in Florida is about 0.89% and the average home costs around $215,300. So, the median property taxes paid in Florida are roughly $1,914. Keep in mind these are personal property taxes.
Let’s break this down even further within the state of Florida. Here is a countdown of Florida counties with the lowest median property taxes:
Madison County is located along the Panhandle in the north central region of the state. The median property tax in Madison County is $736.
Levy County is located along the gulf coast in the northern region of the state. The median property tax in Levy County is $735.
Franklin County is located in the Panhandle along the Gulf of Mexico. The median property tax in Franklin County is $726.
Calhoun County is located in the Panhandle of the northwestern section of the state. The median property tax in Calhoun County is $725.
Liberty County is nestled in the Panhandle of the northwestern section of the state. The median property tax in Liberty County is $695.
Washington County is located in the northwestern section of the state in the Panhandle. The median property tax in Washington County is $687.
Hamilton County is tucked away in the north central portion of the state. The median property tax in Hamilton County is $668.
Jackson County is located along the border of Alabama in the northwestern region of the state. The median property tax in Jackson County is $630.
Holmes county is located in the northwestern region of the state in the Panhandle. The median property tax in Holmes County is $555.
Dixie County is located in the northwestern section of the state. Dixie County has the lowest median property tax which is $503.
It looks like the counties in Florida with the lowest median property tax fall within the northwestern and north central part of the state, with most of them being in the Panhandle.
Property taxes tend to be higher in areas that are experiencing rapid housing and population growth. Keeping an eye on other factors that could affect the percentage of property taxes you pay is important to ensuring you save as much money as possible.
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