If you can find two numbers, you can estimate your property taxes in Florida: your taxable value and your total millage rate. The rest is just basic math.
Step 1: Know the three property values that show up in Florida
Florida property records typically show:
- Just value: the market value estimate.
- Assessed value: just value adjusted by assessment limits like Save Our Homes, when applicable.
- Taxable value: assessed value minus exemptions. This is the number used to calculate your taxes.
If you are in Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office explains the difference clearly, including how just, assessed, and taxable values relate.
Step 2: Find your taxable value
You can usually find taxable value on your TRIM notice or tax bill, or by looking up your property on your county property appraiser or tax collector site.
In Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Tax Collector confirms the core rule: taxable value = assessed value minus exemptions.
Step 3: Understand millage rate in plain English
A millage rate is the tax rate per $1,000 of taxable value. One mill equals $1 for every $1,000.
Palm Beach County also states it the same way and even gives an example of what a millage rate means per $1,000.
Step 4: Use the Florida property tax formula
This is the formula Florida property tax agencies use:
Taxable value ÷ 1,000 × total millage rate = estimated ad valorem property tax
That result is your ad valorem tax estimate, meaning value based tax.
Step 5: Add non ad valorem assessments
Your total bill can include more than ad valorem taxes. Florida tax bills often include non ad valorem assessments for services, and those are added on top of the ad valorem amount.
This matters because people often calculate the millage portion correctly, then wonder why the bill is still higher.
A simple example calculation
Let’s say your home’s taxable value is $450,000 and your total millage rate is 19.5000.
- 450,000 ÷ 1,000 = 450
- 450 × 19.5000 = $8,775 estimated ad valorem taxes
Then you add any non ad valorem assessments shown on the bill to estimate your total.
Where to find the millage rate
Your total millage rate is usually listed on your TRIM notice or tax bill.
If you are in Palm Beach County, the property appraiser publishes millage rate information and explains that one mill equals $1 per $1,000 of taxable value.
Two common mistakes that make estimates wrong
1) Using market value instead of taxable value
Taxes are calculated from taxable value, not the Zillow style market estimate.
2) Ignoring exemptions
Exemptions reduce the value you are taxed on, which can change the estimate a lot.
Quick FAQ
Is the formula different in different Florida counties?
The math is the same statewide: taxable value divided by 1,000 times the millage rate.
What changes is the millage rate and any local non ad valorem assessments.
What is the fastest way to estimate taxes before buying?
Get the property’s current taxable value and millage rate, run the formula, then sanity check exemptions and non ad valorem items.
