If you’re thinking about moving to Jacksonville FL or you’ve just bought a home here, you’ve probably heard the good news first: Florida has no state income tax. That’s a huge win for your paycheck. But because the state doesn't take a cut of your income, local governments rely heavily on property taxes to keep the lights on—funding everything from our parks and police to the Duval County Public School system.

The silver lining? Jacksonville is still incredibly affordable compared to South Florida markets like Miami or West Palm Beach. One reason for this is our unique "consolidated government." Since the late 1960s, the City of Jacksonville and Duval County have operated as one giant entity. This cuts down on administrative redundancy and helps keep costs—and often taxes—a bit more manageable.

Since it is currently early 2026, most homeowners are focused on two things: paying their 2025 tax bill (which is due by the end of March) and filing their exemptions for the 2026 tax year. Let’s break down exactly how the numbers work so you aren't caught off guard.

How Property Taxes Are Calculated in Duval County

Calculating your bill isn't just about what your house is worth; it's about a specific formula used by the Duval County Property Appraiser. It helps to look at this like a three-step ladder:

• Just Market Value: This is what the Property Appraiser thinks your home would sell for in an open market.
• Assessed Value: This is the value after any caps are applied (like the "Save Our Homes" cap, which we’ll cover in a minute).
• Taxable Value: This is the final number used for the math. It is your Assessed Value minus any exemptions you qualify for.

Once they have your Taxable Value, they apply the Millage Rate. The formula looks like this:

(Taxable Value ÷ 1,000) × Millage Rate = Estimated Tax Bill

A "mill" is simply one dollar of tax for every $1,000 of property value. So, if the millage rate goes up, your bill goes up, even if your home value stays the same.

Current Millage Rates (2025-2026)

When you look at your tax bill, you’ll see a long list of taxing authorities—the City, the Schools, the Water Management District, and so on. It can look a bit messy, so it helps to group them.

• The City Rate: The "General Services District" rate for Jacksonville is approximately 11.3169 mills. This covers the core city functions.
• The Total Effective Rate: When you add in the school board, the St. Johns River Water Management District, and the Florida Inland Navigation District, the total rate for most Jacksonville residents is roughly 17.8 mills.

If you live in one of the beach communities—Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, or Jacksonville Beach—or the Town of Baldwin, you will see an additional municipal millage rate on top of the county rate. For the vast majority of Duval County residents, however, that 17.8 figure is the safe number to use for napkin math.

Example: Calculating a Typical Tax Bill

Let’s put this into real terms. Assume you just bought a median-priced home in Jacksonville with a Just Market Value of $350,000.

If this is your primary residence, you qualify for the Homestead Exemption. Thanks to recent changes, this exemption is now worth approximately $50,722 (we'll explain why that number is so specific in the next section).

Here is how the math shakes out:

• Market Value: $350,000
• Minus Exemptions: -$50,722
• Taxable Value: $299,278
• Calculation: ($299,278 ÷ 1,000) × 17.8 mills
• Estimated Annual Tax: $5,327

Now, compare that to an investor buying the same house as a rental property. They don't get the Homestead Exemption.

• Taxable Value: $350,000
• Calculation: ($350,000 ÷ 1,000) × 17.8 mills
• Estimated Annual Tax: $6,230

That’s a difference of roughly $900 a year just for claiming the home as your primary residence.

Homestead Exemptions & Amendment 5 Updates

For years, the standard advice in Florida was that the Homestead Exemption knocked $50,000 off your assessed value. The first $25,000 applied to all taxes, and the second $25,000 applied to non-school taxes.

However, things changed with the passage of Amendment 5 in November 2024. Starting with the 2025 tax roll, that second $25,000 portion is now adjusted annually for inflation. Because of this, the total exemption amount for the current cycle is approximately $50,722. It’s a small boost, but every dollar counts.

To get this savings, you must file by March 1, 2026 for the 2026 tax year. If you miss this deadline, you won’t get the tax break until the following year.

Beyond the standard homestead, there are other exemptions to check for:

• Senior Citizen Exemption: For long-time residents over 65 with a household income below a certain limit.
• Widow/Widower Exemption: A small $500 reduction in taxable value.
• Disability & Veteran Exemptions: These can be significant, offering total exemption in some cases for 100% permanently disabled service members.

The 'Save Our Homes' Cap & Portability

Once you have your Homestead Exemption in place, you unlock the Save Our Homes (SOH) Cap. This is arguably the most powerful tool for controlling your cost of living in Jacksonville long-term.

The SOH cap prevents your property’s Assessed Value from increasing more than 3% (or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower) in any given year. Even if the market goes crazy and your home’s value doubles, your tax assessment can only inch up slowly.

