Walton County’s extra senior homestead is one local exemption: an additional $50,000 if you already have homestead, you are 65 on January 1, and household income is under the Department of Revenue cap. It is not a free extra $25,000 for every senior. It is not a 25-year wipeout of the assessment. It does not apply to school millage.
The old guide invented a $2,400 savings, quoted a Robert Martinez who is not this office, and printed 892-8123 without the 850. That is the repair.
SoWal (sowal.co) is a free local guide. Questions: hello@sowal.co. This is not the Property Appraiser.
Two desks, one deadline
Walton County Property Appraiser handles exemptions. Not the Tax Collector. South Walton is 31 Coastal Centre Blvd, Suite 600, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, phone 850-267-4500. Main office is 571 US Hwy 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433, phone 850-892-8123. Hours Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Search and e-file homestead at waltonpa.com. Parcel search also at qpublic.net/fl/walton.
Florida residency by January 1 of the tax year. File by March 1. Miss March 1 and you wait a year. Prior owner’s homestead does not transfer. A week in a 30A rental is not a homestead.
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Regular homestead first (not a senior perk)
Regular homestead is Section 196.031. Up to $50,000. First $25,000 against all levies. The second $25,000 only on assessed value over $50,000, and not against school taxes. Save Our Homes starts the year after you get homestead, lesser of CPI or 3 percent. Portability is DR-501T if you moved from another Florida homestead in the last three years. File DR-501 online on the parcel, or in person.
The senior add-on Walton actually adopted
Walton PA lists Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older with Limited Income, section 196.075(2)(a). Additional $50,000. Annual renewal. You need homestead already filed, age 65 or older on January 1, household adjusted gross income at or under the DOR cap, a sworn income statement to the appraiser by March 1 every year, and an in-office application with proof of age and household income. Form is DR-501SC, on waltonpa.com/general-information/new-property-owner.
DOR’s 2026 household-income cap is $38,686. Confirm the year in front of you at the desk. The cap moves. This add-on does not cut school millage. Do not print $2,400.
What Walton did not adopt
Florida also lets a county pass a second senior break for 25 years on that homestead and just value under $250,000. That is local ordinance only. Walton PA’s available list is homestead, additional senior with income limitation, blind, military disability, charitable, and deployed military. No 25-year line. Do not tell a 30A senior they get a 100 percent wipeout. Tax deferral is a different Tax Collector program. Do not mix it into this exemption.
FAQs
Do I get an extra $25,000 just for turning 65? No. Walton’s extra senior homestead is the income-capped $50,000. File DR-501SC.
What is the 2026 income cap? DOR printed $38,686. Confirm at waltonpa.com or 850-267-4500 before you file.
Can I do the senior piece online only? Homestead can start on the parcel page. The senior add-on is an in-office application plus DR-501SC every year.
Is there a 25-year full exemption here? Not on the Appraiser’s available list. Ask them. Do not assume.
Who is this guide? SoWal (sowal.co). Free local notes. hello@sowal.co.
