Search Tampa Property Tax Records
Tampa property tax records are maintained by the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector. These public records cover every parcel in the city and include assessed values, ownership data, exemptions, and tax payment history. This page walks you through how to search those records online, what you'll find, and how to handle exemptions, appeals, and payments.
Tampa Quick Facts
Property Tax in Tampa
Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County, and all property tax work is done at the county level. The city of Tampa does not operate its own property appraiser or tax collector. Instead, the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser values every parcel in Tampa as of January 1 each year, and the Hillsborough County Tax Collector handles billing and payment.
Tampa's real estate market has grown fast over the past decade. Values in many neighborhoods have climbed well above where they were just five years ago. That growth affects both buyers and long-time owners differently. New buyers face assessed values close to their purchase price. But property owners who have had homestead exemptions in place for years are protected by the Save Our Homes cap, which limits annual assessment increases to 3% or the rate of inflation.
Multiple taxing authorities levy against Tampa parcels. These include Hillsborough County, the Hillsborough County School Board, the City of Tampa, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and various special improvement districts. Each body sets its own millage rate. Your TRIM notice each August shows all of them. The total bill is the sum of all rates applied to your taxable value.
The statewide rules that govern Tampa's property taxes are administered by the Florida Department of Revenue Property Tax Oversight program. The DOR certifies Hillsborough County's assessment roll each year and sets the methodology standards the appraiser must follow. Under Chapter 192, Florida Statutes, just value is the base standard for assessments across all Florida counties.
Hillsborough County Property Appraiser
The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's office is at County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 16th Floor, Tampa, FL 33602. The phone number is (813) 272-6100. The Property Appraiser's website is the main portal for parcel data. You can search by owner name, address, or parcel ID. The search results show assessed and taxable values, exemption data, building and land information, and a full sales history.
The appraiser's office is responsible for valuing all real property and tangible personal property in Hillsborough County. Mass appraisal methods are used, meaning staff analyze comparable sales, income streams for commercial properties, and cost data rather than inspecting every property individually each year. The results are reviewed by the Florida DOR annually. When significant errors are found, the DOR can require reappraisal of specific property classes.
Tampa is a large city with varied property types. The downtown core has high-rise condos, office towers, and mixed-use buildings. The surrounding neighborhoods range from older bungalows to newer suburban subdivisions. The appraiser's office handles all of it, using separate methodologies for each property type to arrive at values that reflect the market in each segment.
The property record for each Tampa parcel includes the legal description, zoning classification, land use code, acreage, building size, year built, and condition. Ownership data shows the current owner, the deed book and page where the transfer is recorded, and the sale price and date of the most recent arm's-length sale.
The Florida DOR Property Tax Oversight page shows how Tampa's Hillsborough County assessments fit into the statewide framework.
The DOR page is useful background reading before you dive into the Hillsborough County parcel search tool.
Tax Collector
The Hillsborough County Tax Collector's mailing address is P.O. Box 30009, Tampa, FL 33630-3009. The phone number is (813) 635-5200. The Tax Collector handles billing, payment, and delinquency for all property taxes in the county. You can find branch office locations on the collector's website along with hours of operation. Multiple offices serve different parts of the Tampa metro area.
Tax bills go out in November. Pay in November for a 4% discount. Pay in December for 3%, January for 2%, and February for 1%. After March 31, taxes become delinquent. Delinquent taxes lead to a tax certificate sale in June under Chapter 197, Florida Statutes. Investors bid at that sale, pay the back taxes, and earn interest. The property owner can pay off the certificate at any time. But if two years pass without redemption, the investor can start the tax deed process.
For owners who prefer to pay in stages, Hillsborough County offers a quarterly installment plan. You enroll in the spring before the tax year, and your estimated tax is divided into four payments. There's a small processing fee for the plan, but it avoids the need to come up with a large lump sum in November.
The Tax Collector also handles other fees and assessments collected on the property tax bill. Special assessment charges for services like street lighting or solid waste may appear on your bill alongside the ad valorem taxes. These are collected by the Tax Collector but set by the service districts themselves.
How to Search Tampa Property Tax Records
Go to the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser site and use the property search tool. You can search by property address, owner name, or parcel ID number. Once you locate the parcel, the full record opens and shows you the assessed value, taxable value, exemptions, land data, building data, and sales history. The site also has a GIS map viewer that shows property lines and aerial photography.
For billing data, use the Tax Collector's separate portal. Enter the parcel ID or address to see the current balance due, the amount of any discounts, and the history of past payments. If the parcel has had a tax certificate issued against it, that will also appear in the collector's system.
All Tampa property tax records are public under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. No login is needed. You can search any parcel for free. For bulk data needs, the Florida DOR data portal provides county-level summary files that researchers and investors can download.
If you need a certified record - for a legal proceeding, a bank transaction, or a closing - contact the Property Appraiser's office directly. Staff at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. can provide printed certified records. There may be a small fee for certified copies. Basic parcel data viewed online is always free.
The Florida DOR contact page helps you reach the right state office when county-level records don't answer your question about Tampa parcels.
Use the DOR contact page to find help for issues that go beyond what the Hillsborough County offices handle.
Exemptions in Tampa
Florida exemptions apply to Tampa properties just like any other part of the state. The standard homestead exemption removes up to $50,000 from the assessed value of a primary residence. Apply by March 1 at the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's office. You'll need proof of Florida residency, a Florida driver's license or ID card, and your vehicle registration if you own a car. The exemption applies automatically in future years as long as you remain the owner and the property stays your primary home. Details are in Chapter 196, Florida Statutes.
Homestead triggers the Save Our Homes cap. After the first year of homestead, assessed value increases are capped at 3% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. In a fast-moving market, this cap delivers real savings. If you sell your Tampa home and buy another in Florida, you can transfer some of your accumulated SOH benefit to the new property through a process called portability.
Tampa also has residents who qualify for additional exemptions: seniors over 65 with income below the county limit, veterans with service-connected disabilities, totally disabled non-veterans, and surviving spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty. Each exemption has specific documentation requirements. Contact the Property Appraiser's office to confirm which ones you may qualify for and what you need to apply.
Business owners in Tampa must file a tangible personal property return with the appraiser by April 1 each year to claim the $25,000 TPP exemption. Businesses that miss the deadline lose the exemption for that year and may face a penalty on their assessed value.
VAB Appeals
Tampa property owners can appeal their assessed value to the Hillsborough County Value Adjustment Board. The TRIM notice you receive each August shows the proposed assessed value and the 25-day deadline to file a petition. The VAB is independent from the Property Appraiser's office and is made up of county commission members, school board members, and appointed citizens.
Petitions are reviewed by special magistrates. You present your evidence - comparable sales, an independent appraisal, photos, or data showing errors in the property record. The magistrate reviews both your evidence and the appraiser's data, then makes a recommendation. The VAB votes to accept or reject it. Appeals are governed by Chapter 194, Florida Statutes.
If you lose at the VAB, you can still file suit in circuit court. Most cases settle before that. Pay the non-disputed portion of your tax bill while the appeal is pending. Failing to pay can result in delinquency and additional costs even while the appeal is active.