Buying in Central Florida
Property Taxes in Lake and Orange County, Florida
In Central Florida your property tax is the home's taxable value times the combined millage rate for its exact location: about 16.7 mills (1.67%) in Clermont for 2025 before exemptions. A buyer's bill is based on the new assessed value after the sale, not the seller's capped value, so it is often higher. Bills go out around November 1 and are due by March 31, with a 4% discount for paying in November.
Kris Persaud · Watson Realty Corp. · 1390 N Hancock Rd, Clermont, FL 34711
The formula
How the Bill Is Worked Out
Tax = taxable value × millage ÷ 1,000. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of taxable value. Taxable value is the assessed value minus any exemptions, and the millage is the sum of every authority that taxes that location: county, city, school board, water management district and others.
School taxes and non-school taxes are counted separately, because the second part of the homestead exemption only applies to non-school taxes.
Example: a $450,000 Clermont home at 2025 rates
| With homestead | Without homestead | |
|---|---|---|
| School taxes (6.0850 mills) | $2,586 (on $425,000) | $2,738 |
| Non-school taxes (10.5916 mills) | $4,229 (on $399,278) | $4,766 |
| Total before non-ad valorem charges | About $6,815 | About $7,504 |
Assumes the assessed value equals $450,000 and the 2025 homestead exemption of $50,722 ($25,000 + $25,722). Millage: Lake County Property Appraiser 2025 millage sheet, Clermont. Solid waste, fire and CDD assessments are extra. Estimate only.
Where you buy matters
Millage Rates by City
| Location | 2025 combined | 2026 city rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clermont | 16.6766 | 4.2000 (was 4.5900) | Wellness Way areas 17.1351 in 2025 |
| Minneola | 17.5866 | 5.4000 (was 5.5000) | |
| Groveland | 17.7866 | 5.5000 (was 5.7000) | |
| Montverde | 15.3966 | 2.8300 (no change) | |
| Unincorporated Lake County | About 13.0 to 13.5 | No city rate | Varies by district |
| Kissimmee (Osceola) | 17.4114 | 2026 combined: 17.3824 | Unincorporated Osceola 2026: 13.8253 |
Sources: Lake County Property Appraiser 2025 millage sheet and 2026 final millage comparison (October 9, 2026); Osceola County Property Appraiser 2025 and 2026 final millage. Lake's 2026 school rate is 6.0540, down from 6.0850.
| City | City rate (2025-26) |
|---|---|
| Winter Garden | 4.8565 |
| Ocoee | 4.9500 |
| Windermere | 3.7425 |
| Apopka | 4.4376 |
| Orlando | 6.6500 |
Source: Florida Department of Revenue, 2025 Table 1 comparison of levies, Orange County. Orange County's 2025 county-wide levies add county general 4.4347, school 6.4490, library 0.3748 and St. Johns River Water Management District 0.1793 mills. Unincorporated areas also pay fire and sheriff district levies.
The big surprise
Why Your Bill Won't Match the Seller's
A long-time homestead owner's assessed value has been held down by Save Our Homes, which limits yearly increases to 3% or inflation. When the home sells, the assessment resets to market value on the next January 1, and the seller's exemptions and caps end with the sale. The buyer inherits none of it (Fla. Stat. 193.155).
That's why Florida law requires every residential contract to warn buyers not to rely on the seller's current property taxes (Fla. Stat. 689.261). It also explains why county averages look low: the Tax Foundation puts the median tax paid in Lake County at about $2,433 and in Orange County at about $2,967, figures shaped by owners who have held their homes for years.
Non-homestead property, such as a second home or rental, has a separate cap of 10% a year on non-school taxes, which also resets after a sale (Fla. Stat. 193.1555).
Before you write an offer, run the price through the county's tax estimator: Lake County tax estimator or Orange County tax estimator.
Non-ad valorem
Extra Charges on the Bill
Some charges are based on the property, not its value, so exemptions don't reduce them. In Lake County these include solid waste and fire rescue assessments; in Orange County, garbage, streetlights, sewer and drainage districts. Many newer neighborhoods also have a Community Development District (CDD) assessment collected on the same bill. See the new construction guide for what to ask about a CDD.
Tax calendar
When Taxes Are Due
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| January 1 | Ownership, use and value are set for the year |
| March 1 | Deadline to file for homestead and other exemptions |
| August | Proposed tax notice (TRIM notice) mailed, showing value, exemptions and proposed rates |
| About November 1 | Tax bills mailed. Pay in November for a 4% discount |
| December, January, February | Discount drops to 3%, 2% and then 1% |
| March 31 | Full amount due |
| April 1 | Unpaid taxes become delinquent and interest is added |
Sources: Fla. Stat. 192.042, 197.162, 197.333; Lake County and Orange County tax collector websites, read October 10, 2026.
You can also pay in four installments with discounts (June, September, December and March) if you apply to the tax collector by April 30 (Fla. Stat. 197.222). If your lender escrows taxes, it pays the bill for you, usually in November.
At closing, the year's taxes are split between buyer and seller by the day. Because Florida taxes are paid in arrears, the seller usually credits the buyer for their share of the year so far.
Questions
Property tax questions
What is the property tax rate in Clermont, FL?
The combined 2025 millage in Clermont was 16.6766 mills, about 1.67% of taxable value before exemptions (Lake County Property Appraiser). For 2026 the city cut its own rate to 4.2 mills from 4.59.
How much are property taxes on a $450,000 home in Clermont?
At 2025 rates, about $6,815 a year with a homestead exemption and about $7,504 without, if the assessed value equals the price. Non-ad valorem charges such as solid waste are extra.
Why will my taxes be higher than the seller's?
The seller's assessment was capped by Save Our Homes. After a sale the home is reassessed at market value on the next January 1, and the buyer doesn't inherit the seller's caps or exemptions.
When are Florida property taxes due?
Bills go out around November 1 and are due by March 31. Paying in November earns a 4% discount, falling to 1% in February.
Where can I look up a home's property tax bill?
On the county tax collector's website, and you can estimate a buyer's taxes with the Lake County or Orange County property appraiser's tax estimator.
Keep reading
Related pages
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Kris Persaud · Watson Realty Corp. · 1390 N Hancock Rd, Clermont, FL 34711