Florida · Sarasota County · Local exemptions · Updated Oct 2026

Sarasota County, FL property tax exemptions (2026)

The property tax breaks that are set or run locally in Sarasota County, on top of Florida’s statewide rules: what each is worth here, who qualifies, where to apply and the deadline.

What is different in Sarasota County

Sarasota County itself gives only $5,000 for the low-income senior exemption on county taxes, while the City of Sarasota, Longboat Key and Venice each give $50,000 and North Port $25,000 on city taxes. No government in Sarasota County has adopted the long-term resident senior exemption.

Apply at: Sarasota County Property Appraiser
Phone: 941-861-8200
Local breaks: Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (low-income senior exemption)
Tax year: 2026

Where to apply in Sarasota County

Sarasota County Property Appraiser

Phone: 941-861-8200
Address: 2001 Adams Lane, Sarasota, FL 34237

Official exemptions page

Other offices

Sarasota County Tax Collector – pays the tax bill

Local exemptions in Sarasota County

Seniors

Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (low-income senior exemption)

$5,000 off the assessed value for Sarasota County taxes; $50,000 for City of Sarasota, Town of Longboat Key and City of Venice taxes; $25,000 for City of North Port taxes. School, hospital district, West Coast Inland Navigation District and Southwest Florida Water Management District taxes are not reduced.

Set by: county and four cities (not school, hospital, WCIND or SWFWMD taxes)
Tax year: 2026
Who qualifies: You have the homestead exemption, at least one owner living in the home is 65 or older on January 1, and total household adjusted gross income for the prior year is at or below the limit.
Income limit: $38,686 household adjusted gross income (2026 limit, applied to 2025 income of everyone living in the home)
How to apply: Return Form DR-501SC to the Property Appraiser by March 1 with proof of age (Florida driver license or ID, or birth certificate). Copies of the prior-year federal return of everyone in the household who files are due by June 1.
Form: DR-501SC Household Income sworn statement and return
Deadline: March 1
Renewal: Under s. 196.075, F.S., the income statement is required the first year; after that you must tell the property appraiser by May 1 if household income goes over the limit. Some property appraisers ask for income proof every year, so ask the office how renewal works here.

Source: official page

Amounts by taxing unit in Sarasota County

Each school district, city or other taxing unit can set its own amount. Find the ones on your tax bill.

Sort:

Taxing unit	Type	Seniors	Long term senior	Source
City of North Port	city	$25,000	no	official
City of Sarasota	city	$50,000	no	official
City of Venice	city	$50,000	no	official
Sarasota County	county	$5,000	no	official
Town of Longboat Key	city	$50,000 (Sarasota PA; Manatee PA lists $25,000 for the Manatee side)	no	official

State exemptions that also apply here

These breaks come from Florida law. Their full rules, forms and deadlines are on the Florida page.

Homestead Exemption$51,411
Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (low-income senior)(only where the local government offers it)
Total and Permanent Disability Exemption for Veterans (and wheelchair-bound disabled veterans)Full exemption
Disabled Ex-Servicemember $5,000 Exemption and Combat-Disabled Veteran Discount (65+)$5,000
Total and Permanent Disability Exemptions (quadriplegic; wheelchair-bound or legally blind; $5,000 blind/disabled)Full exemption
Exemption for Totally and Permanently Disabled First RespondersFull exemption
Widow's/Widower's Exemption and Surviving Spouse of First Responder Exemption$5,000

All Florida property tax exemptions

By group in Florida: Seniors · Veterans · Disability · Surviving spouses

Savings estimate for Sarasota County

Roughly what an exemption could save you a year: the value it takes off, times your tax rate.

Exemption

Value taken off ($)

Filled in when the exemption is a fixed dollar amount. You can change it.

Tax rate (%)

Sarasota County median effective rate: 0.72% (taxes paid as a share of home value). Use your own rate if you know it.

Enter a value and a tax rateChoose an exemption or type the value it takes off.

Median effective rate in Sarasota County: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, county figures as published by Tax Foundation. It is a county-wide middle value; rates differ by town and school district.

An estimate, not a bill. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Eligibility finder for Sarasota County

Answer a few questions to see which property tax breaks may fit you. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Do you own the home and live in it as your main home?

Your age, or the year you were born

Leave empty if you'd rather not say.

Are you a veteran?

Do you have a permanent disability?

Are you the surviving spouse of a veteran, service member or first responder?

Yearly household income ($)

Everyone in the home, before taxes. Optional: used only to compare with income limits.

Do you own and live in the home?Answer the first question to see results.

A first check, not a decision: only your county, city or town assessor decides. We read ages, ratings and income limits only where the official rule states them plainly; otherwise we show the rule for you to check.

Document checklist for Sarasota County

Pick the breaks you plan to apply for. You get a checklist of forms, documents, steps and deadlines to print or keep on your phone.

The checklist asks for no personal details and nothing is sent to our server: the files are made on your device.

Exemptions to include

Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (low-income senior exemption)Homestead Exemption (statewide)Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (low-income senior) (statewide)Total and Permanent Disability Exemption for Veterans (and wheelchair-bound disabled veterans) (statewide)Disabled Ex-Servicemember $5,000 Exemption and Combat-Disabled Veteran Discount (65+) (statewide)Total and Permanent Disability Exemptions (quadriplegic; wheelchair-bound or legally blind; $5,000 blind/disabled) (statewide)Exemption for Totally and Permanently Disabled First Responders (statewide)Widow's/Widower's Exemption and Surviving Spouse of First Responder Exemption (statewide)

Questions about property tax exemptions in Sarasota County

What property tax exemptions are there in Sarasota County?

Where do I apply for a property tax exemption in Sarasota County?

Sarasota County Property Appraiser Phone: 941-861-8200 Address: 2001 Adams Lane, Sarasota, FL 34237. Also: Sarasota County Tax Collector, which pays the tax bill.

When is the deadline to apply in Sarasota County?

Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (low-income senior exemption): March 1.

Is there an income limit for Sarasota County’s local breaks?

Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (low-income senior exemption): $38,686 household adjusted gross income (2026 limit, applied to 2025 income of everyone living in the home)

Do I have to reapply every year in Sarasota County?

Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (low-income senior exemption): Under s. 196.075, F.S., the income statement is required the first year; after that you must tell the property appraiser by May 1 if household income goes over the limit. Some property appraisers ask for income proof every year, so ask the office how renewal works here.

Good to know in Sarasota County

Longboat Key conflict: the Sarasota County Property Appraiser lists $50,000 for Town of Longboat Key taxes, while the Manatee County Property Appraiser lists $25,000 for the same town; confirm with your county's property appraiser.

Think your assessed value is too high? See how to appeal in Sarasota County.

Sources

Sarasota County Property Appraiser: Senior Exemption with Limited Income
s. 196.075, Florida Statutes
Florida DOR: Two Additional Homestead Exemptions for Persons 65 and Older (rev. January 2026)
Median effective tax rate for Sarasota County: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, county figures as published by Tax Foundation. The rate is property taxes paid divided by home value.

Last checked: Oct 2026.