When is the homestead exemption deadline in Indian River County?

March 1 of the year you want the exemption. You must own the home and live in it as your permanent home on Jan. 1. The Property Appraiser says applications filed since Sept. 6 count for the 2027 tax year.

Where do I file for homestead in Sebastian?

Online at ircpa.org, or in person at the Indian River County Property Appraiser's Sebastian office, 1921 U.S. 1, (772) 226-1133, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What documents do I need for homestead exemption in Indian River County?

The Property Appraiser asks for a Florida driver's license for you and your spouse, Florida vehicle registration, Indian River County voter registration if you are registered, a current utility bill in your name from before Jan. 1, and Social Security numbers.

How much does homestead save in Florida?

The Florida Department of Revenue says it can lower a home's taxable value by as much as $50,000. It also qualifies the home for the Save Our Homes cap, which limits yearly increases in assessed value to 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.

Can I transfer my homestead savings when I move to Sebastian from another Florida home?

Often, yes. It is called portability. File Form DR-501T with your homestead application by March 1, within three years of Jan. 1 of the year you left your old Florida homestead.

Taxes & money

New to your Sebastian home? How to file for homestead, what to bring, and the March 1 deadline

Homestead is the biggest property tax break most Sebastian owners will ever get, and it is not automatic. Here is who qualifies, what to bring, and where to go on U.S. 1.

By The Sebastian Porch staff · October 30, 2026 · 3 min read · Sebastian, Indian River County

If you moved into a Sebastian home this year, there is one piece of paperwork worth more than almost any other: the homestead exemption.

It lowers the taxable value of the home you live in, and it puts a lid on how fast that value can climb on your tax bill. But it is not automatic. You have to apply, and there is a deadline. The good news is the Indian River County Property Appraiser has an office right in Sebastian.

Who qualifies

The Property Appraiser's guide says you qualify if you hold legal or equitable title to the property, you live there on Jan. 1, and in good faith make it your permanent home.

That Jan. 1 date is the key. If you closed on a Sebastian house this year and you are living in it by Jan. 1, 2027, you would apply by March 1, 2027. The Property Appraiser's website says applications submitted since Sept. 6 are for the 2027 tax year.

What it saves you

The Florida Department of Revenue says the homestead exemption can lower a home's taxable value by as much as $50,000.

The bigger long-term benefit is the Save Our Homes cap. In your first homestead year, the home is assessed at full market value. After that, the assessed value can rise no more than 3% a year, or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. It can never go above market value. Over many years, that lid can make a real difference on your bill.

A few things to know about the cap, from the Property Appraiser:

When a home sells, its value resets to market value, and the new owner has to apply for their own exemption.
Additions and big improvements are added on top. Normal upkeep, like repainting or a new roof, does not count as an improvement.
The Notice of Proposed Taxes mailed every August shows your market value, assessed value and homestead exemption side by side.

Moving within Florida? Ask about portability

If you had homestead on another Florida home, you may be able to bring some or all of that Save Our Homes savings with you. The state calls this portability.

The Department of Revenue says you file Form DR-501T along with your homestead application, Form DR-501, by March 1. You must set up the new homestead within three years of Jan. 1 of the year you left the old one. If you are denied, you can petition the county's value adjustment board.

Other exemptions on the same form

The state homestead application also lists smaller exemptions some owners can add. The current form lists $5,000 each for widowed, blind, and totally and permanently disabled owners, and up to $5,000 for veterans with a disability of 10% or more. There is also an extra exemption for owners 65 and older with limited income, with the amount set by local ordinance, and some disabled veterans and first responders can qualify for more. Ask about these when you file.

Do not keep a homestead you no longer qualify for

If you move out, rent the house full time, or claim homestead somewhere else, tell the Property Appraiser. The state form warns that anyone who got a homestead exemption in the past 10 years without being entitled to it can owe the back taxes, plus a penalty of 50% of the unpaid taxes and 15% interest a year.

What to do

Make sure you are living in the Sebastian home as your permanent home by Jan. 1.
Gather what the Property Appraiser asks for: a Florida driver's license for you and your spouse if married, your Florida vehicle registration and plate, your Indian River County voter registration if you are registered, a current utility bill in your name from before Jan. 1, and Social Security numbers.
File online at ircpa.org, or bring your papers to the Sebastian office at 1921 U.S. 1, (772) 226-1133, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The main office is at 1800 27th Street in Vero Beach, (772) 226-1469.
If you had homestead on another Florida home, file Form DR-501T for portability at the same time.
Do not wait for March. The deadline is March 1, and the earlier you file, the sooner any questions get sorted out.
When your next August notice comes, check that the homestead exemption is listed.

Common questions

When is the homestead exemption deadline in Indian River County?: March 1 of the year you want the exemption. You must own the home and live in it as your permanent home on Jan. 1. The Property Appraiser says applications filed since Sept. 6 count for the 2027 tax year.
Where do I file for homestead in Sebastian?: Online at ircpa.org, or in person at the Indian River County Property Appraiser's Sebastian office, 1921 U.S. 1, (772) 226-1133, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What documents do I need for homestead exemption in Indian River County?: The Property Appraiser asks for a Florida driver's license for you and your spouse, Florida vehicle registration, Indian River County voter registration if you are registered, a current utility bill in your name from before Jan. 1, and Social Security numbers.
How much does homestead save in Florida?: The Florida Department of Revenue says it can lower a home's taxable value by as much as $50,000. It also qualifies the home for the Save Our Homes cap, which limits yearly increases in assessed value to 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.
Can I transfer my homestead savings when I move to Sebastian from another Florida home?: Often, yes. It is called portability. File Form DR-501T with your homestead application by March 1, within three years of Jan. 1 of the year you left your old Florida homestead.