West Palm Beach Property Tax Guide (2026)
Effective rates, millage breakdown, homestead and Save Our Homes savings, and what West Palm Beach homeowners actually pay in Palm Beach County.
How West Palm Beach property tax is calculated
Palm Beach County property tax is the sum of multiple millage rates — county, school district, city, and a handful of special districts — applied to your taxable value (just/market value minus exemptions). One mill equals $1 per $1,000 of taxable value.
West Palm Beach has the highest city-level millage of any major Florida city profiled here. Combined with the Palm Beach County rate, effective property tax bills run materially above the statewide average — particularly for non-homesteaded second homes.
| Taxing authority | Millage (per $1,000) |
|---|---|
| Palm Beach County (countywide) | ~4.72 |
| Palm Beach School District | ~6.83 |
| City of West Palm Beach | ~8.34 |
| SFWMD / Children's Services + other | ~1.00 |
Source: Palm Beach County Property Appraiser TRIM notices, recent years. Rounded; exact mills vary year-to-year.
Worked example: median West Palm Beach home
For a $430,000 home at the 1.06% effective rate:
- · Non-homesteaded (investment, second home): roughly $4,558/year
- · Homesteaded primary residence: roughly $3,958/year after the $50,000 homestead exemption
- · Senior + low-income exemption stack: can reduce the bill by another $300-$700/year for qualifying owners 65+
Florida exemptions that matter in West Palm Beach
Up to $50,000 off taxable value on your primary residence. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes; an additional $25,000 applies to non-school taxes between $50,000-$75,000 in value.
Annual taxable-value increases on a homesteaded property are capped at 3% or CPI, whichever is lower. After 5-10 years in West Palm Beach, this gap often saves longtime owners thousands.
Owners 65+ with limited income qualify for an additional county/city exemption (up to $50,000) on top of homestead. Palm Beach County participates.
Honorably discharged veterans with service-connected disability get exemptions starting at $5,000; 100% disabled veterans are fully exempt on homesteaded property in Florida.
When and how to pay
Florida property tax bills are mailed November 1 and are due by March 31. Early-payment discounts:
- · November — 4% discount
- · December — 3% discount
- · January — 2% discount
- · February — 1% discount
- · March — full amount, no discount
- · April 1 — delinquent; interest plus a tax certificate sale follows
For installment payments (mid-year quarterly schedule), you must apply with the tax collector before May 1.
Official sources
- · Palm Beach County Property Appraiser — assessed values, exemption applications, TRIM notices
- · Constitutional Tax Collector, Palm Beach County — pay your bill, installment plans, delinquent accounts
- · Florida Department of Revenue, Property Tax Oversight — statewide rules