Tavares property tax: where it goes
A Tavares house pays 1.959% of its taxable value in property tax. For a house at $254,500 of market value with the homestead exemption, that's about $4,138 a year.
Tax is levied on the assessed value set by the Lake County Property Appraiser, minus exemptions.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $254,500 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake County BCC general fund | 0.5025% | $1,021 |
| Lake County voted debt service | 0.0072% | $15 |
| Lake County MSTU ambulance | 0.0463% | $94 |
| Lake County Water Authority | 0.0294% | $60 |
| Lake County School Board (state required local effort) (schools) | 0.3056% | $701 |
| Lake County School Board (local discretionary operating and capital) (schools) | 0.2998% | $688 |
| North Lake County Hospital District | 0.0405% | $82 |
| St. Johns River Water Management District | 0.0179% | $36 |
| City of Tavares | 0.6961% | $1,414 |
| City of Tavares voted debt service | 0.0133% | $27 |
| Total | 1.959% | $4,138 |
2026 tax year (fiscal year 2026-27), Lake County final millage, taxing authority code 000T (Tavares). Exemptions applied: Homestead exemption (first $25,000) ($25,000); Additional homestead exemption (up to $26,411; not on school taxes) ($26,411).
Ways to pay less
- Seniors 65+ with limited income: up to $50,000 off the assessed value for county taxes, up to $25,000 for Tavares'. Florida law provides an additional exemption for Senior Citizens over 65 with a homestead exemption and adjusted gross household income of no more than $38,686. Lake County authorizes it up to $50,000 and Tavares up to $25,000. How: Apply to the Lake County Property Appraiser between January 2 and March 1; household income documents are due by May 1.
- $5,000 exemptions for widows and widowers and for totally and permanently disabled owners. The widow/widower exemption and the disability exemption each reduce the assessed value of your property by $5,000. How: Apply to the Lake County Property Appraiser by March 1; the widow/widower exemption needs a copy of the death certificate, the disability exemption Form DR-416 or a Social Security letter.
- Veterans with a service-connected disability: $5,000 exemption. This exemption reduces the assessed value by $5,000 for a Florida resident honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. How: Apply by March 1 of the year you wish the exemption to begin, with a letter from the U.S. Government or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as proof.
- Pay your tax bill by November 30 for 4% off. The Lake County Tax Collector gives a 4% discount if paid in full by November 30, 3% by December 31, 2% by January 31 and 1% by February 28. How: Pay the Lake County Tax Collector; for mailed payments, the postmark sets the discount.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 (in 9 days) | Lake County property tax collection begins November 1; paying in full by November 30 takes 4% off (3% by December 31, 2% by January 31, 1% by February 28). |
| Mar 1 | Deadline to apply for the homestead exemption with the Lake County Property Appraiser. |
| Mar 31 | The gross amount of the property tax bill must be paid by March 31. |
| Apr 1 | Unpaid taxes become delinquent on April 1, when 3% statutory interest is added. |
Pay or manage it
- Pay property tax (Lake County Tax Collector) ↗
- Apply for homestead exemption (Lake County Property Appraiser) ↗
Sources
- Lake County PA 2026 final millage rate sheet
- Lake County PA 2026 millage and values comparison
- Lake County Tax Collector property taxes
- Lake County PA exemptions
- Florida DOR pt113 homestead
- Florida DOR municipal public service tax database
Checked October 22, 2026. Every number here comes from the public sources listed, matched by our checker.
Rates change every year; this page shows when it was last checked. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.