Florida Homestead Portability 2026: How to Transfer Your Save Our Homes Tax Savings to Your New Home
Florida's Save Our Homes (SOH) amendment caps annual increases in a homesteaded property's assessed value at 3% or the CPI, whichever is lower. Over time — especially in high-appreciation markets — this creates a gap between the home's just value (market value) and its assessed value. That gap is your SOH benefit. When you sell and buy another Florida home, homestead portability (F.S. § 193.155(8)) lets you transfer up to $500,000 of that accumulated differential to your new property, reducing its assessed value from day one.
How Portability Is Calculated
The portable amount is the lesser of:
- $500,000, or
- The SOH differential from the previous homestead (just value minus assessed value)
How it applies to the new home depends on whether you're moving up, down, or sideways in value:
Moving to a Higher-Value Home
If the new home's just value is equal to or higher than the previous home's just value, you can transfer the full differential (up to $500K) as a reduction to the new home's assessed value.
Example: Old home: just value $500K, assessed $250K → differential = $250K. New home: just value $700K. New assessed value = $700K − $250K = $450K.
Moving to a Lower-Value Home (Pro-Rated)
If the new home's just value is lower than the previous home's just value, the portable amount is pro-rated:
Portable amount = SOH differential × (New home just value ÷ Old home just value)
Example: Old home: just value $600K, assessed $300K → differential $300K. New home: just value $400K. Portable = $300K × ($400K ÷ $600K) = $200K. New assessed value = $400K − $200K = $200K.
Portability Filing Deadline and Process
- Deadline: You must file for portability by March 1 of the year following your new homestead application. Miss March 1 and you lose that year's portability benefit — though you may still apply in a subsequent year if still homesteading the new property.
- How to file: File Form DR-501T (Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference) with your new county's Property Appraiser's office. Many FL counties accept online submissions.
- Documents needed: Previous homestead address, year homestead was established, the previous county's contact information (the new county's PA will coordinate with the old county to verify the differential)
- Must establish new homestead first: Portability is an add-on to the new homestead exemption — you must apply for the new homestead exemption (DR-501) first, then file the portability form (DR-501T) separately or simultaneously
Portability Time Limit
You have 3 years from January 1 of the year you abandoned your previous homestead to establish a new FL homestead and claim portability. Miss the 3-year window and the SOH differential is forfeited. If you sold your FL home in January 2023, you must establish a new FL homestead and claim portability by January 1, 2026.
Common Portability Scenarios
| Scenario | Portability Available? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FL to FL move (same county) | Yes | Full portability available; file with same county PA |
| FL to FL move (different county) | Yes | New county coordinates with old county to verify differential |
| FL to out-of-state, then back to FL | No — if >3 years elapsed | Must re-establish FL homestead within 3 years |
| Both spouses on title; one previously homesteaded | Yes | Both spouses sharing the new homestead can claim the portability |
| Inherited FL homestead | No | Portability only applies to the homeowner's own prior homestead, not inherited |
| Buying a home without prior FL homestead | No | First-time FL homesteaders start at full just value; accumulate SOH benefit going forward |
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