Homestead & Portability For JIC Buyers

Buying in Jupiter Inlet Colony is exciting, but the property tax details can feel confusing. If you plan to live in your JIC home as your primary residence, Florida’s homestead exemption and portability can lower your tax bill in a big way. You just need the right steps and the right timing. In this guide, you’ll learn the key dates, forms, and strategies to make the most of these benefits when you buy in JIC. Let’s dive in.

Homestead in Palm Beach County

Who qualifies and when

To receive a homestead exemption for a tax year, you must both own the property and occupy it as your permanent residence on January 1 of that year. The homestead application is filed with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. The typical filing deadline is March 1. If March 1 falls on a weekend, the next business day is used. Palm Beach County’s FAQ explains timing and procedures.

How to file your application

File the DR-501 homestead application with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser by March 1. You can submit in person or via the county’s e-file options. It is smart to file early and keep copies of what you submit. If you miss the deadline, the county may allow late filing only under narrow circumstances, so do not wait. See PBCPA’s guidance for details.

Save Our Homes cap basics

Once your homestead is in place, Florida’s Save Our Homes (SOH) cap limits how much your assessed value can increase each year. The annual increase is capped at 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. For 2025 the CPI figure used was 2.9%. Learn more on the county’s assessment caps page.

Portability for Florida-to-JIC movers

What portability does

If you had a Florida homestead in the recent past, you may transfer some or all of your accumulated SOH benefit to your new JIC homestead. This can reduce your new taxable value and lower your tax bill. The maximum amount you can transfer is $500,000, subject to ownership share rules and valuations. The rules are set out in the Florida Administrative Code for transfer of homestead assessment difference.

Timing rules you must meet

To use portability, you must have had a Florida homestead on one of the three most recent January 1 dates before establishing the new homestead. You must abandon the prior homestead before January 1 of the year you apply in JIC, then both own and occupy the JIC home by January 1, and file by March 1. File DR-501 (homestead) and DR-501T (portability) together by the deadline. See the administrative rule for abandonment and filing requirements.

How much you can transfer

Your actual transfer depends on the difference between the prior home’s market value and assessed value, subject to the $500,000 cap and any ownership splits. If your new JIC home has a lower market value than your prior home, the benefit is prorated by formula. Use the county’s official Palm Beach County Portability Calculator to estimate your savings.

Common JIC buyer scenarios

• Out-of-state buyer: You can claim homestead in JIC after you own and occupy by January 1 and file by March 1, but there is no portability if you did not have a Florida homestead before. Review PBCPA’s FAQ for documents and steps.
• Florida-to-Florida mover: You may be eligible to port your SOH benefit to JIC by filing DR-501T with your homestead application by March 1. The county will validate and apply your transfer.
• High-value JIC purchase: Long-held homesteads often carry large SOH benefits. Portability can significantly reduce your new taxable value in JIC, where market values are often higher.

Documents and forms checklist

Forms you may need

• DR-501 Original Application for Homestead Exemption. See filing steps in PBCPA’s FAQ.
• DR-501T Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference for portability. See the rule and requirements in 12D-8.0065.
• DR-501TS Designation of Ownership Shares of Abandoned Homestead for certain co-owner or spouse situations. See when it applies in 12D-8.0065.

Typical supporting documents

• Proof of ownership, such as a recorded deed or closing statement showing you as owner on or before January 1.
• Proof of Florida residency as of January 1, such as a Florida driver’s license or ID with the JIC address, vehicle registration, voter registration, or a recorded Declaration of Domicile.
• Social Security Numbers for applicant and spouse, as required by statute.
• If title is held in a trust, a Certificate of Trust or applicable trust documents per county procedures. See trust guidance on the county’s assessment caps page.
• For portability, details on your previous Florida homestead: address, parcel ID, county, the date it was abandoned or sold, and evidence it had a homestead exemption.

Deadlines, late filing, and appeals

Standard timeline

• January 1: You must own and occupy your JIC home as your permanent residence by this date to qualify for the year.
• March 1: File DR-501 and, if applicable, DR-501T with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. If March 1 is a weekend, the next business day applies. See PBCPA’s FAQ.

If you miss a deadline

Palm Beach County may allow late filing in limited situations, but it is discretionary and often requires proof of extenuating circumstances. For portability, late filing is also limited. If your exemption or portability is denied or calculated incorrectly, you can contact the Property Appraiser and, if needed, petition the Value Adjustment Board within the statutory window that follows TRIM notice mailing.

Edge cases to plan for

Co-owners and spouses

If more than one owner held the prior homestead, the portability shares can be complex. Spouses and former spouses may need to allocate shares using DR-501TS in the county of the prior homestead before filing portability in Palm Beach County. See the allocation and cap rules in 12D-8.0065.

One owner stays in the prior home

If a co-owner remains in the prior property and keeps the homestead there, the property is not considered abandoned. The moving owner cannot port the benefit until the prior homestead is properly abandoned under the rules. See 12D-8.0065.

Trust ownership

Homestead is available for eligible properties titled in certain trusts, but you will need trust paperwork and may face extra verification. Palm Beach County commonly accepts a Certificate of Trust. See trust guidance on the county’s assessment caps page.

A simple action plan for JIC buyers

• Before closing: Confirm whether you had a prior Florida homestead and gather that parcel’s address, county, and parcel ID. Decide if you can occupy the JIC home by January 1.
• Right after closing: Collect your recorded deed and closing statement. File DR-501 and, if eligible, DR-501T as soon as you can, well before March 1.
• Mid-year check: Review your TRIM notice in August to confirm homestead and portability were applied. If something looks off, contact the Property Appraiser promptly.

Florida’s homestead and portability can be the difference between an average tax bill and a great one in Jupiter Inlet Colony. With the right timing, documents, and filings, you can protect your assessment and move valuable savings with you.

If you want a clear, local game plan for your JIC purchase, connect with Kevin Keogh, Lighthouse Realty Group, Inc. We can help you coordinate timelines, gather documents, and move into your new home with confidence.

FAQs

What is the Florida homestead exemption for a JIC home?

• It is a property tax benefit for your primary residence that requires you to own and occupy the home by January 1 and file with Palm Beach County by March 1, as outlined in the county’s FAQ.

What are the key homestead and portability deadlines in Palm Beach County?

• January 1 is the ownership and occupancy date; March 1 is the filing deadline for DR-501 and, if eligible, DR-501T. See the county’s FAQ for details.

How does the Save Our Homes cap limit tax increases?

• After your homestead is established, your assessed value can rise by no more than 3% or the CPI change each year, whichever is lower. See the county’s assessment caps page.

Who can use portability when moving to Jupiter Inlet Colony?

• A buyer who had a Florida homestead within the last three January 1 dates may transfer up to $500,000 of SOH benefit to the new JIC homestead, subject to abandonment, timing, and share rules in 12D-8.0065.

How much portability can I transfer if I downsize?

• The transferred benefit is prorated if your new home’s market value is lower than the prior home’s value. Use the county’s Portability Calculator to estimate.

What if I miss the March 1 filing deadline?

• The county may allow late filing only in limited cases; contact the Property Appraiser immediately. If denied, you may petition the Value Adjustment Board within the statutory appeal window following TRIM notices.