Taxes in Venice
Venice property owners pay overlapping county, city, and school-district millage rates rather than one flat number, on top of Florida's standard sales tax and, for short-term rental owners, a countywide tourist tax. Beyond property tax, Venice residents benefit from Florida's lack of a state income tax and no state estate or inheritance tax.
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Learn moreThe millage stack: county, city, and school district
Sarasota County held its countywide millage rate at 3.30 mills for fiscal year 2025-2026, the lowest county rate in 37 years. Layered on top, the City of Venice's own council adopted a rolled-back operating rate of 3.845 mills for FY2025-26 (down from 3.9041 the prior year) plus a separate 0.3405-mill debt service rate tied to 2016 bond issues for the police station and road repaving, for a combined city rate near 4.19 mills -- the second property-tax cut in three years for the city. The Sarasota County School Board separately levies 6.095 mills countywide. These layers stack, plus any special-district or MSBU assessments specific to your parcel, so no single number represents an actual bill -- check the Sarasota County Property Appraiser's site for your address.
North Venice carries the county's highest effective rate
Within Sarasota County, North Venice has the highest effective property tax rate at 1.89%, while Myakka City has the lowest at 0.76%, per Ownwell's county-level property tax analysis. That's a real, sourced signal that where in the Venice area you buy -- not just the citywide millage -- meaningfully affects your actual bill, likely reflecting stacked city, school, and special-district levies specific to that area.
Homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap
Florida's 2026 homestead exemption for a primary residence totals $51,411, split between a fixed $25,000 slice applying to all levies (including school taxes) and a second, inflation-adjusted slice ($26,411 for 2026) applying to non-school levies only. Once homesteaded, the Save Our Homes cap limits annual assessed-value increases to the lesser of 3% or the change in CPI -- 2.7% for 2026 -- though this doesn't apply to a new buyer's first-year bill, which resets to the purchase-year market value. Non-homestead property (second homes, rentals) is instead capped at a 10% annual assessment increase with no exemption.
Sales tax, tourist tax, and what Florida doesn't tax
The combined sales tax rate in Sarasota County, including Venice, is 7% for 2026 (Florida's 6% state rate plus a 1% county discretionary surtax). Anyone renting property in the county for six months or less -- including short-term/vacation rental owners -- owes an additional 6% Tourist Development Tax on top of sales tax. Florida has no state personal income tax and no state estate or inheritance tax, though federal estate tax rules still apply regardless of state of residence.
Key takeaways
- Sarasota County's FY2025-26 millage is 3.30 (unchanged, lowest in 37 years); the City of Venice's combined operating-plus-debt rate is about 4.19 mills for FY2025-26; the school board levies 6.095 mills countywide -- these stack on your parcel.
- North Venice has the county's highest effective property tax rate (1.89%) while Myakka City has the lowest (0.76%), per Ownwell -- location within the Venice area matters, not just the citywide rate.
- The 2026 homestead exemption totals $51,411, and the Save Our Homes cap limits assessed-value growth to 2.7% for 2026 once homesteaded -- but not on a new buyer's first-year bill.
- Combined sales tax is 7% (6% state + 1% county); short-term rentals (six months or less) owe an additional 6% Tourist Development Tax; Florida has no state income, estate, or inheritance tax.
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