Taxes in Tallahassee
Tallahassee residents get Florida's statewide no-income-tax advantage, but property and sales taxes are genuinely local -- and as the seat of state government, Tallahassee is also where a live 2026 ballot measure that would reshape the statewide homestead exemption will actually be decided by the Legislature and voters.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreNo state income tax, statewide
Florida levies no state personal income tax on wages, retirement income, or investment income -- a statewide policy that applies identically in Tallahassee as everywhere else in Florida. It is not a Tallahassee-specific advantage, but it materially affects any total tax-burden comparison against income-tax states.
Leon County's property tax rate has held steady for over a decade
Leon County's general-fund millage rate is 8.3144 mills for fiscal year 2025, unchanged for the 13th straight year, per WFSU News' reporting on the county budget. TaxByCounty's 2026 calculator estimates Leon County's effective property tax rate at about 0.82% of assessed value. The county millage is only one layer, though -- combined with school district, city, and special-district levies, one source (a 2026 Tallahassee/Leon County taxes roundup via AOL) put the total combined millage at roughly 15.20 mills, of which about 6.39 mills funds schools; this combined figure is a synthesis rather than a single official pull and should be reconfirmed against the Leon County Property Appraiser directly before being treated as precise.
Homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap
A homesteaded primary residence in Florida gets a $25,000 exemption applying to all property tax levies, plus a second exemption of up to $26,411 in 2026 that applies only to non-school levies on assessed value above $50,000. Once homesteaded, the "Save Our Homes" provision caps annual assessed-value growth at 3% or the CPI rate, whichever is lower -- 2.9% for tax year 2025. The filing deadline is March 1 of the tax year, with late filing sometimes accepted for good cause until the tax roll is certified (typically September).
A live statewide ballot measure worth watching -- decided right here
A proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 1F, 'Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes') is slated for the November 2026 statewide ballot and would raise the standard homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 if approved by voters. Because Tallahassee is the seat of the Florida Legislature, this is a case where the policy that will affect every Florida homeowner's property tax bill is being written and debated in the same city covered by this page -- worth tracking directly rather than assuming the current exemption figures above will remain fixed.
Sales tax
The combined sales tax rate in Leon County is 7.5% -- Florida's statewide 6.0% base rate plus a 1.5% Leon County discretionary surtax, per Avalara's 2026 rate tables.
Key takeaways
- Florida's lack of a state income tax applies fully in Tallahassee, as it does statewide.
- Leon County's general-fund millage rate has held at 8.3144 mills for 13 straight years (FY2025); TaxByCounty estimates an effective property tax rate of about 0.82%. A combined-millage figure of roughly 15.20 mills (all levies) appears in one secondary source but is not independently confirmed here.
- Homesteaded owners get a $25,000 exemption (all levies) plus up to $26,411 more (2026, non-school levies), and the Save Our Homes cap limits future assessed-value growth to 3% or CPI (2.9% for 2025) -- file by March 1.
- A November 2026 statewide ballot measure (HJR 1F) would raise the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 -- and, notably, is being decided by a Legislature that meets in Tallahassee itself.
- Combined sales tax in Leon County is 7.5% (6.0% state + 1.5% county surtax).
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Tallahassee overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert