Seminole County Property Tax Records

Seminole County property tax records are maintained by the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector offices in Sanford, covering every parcel in the county with assessment data, exemption status, ownership details, and payment history.

Seminole County Property Appraiser

The Seminole County Property Appraiser is located at 1101 E. First St., Sanford, FL 32771. The main phone number is (407) 665-7506, and the fax is (407) 665-7922. This office values all real and personal property in the county as of January 1 each year. That assessed value is the starting point for your annual tax bill. The appraiser does not set millage rates and does not collect taxes.

The property roll maintained by this office lists every parcel with its legal description, owner name, assessed value, just value, taxable value, and any exemptions. Records are updated as sales close, permits are issued, and ownership changes occur. The office uses mass appraisal methods under Florida Department of Revenue standards, relying on comparable sales data and property characteristics rather than inspecting each parcel individually every year.

The Seminole County Property Appraiser website gives online access to parcel data at no cost. You can search by owner name, address, or parcel ID. Results show current and prior-year assessed values, exemption details, sales history, and building data. GIS map tools are also built into the site.

The Florida Department of Revenue Property Tax Oversight page explains how assessment works statewide. Assessment standards are set under Chapter 192, Florida Statutes, which defines "just value" as the required basis for all Florida property assessments.

The online search tool on the appraiser's site lets you pull up any Seminole County parcel quickly and at no cost.

Office hours follow a standard weekday schedule. Staff can help with questions about your TRIM notice, exemption applications, and how assessed values are calculated.

Tax Collection in Seminole County

The Seminole County Tax Collector handles billing and payment of property taxes. The mailing address is P.O. Box 630, Sanford, FL 32772-0630, and the main number is (407) 665-1000. Bills go out in November each year. They reflect the taxable value set by the appraiser, minus any exemptions, multiplied by millage rates from the county commission, school board, and any applicable special districts.

Florida's early payment discount schedule applies in Seminole County. Pay in November and save 4%. December earns a 3% discount, January 2%, and February 1%. After March 31, taxes are delinquent. Once delinquent, the collector must hold a tax certificate sale where investors bid on unpaid balances. That process is covered under Chapter 197, Florida Statutes.

Online payment is available through the Tax Collector's website. The site accepts credit cards and e-checks. In-person payment locations are available throughout the county. If you have questions about installment plans or hardship options, contact the collector's office directly at (407) 665-1000.

All tax payment records are public documents. Once a bill is paid, the payment posts to the collector's database and is visible in their online lookup. The collector's office also handles delinquent tax certificates and deeds under Chapter 197.

How to Search Seminole County Property Tax Records

Start at the Seminole County Property Appraiser's website. The parcel search tool lets you find any property by address, owner name, or parcel ID number. Once you locate a record, you can view assessed value, just value, taxable value, land and building data, exemption status, and sales history. No login is needed. The records are free to view.

For tax bill status and payment history, the Tax Collector's office maintains a separate lookup. Enter a parcel ID or address to see current amounts due, past payments, and whether any certificates have been issued. These two databases together give a full picture of any parcel in the county.

The Florida Department of Revenue also maintains a statewide property tax data portal where you can download bulk county-level data files. This tool is useful for researchers, investors, and others who need aggregate data rather than individual parcel lookups.

All property tax records are open to the public under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. You do not need to give a reason for your request. You do not need to be a Florida resident. Certain personal data on exemption applications, like Social Security numbers, is shielded, but the core assessment and tax data is fully public.

Property Tax Exemptions in Seminole County

Florida law provides several exemptions that apply to eligible Seminole County parcels. The homestead exemption is the most common. It reduces the assessed value of a primary residence by up to $50,000. The first $25,000 covers all taxing authorities. The second $25,000 applies to the value between $50,000 and $75,000 and covers all authorities except the school board.

Homestead also triggers the Save Our Homes assessment cap. Once applied, the assessed value of a homesteaded property can only increase by 3% or the rate of inflation each year, whichever is less. This cap is set out in Chapter 193, Florida Statutes. Over time, the SOH cap can create a large gap between just value and taxable value, keeping tax bills lower than they would otherwise be.

Other exemptions available in Seminole County include those for seniors with limited income, disabled persons, widows and widowers, and veterans with service-connected disabilities. Each exemption has its own eligibility rules and filing deadline. Most must be filed by March 1. Applications go to the Property Appraiser's office. Full details on all Florida exemptions are in Chapter 196, Florida Statutes.

Business owners in Seminole County should also know that tangible personal property used in a business has an automatic $25,000 exemption. You get it by filing a TPP return with the appraiser by April 1. If you miss that date, penalties can apply.

Appealing a Seminole County Property Assessment

Each summer, the Property Appraiser mails a TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice to every property owner. This notice shows the proposed assessed value and what taxes will look like at that value. You have 25 days from the TRIM mailing date to file a petition with the Seminole County Value Adjustment Board if you disagree with the assessed value.

The VAB is a local board with members from the county commission and school board, plus citizen appointees. When you file, you get a hearing before a special magistrate. You present your evidence, the appraiser presents theirs, and the magistrate makes a recommendation. The board votes to accept or reject that recommendation. VAB proceedings follow Chapter 194, Florida Statutes.

Good evidence includes comparable sales from nearby properties, photos of any damage or condition issues, and an independent appraisal if you have one. The burden is on you to show the appraiser's value is wrong. If you lose at the VAB level, you can still file a lawsuit in circuit court, though most disputes are resolved before that step.

Note: Pay at least the non-disputed amount of your tax bill while an appeal is pending. Failing to do so can result in additional penalties, separate from the outcome of the appeal itself.

Payment Options for Seminole County Taxes

Tax bills are mailed in November. The face amount is the full tax with no discount applied. Pay in November for 4% off. Wait until March and you pay the full amount. After March 31, the account becomes delinquent and penalties begin.

You can pay online through the Tax Collector's website using a credit card or e-check. Mail-in payments by check are accepted at P.O. Box 630, Sanford, FL 32772-0630. In-person payment is available at branch locations. The collector's office can provide current location and hours information by phone at (407) 665-1000.

Seminole County also offers a quarterly installment plan for those who want to spread out payments. Enrollment must happen in the spring before the tax year. The plan breaks the estimated tax into four payments due in June, September, December, and March. This avoids the lump-sum payment in November and can help with budgeting.

If taxes remain unpaid past March 31, the Tax Collector holds a certificate sale in June. Investors pay the delinquent taxes and receive interest-bearing certificates. The property owner can still pay off the certificate, but after two years the certificate holder can apply for a tax deed. That process can ultimately lead to the loss of the property. The Florida Tax Collectors Association has general information on this process statewide.

Public Records Access in Seminole County

Florida has some of the strongest public records laws in the country. Under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, government records are presumed public. Anyone can access them. Property tax records, the assessment roll, tax roll, exemption data, and payment history, are all public. You don't need to explain why you want the records.

Online access through the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector websites is free. For records not available online, or for certified copies, you can submit a written request to either office. They must respond in a reasonable time. Large requests may carry a fee for staff time or copy costs, but the underlying data is open to all.

The Florida DOR directory of county property appraisers and tax collectors has current contact information for all county offices, including Seminole.

The Florida DOR provides oversight, guidance, and statewide data resources that supplement county-level records.

Cities in Seminole County

Sanford is the county seat and largest city in Seminole County. Other communities in the county include Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, and Winter Springs. All parcels in these cities are assessed by the same Seminole County Property Appraiser office in Sanford, regardless of which city they sit in. None of the cities in Seminole County currently qualify for individual city pages based on population thresholds.

Nearby Counties