Search Tallahassee Property Tax Records

Tallahassee property tax records cover every parcel within Florida's capital city and are maintained by the Leon County Property Appraiser and Leon County Tax Collector. With a population of more than 205,000, Tallahassee is the county seat of Leon County and the center of Florida state government. Property owners, buyers, and researchers can access assessment data, tax bills, exemption records, and sales history online at no cost. This guide walks through the process, the offices involved, and your rights under Florida law.

Leon County Tax Administration

Tallahassee sits within Leon County. There is no city-level property tax office. All assessment and collection functions are handled at the county level. The Leon County Property Appraiser and the Leon County Tax Collector are both independent elected offices. They work separately but together make up the full property tax system for Tallahassee parcels.

Because Tallahassee is Florida's capital, a notable portion of land within the city is owned by state agencies and is exempt from property taxes. That does not affect the process for privately owned parcels, but it does shape the overall tax base in the area. Private homes, rental properties, and commercial parcels in Tallahassee all go through the standard Leon County assessment and billing process.

Florida law sets January 1 as the date values are locked in for the upcoming tax year. Any sale, improvement, or ownership change that happens after January 1 does not affect that year's assessment. This rule applies statewide under Chapter 192, Florida Statutes.

For full details on how Leon County handles property tax records, visit the Leon County property tax records page.

Leon County Property Appraiser

The Leon County Property Appraiser's office is at 315 S. Calhoun Street, Suite 200, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Phone: (850) 606-6200. The appraiser values all real and personal property in Leon County as of January 1 each year. This includes every Tallahassee parcel regardless of size, use, or ownership type.

The appraiser maintains the official property roll for Leon County. That roll lists each parcel with its legal description, owner of record, just value, assessed value, taxable value, and any exemptions. Records are updated through the year as deeds record, permits are issued, and ownership changes occur. Mass appraisal methods based on comparable sales and property characteristics are used to set values.

The Leon County Property Appraiser website gives online access to parcel data for free. You can search by owner name, address, or parcel ID. Results show current and prior-year values, exemptions on file, building data, and sales history. The site also has GIS mapping tools that let you view property boundaries and aerial imagery.

The Florida Department of Revenue oversees all county property appraisers. The DOR sets standards for how values are calculated. See the DOR Property Tax Oversight page for statewide rules and guidance. Assessment standards are also set out in Chapter 193, Florida Statutes.

Chapter 196 covers homestead and all other Florida property tax exemptions that apply to Tallahassee parcels.

Leon County Tax Collector

The Leon County Tax Collector is responsible for billing and collecting property taxes on all Tallahassee parcels. The office is in Tallahassee and can be reached at (850) 606-4700. Tax bills go out in November each year and cover the current tax year.

For Tallahassee properties, the tax bill reflects the taxable value set by the appraiser, multiplied by millage rates from Leon County, the Leon County School Board, the City of Tallahassee, and various special districts. Each taxing authority sets its own rate. The total bill is one combined amount covering all these authorities.

Pay in November for a 4% discount. December earns 3% off, January 2%, and February 1%. After March 31, taxes become delinquent. Delinquent taxes go to a certificate sale governed by Chapter 197, Florida Statutes. Investors bid on certificates and earn interest. Unredeemed certificates can lead to a tax deed sale.

You can pay Tallahassee property taxes online through the Leon County Tax Collector's portal. Mail and in-person options are also available. The collector's site has a parcel lookup that shows current amounts due, payment history, and any outstanding certificates.

How to Search Tallahassee Property Tax Records

The Leon County Property Appraiser's site is the best starting point for Tallahassee parcel research. Search by owner name, property address, or parcel ID. You will see the current just value, assessed value, taxable value, and all active exemptions. Building data, land data, and recent sales are also shown.

For tax bill data, go to the Leon County Tax Collector's site. The collector's lookup shows current balances, whether prior bills were paid, and if any tax certificates exist on the property. Use the parcel ID from the appraiser's search to get exact results on the collector's portal.

The Florida Department of Revenue's data portal provides statewide aggregate data, including Leon County. Researchers can download bulk files showing county-level property values and tax data. See the DOR data portal for those options.

All Tallahassee property tax records are public under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. No ID or stated reason is needed. Records can be accessed online, in person, or by written request to either office.

Exemptions for Tallahassee Property Owners

Tallahassee homeowners can apply for a homestead exemption worth up to $50,000 off the assessed value of a primary residence. The first $25,000 applies to all taxing authorities. The second $25,000 applies only to value between $50,000 and $75,000 and does not cover school taxes. This is the most widely used exemption in Leon County.

Homestead also activates the Save Our Homes cap. Once applied, the assessed value of a homesteaded Tallahassee property can only increase by 3% per year, or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. Over time this cap creates a growing gap between just value and taxable value, which cuts the tax bill significantly.

Other exemptions in Leon County include the senior low-income exemption for residents over 65, veteran and disability exemptions, and surviving spouse exemptions. All are filed with the Leon County Property Appraiser's office. The deadline is March 1 of the tax year. See Chapter 196, Florida Statutes for full eligibility rules.

Business owners in Tallahassee should file a tangible personal property return with the appraiser by April 1. The first $25,000 of TPP value is exempt from taxation. Filing on time claims this automatically.

VAB Appeals in Leon County

If you believe your Tallahassee property is valued too high, you can appeal to the Leon County Value Adjustment Board. Each summer, the Leon County Property Appraiser sends TRIM notices. The TRIM notice shows your proposed assessed value and what taxes will be at that level. You have 25 days from the TRIM mailing date to file a petition.

The VAB process is governed by Chapter 194, Florida Statutes. After filing, you get a hearing before a special magistrate. Bring comparable sales from your area, photos, and any independent appraisal you have. The burden is on you to prove the value is wrong.

Most Tallahassee homeowners handle VAB hearings without an attorney. Commercial property owners often bring counsel given the higher dollar amounts involved. If the VAB rules against you, circuit court is still an option, though most disputes settle at the board level.

Keep paying your taxes while an appeal is open. Pay at least the non-disputed portion to avoid penalties. The discount dates still apply even during an appeal.

Payment and Delinquency

Leon County mails Tallahassee tax bills in November. The discount schedule runs from November through February. March 31 is the hard deadline. After that, a 3% penalty applies. The collector holds a tax certificate sale, typically in late May or June, for all unpaid accounts.

Investors buy certificates at the sale. The certificate earns interest. You can pay off the certificate (called redeeming it) at any time before a tax deed is applied for. After two years, the certificate holder can apply for a tax deed, which could put your Tallahassee property up for public sale.

The Leon County Tax Collector accepts online, mail, and in-person payments. A quarterly installment plan is available for taxpayers who prefer to pay through the year rather than in one lump sum. You must sign up for the installment plan by April 30 of the year before the bills are due.

Public Records

Tallahassee property tax records are open to the public. Florida's public records law, Chapter 119, gives everyone the right to access government records. You do not need to be a property owner or a Florida resident. The Leon County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector must provide records on request.

Online portals for both offices are free and available any time. For older or bulk records, contact the offices directly. Staff may charge a modest fee for copies or large data requests, but the records themselves are public. Social Security numbers and certain personal data on exemption forms are confidential, but owner names, values, taxes, and sales history are fully open.

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