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Money and taxes

Florida economic-development property tax breaks start local

Florida's economic development ad valorem tax exemption depends on local voter authority, a business application, and property-appraiser review.

A Florida property tax break for a new or growing business is not something to assume from a ribbon-cutting speech.

This tax break starts local. First, voters in a city or county have to give that local government power to grant it. After that, a business still has to apply and fit the lane for a new or growing business.

The local part matters. A city can only exempt city taxes. A county can only exempt county taxes. The land is still taxed. School taxes, water district taxes, voted bond taxes, and other voted special levies can still remain.

For a business, the file should have the local vote or ordinance, the DR-418 form, property appraiser review, city or county action, job details, investment details, and the yearly tax bill. For a resident, this helps explain why an incentive headline may not mean every tax line goes away.

If a site-selection packet counts this exemption as savings, ask which local government approved it, which property is covered, what years apply, and which tax lines still remain.

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Last checked against these sources: July 7, 2026.

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