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Updated 2025 Tax Year

Palm Beach County
Property Tax Guide

Everything you need to know about property taxes in Palm Beach County, FL. Rates, due dates, exemptions, and how it affects your monthly payment.

8 Official Sources
8 min read
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Quick Facts
Tax Rate
1.2% to 1.8% of assessed value (varies by location and districts)
1st Due
Nov 1
Exemptions
6+ Available
Section 1

How Property Tax Works

Palm Beach County's property tax system serves as the primary funding mechanism for essential local services including public schools, fire rescue, libraries, infrastructure maintenance, and general county operations. Property owners pay taxes based on their property's assessed value, which is determined annually by the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's office. The county operates under Florida's "Save Our Homes" law, which caps annual assessment increases at 3% for homesteaded properties, providing predictable tax growth for primary residents.

The effective property tax rate in Palm Beach County varies by location and ranges from approximately 1.2% to 1.8% of assessed value, depending on which municipal and special district services apply to your property. This rate is significantly influenced by school district taxes, fire rescue services, and any special municipal service taxing units (MSTUs). Property owners benefit from Florida's generous homestead exemption of up to $50,000 for primary residences, plus additional exemptions for seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals.

Section 2

What Makes Up Your Tax Bill

ComponentRate (per $1,000)Description
Palm Beach County4.5000General county services, parks, administration
School District~7.5000Public education funding (varies by district)
Countywide Voted Debt0.0396Infrastructure and capital improvements
Library Voted Debt0.0098Library system operations and improvements
Library Operations0.5491Library services countywide
Fire Rescue MSTU3.4581Fire and emergency medical services
Jupiter Fire MSTU1.6488Municipal fire services (Jupiter area only)
Aggregate Rate6.2826Base county rate before school and municipal taxes

Note: Total effective rates typically range from 12-18 mills ($12-18 per $1,000 of taxable value) depending on location and applicable municipal services.

Section 3

When Are Property Taxes Due?

For the 2025/2026 tax year in Palm Beach County, property taxes are due in two installments:

First Installment
Nov 1
Delinquent after Dec 10
Pro tip: If you pay through mortgage escrow, your lender splits these payments across your monthly mortgage. If you pay directly, set calendar reminders to avoid late penalties.
Section 4

Supplemental Tax Bills

Supplemental property taxes in Palm Beach County are triggered by significant changes to property ownership or improvements that occur after the January 1st assessment date. The most common triggers include ownership transfers, new construction completion, substantial renovations that increase property value, or changes in exemption status. Unlike the annual assessment process, supplemental taxes are calculated based on the difference between the old and new assessed values, prorated for the remaining months in the tax year.

For example, if you purchase a home in June that was previously assessed at $200,000 but now appraises at $350,000 due to renovations, you would owe supplemental tax on the $150,000 difference for the remaining seven months of the tax year. The calculation would be: ($150,000 ÷ 1,000) × applicable tax rate × (7 months ÷ 12 months). This ensures that property taxes reflect current property values and ownership throughout the tax year, maintaining equity in the system.

Example Calculation

$300,000 Home with Homestead Exemption

  • Assessed Value: $300,000
  • Homestead Exemption: -$50,000
  • Net Taxable Value: $250,000
  • Tax Rate: 15.0 mills (example total rate)
  • Annual Tax: $3,750
  • Monthly Escrow: $312.50

$600,000 Home with Homestead Exemption

  • Assessed Value: $600,000
  • Homestead Exemption: -$50,000
  • Net Taxable Value: $550,000
  • Tax Rate: 15.0 mills
  • Annual Tax: $8,250
  • Monthly Escrow: $687.50

$1,000,000 Home with Homestead Exemption

  • Assessed Value: $1,000,000
  • Homestead Exemption: -$50,000
  • Net Taxable Value: $950,000
  • Tax Rate: 15.0 mills
  • Annual Tax: $14,250
  • Monthly Escrow: $1,187.50

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Section 5

Escrow & Property Taxes

Most mortgage lenders in Palm Beach County require borrowers to maintain an escrow account for property tax payments, collecting monthly payments along with principal and interest. Lenders typically collect 1/12th of the annual tax bill each month, plus a cushion of 2-3 months to ensure adequate funds. Property taxes are due November 1st annually, with early payment discounts available: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February. After March 31st, taxes become delinquent and subject to penalties and interest.

Your mortgage servicer will pay taxes directly to Palm Beach County from your escrow account before the due date to capture maximum discounts. It's important to verify that payments are made timely, as you remain ultimately responsible even when using escrow. You can monitor your tax payments and verify receipt at https://www.pbctax.com/ using your property's folio number. Annual escrow analyses adjust your monthly payment based on actual tax bills and account balances, which may result in payment increases if property values rise significantly.

How HonestCasa Helps
  • Understand whether your escrow is set correctly
  • See how rising taxes will change your monthly payment
  • Plan ahead instead of being surprised by "shortage" letters
Section 6

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When are property taxes due in Palm Beach County? A: Property taxes are due November 1st annually. Early payment discounts are available: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January, and 1% in February.

Q: How do I apply for homestead exemption? A: Apply at the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's office by March 1st following the year you establish residency. You must live in the property as your permanent residence as of January 1st.

Q: Can I pay property taxes online? A: Yes, visit https://www.pbctax.com/ to pay online using bank transfer, credit card, or debit card. Convenience fees may apply for credit card payments.

Q: How do I appeal my property assessment? A: File an appeal with the Value Adjustment Board through the Property Appraiser's website at https://www.pbcgov.org/papa/ by the statutory deadline, typically 25 days after TRIM notice mailing.

Q: What happens if I pay taxes late? A: Taxes become delinquent April 1st and incur 3% interest plus advertising costs. After two years of delinquency, properties may be sold at tax deed sales.

Q: Do senior citizens get additional exemptions? A: Yes, seniors 65 and older with household income under $32,000 may qualify for additional exemptions of up to $50,000 beyond the standard homestead exemption.

Q: How is my property value determined? A: The Property Appraiser assesses all properties annually as of January 1st using comparable sales, replacement cost, and income approaches to determine fair market value.

Q: Can I transfer my Save Our Homes benefit when moving? A: Yes, Florida allows portability of Save Our Homes benefits to a new homestead within the state, subject to certain time limits and value restrictions.

Verified Sources

Backed by 8 Official Government Sources

Every fact in this guide is sourced from official county, state, and federal documents.

01
County
Palm Beach County Assessorpbcgov.org
02
County
Palm Beach County Tax Collectorpbctax.com
03
County
Palm Beach County FY 2025discover.pbc.gov
04
Tax Doc
Your Property Taxes - EXPLAINEDmyboca.us
05
FY 2025 Budget in Brief.pdfdiscover.pbc.gov
06
(A Component Unit of the City of Boca Raton, Florida) Financial ...myboca.us
07
State
Town of Palm Beach Shores, Florida Financial Statements with ...palmbeachshoresfl.us
08
Tax Doc
Property Taxes - Constitutional Tax Collectorpbctax.gov
All sources verified as of 2025 Tax Year

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