If you decide to move to a new home in Florida, you don’t lose those savings. This is called Portability. You can transfer up to $500,000 of the difference between your market value and your assessed value to your new property. However, this isn't automatic—you have to apply for it when you file for your new homestead exemption.

Deadlines, Discounts, and Payment Schedule

The Duval County Tax Collector (Jim Overton’s office) handles the actual billing. They mail the bills out on November 1 each year.

While the final due date isn't until March 31, the county incentivizes you to pay early with a discount schedule:

• November Payments: 4% discount
• December Payments: 3% discount
• January Payments: 2% discount
• February Payments: 1% discount
• March Payments: No discount (Full amount due)

Most people pay their taxes through their mortgage escrow account. If that’s you, your lender typically pays in November to grab that 4% discount for you. If you pay directly, you can do so online at duvaltc.com, by mail, or in person at a branch.

By April 1, unpaid taxes become delinquent, and interest/fees start piling up fast.

The 'Tax Surprise' for New Construction Buyers

If you are looking at new construction homes in Jacksonville, you need to be very careful with your budget for the second year of ownership.

When you close on a brand-new home, the tax bill for that first year is often based on the value of the unimproved land alone, because the house wasn't finished when the tax roll closed on January 1st. This results in an deceptively low tax bill—sometimes just a few hundred dollars.

The surprise comes in Year 2. Now that the house is finished and on the tax rolls, the property is fully assessed at the purchase price. Your tax bill might jump from $800 to $6,000 overnight.

The real headache happens with your mortgage lender. If they calculated your monthly escrow payments based on that cheap Year 1 bill, you will have a massive "escrow shortage" in Year 2. You’ll be asked to pay the difference in a lump sum or see your monthly mortgage payment skyrocket to cover the deficit. Always budget for the fully assessed value from day one.

Understanding the TRIM Notice

Every August, you will receive a Notice of Proposed Property Taxes, also known as the TRIM Notice (Truth in Millage).

This is not a bill. Do not pay it.

The TRIM notice tells you what the Property Appraiser thinks your home is worth and what the proposed millage rates are for the upcoming year. If you look at the value and think, "There is no way my house is worth this much," this is your window of opportunity. You can file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) to contest the value. Once the actual bill arrives in November, it’s generally too late to argue the value.

Jacksonville vs. Other Florida Cities

When you zoom out, Jacksonville’s property tax situation is quite balanced. While our millage rate of ~17.8 is slightly higher than some wealthy coastal counties (which can afford lower rates due to sky-high property values), our home prices are significantly lower.

This means the actual dollar amount you send to the Tax Collector is often much lower here than in Miami-Dade or Broward County.

However, taxes are only one part of the equation. When determining your monthly housing budget, you have to look at taxes and insurance together. While Jacksonville taxes are manageable, homeowners insurance rates across Florida have been volatile. It's smart to get insurance quotes alongside your tax estimates before making an offer.

Bottom Line for Homeowners

Property taxes in Duval County are straightforward if you stay ahead of the calendar.

• File your Homestead Exemption: If you bought your home in 2025, ensure you file by March 1, 2026.
• Pay Early: If you don't escrow, paying in November saves you a solid 4%.
• Watch the TRIM Notice: Review it in August to ensure your exemptions are listed and the value looks right.
• Budget for Reality: If you are buying a new build, ignore the current tax bill and calculate what 1.8% roughly of your purchase price would be.

If you are confused about a specific property's tax history, don't guess. A local real estate agent can pull the tax record and help you estimate what your new bill will look like so you can buy with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are property taxes due in Jacksonville, FL?

The final deadline to pay your 2025 property taxes is March 31, 2026. However, you can save money by paying earlier; payments made in November receive a 4% discount, and the discount decreases by 1% each month until March.

What is the homestead exemption amount for 2026?

Thanks to the new inflation adjustment from Amendment 5, the total homestead exemption for the 2025/2026 tax cycle is approximately $50,722 for qualifying properties. This amount reduces your home's taxable value, lowering your annual bill.

How do I look up my property tax bill in Duval County?

You can view and pay your bill online by visiting the Duval County Tax Collector website (duvaltc.com). You can search by address, owner name, or Real Estate (RE) number to see the current amount due and payment history.

Why did my property taxes go up this year?

Taxes usually rise for one of two reasons: either the local millage rates (tax rates) increased, or your home’s assessed value went up. If you recently bought the home, the "Save Our Homes" cap from the previous owner likely reset, causing the taxable value to jump up to the current market price.