How Volusia County property taxes work
Volusia County property taxes are calculated by multiplying your property's taxable value by the combined millage rate. The taxable value is your assessed value minus any applicable exemptions. The combined millage rate includes the county levy, school district levy, and any municipal or special district levies that apply to your specific parcel.
Volusia County's median effective property tax rate — actual bills divided by market value, after exemptions — runs approximately 0.96% based on current data. This is slightly below the national median of 1.02% and below Florida's most expensive counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach all run higher). The total millage rate for properties in Daytona Beach proper is approximately 18.13 mills (1.813%) on unexempted value.
| Area | Approximate Total Millage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daytona Beach (city) | ~18.1 mills | Includes city millage on top of county + school |
| Ormond Beach (city) | ~16–17 mills | Lower city levy than Daytona Beach proper |
| Port Orange (city) | ~16–17 mills | South Daytona area |
| DeLand (city) | ~16–18 mills | West Volusia; verify current rate |
| Unincorporated Volusia | ~15–16 mills | No city levy — typically the lowest rate in county |
Where Latitude Margaritaville and Plantation Bay Sit
Latitude Margaritaville is on LPGA Boulevard in the City of Daytona Beach, subject to full city millage. Plantation Bay and Halifax Plantation in Ormond Beach pay Ormond Beach city millage, which runs lower. Cresswind at Victoria Gardens in DeLand pays DeLand rates. When comparing communities across Volusia County, the city vs. unincorporated distinction matters for your tax bill.
Florida's $50,000 homestead exemption — what it does and doesn't do
Florida's standard homestead exemption reduces your taxable assessed value by $50,000 on your primary residence. The first $25,000 applies to all taxing authorities including school district. The second $25,000 applies to all authorities except school district taxes.
In practice, on a $490,000 assessed value, you pay taxes on approximately $440,000–$452,500 depending on how the school district portion is applied. At Volusia County's approximate effective rate, the homestead exemption saves $480–$525 per year compared to paying on the full $490,000 assessed value.
You must file for homestead exemption by March 1 of the tax year. You cannot claim homestead in Florida if you claim a primary residence exemption in another state. Applications are filed with the Volusia County Property Appraiser (vcpa.vcgov.org).
Why the seller's tax bill is irrelevant to your cost
Florida's Save Our Homes amendment caps annual increases in assessed value on homesteaded properties at 3% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. A long-term homesteader's assessed value can fall far below market value.
When that homesteader sells and you buy, the Save Our Homes cap resets. Your assessed value becomes your purchase price as of January 1 of the following year. The seller's tax bill — which may reflect a decade of 3% caps — has no bearing on your first tax bill.
The Latitude Margaritaville Tax Reset in Real Numbers
A buyer who purchased at Latitude Margaritaville in 2020 for $320,000 may have an assessed value of approximately $360,000 today after five years of 3% caps — generating an annual tax bill of roughly $2,976 (after homestead).
If you buy that home at $490,000 in 2025, your assessed value resets to $490,000 on January 1, 2026. After homestead, you pay tax on $440,000. At Volusia County's effective rate, your first full tax bill: approximately $4,224. The seller's $2,976 becomes your $4,224 — a $1,248/year increase the listing never mentions.
Always request a buyer's tax estimate from the Volusia County Property Appraiser based on your purchase price, not the current tax bill shown in the listing.
Additional property tax relief for 65+ buyers in Volusia County
Florida law gives counties the option to offer an additional homestead exemption for seniors aged 65 and older who meet income requirements. Volusia County has adopted this option. The income threshold is adjusted annually — as of the most recent data, the household income limit is approximately $38,686 per year.
Seniors who qualify — aged 65+, Volusia County homestead, household income at or below the threshold — can receive an additional exemption of up to $50,000 in assessed value reduction. For buyers on fixed incomes at or near this threshold, the combined standard homestead plus senior exemption can reduce taxable assessed value by up to $100,000.
On a $390,000 home: $390,000 minus $100,000 in combined exemptions = $290,000 taxable value. At 0.96% effective rate: approximately $2,784/year. Compared to $3,264 without the senior exemption — a savings of $480/year. Not transformative, but real money over a 10-year retirement horizon.
Who Qualifies — The Key Requirements
Age 65 or older on January 1 of the tax year. Florida homestead on the property. Household income (all members) does not exceed the annual threshold (approximately $38,686 — adjusted yearly). Apply by March 1 with the Volusia County Property Appraiser. Required documentation: proof of age, Florida residency, homestead status, and prior-year income documentation for all household members.
The exact steps before you close
- Find the parcel number. Every property in Volusia County has a unique parcel ID. Find it on the Volusia County Property Appraiser website (vcpa.vcgov.org) by searching the property address. The parcel ID is used for all subsequent lookups.
- Run the tax estimator. The Volusia County Property Appraiser website includes a tax estimator tool. Enter your proposed purchase price and exemptions to get a projected first-year tax bill based on current millage rates. This is the buyer estimate — not the seller's current bill.
- Check for CDD assessments. On the Volusia County Tax Collector website (vcgov.org/tax-collector), pull up the parcel's current tax bill. Look for non-ad valorem assessment line items — these are CDDs, MSBUs (Municipal Service Benefit Units), or special assessments that do not appear in the ad valorem tax estimate. At Latitude Margaritaville, the CDD appears here.
- Add it all up. Your total annual government cost = ad valorem tax estimate + all non-ad valorem assessments. Divide by 12 for monthly carrying cost.
- Apply senior exemption if eligible. If you are 65+ and meet the income threshold, contact the Property Appraiser to determine your additional exemption amount and deduct it from taxable value before applying the millage rate.
Related Research
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Get Free Research Help →Tax estimates and rates are based on publicly available Volusia County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector data as of 2025–2026. Millage rates are set annually and subject to change. Senior exemption income thresholds are adjusted annually — verify current thresholds with the Volusia County Property Appraiser before applying. This guide is for research purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Consult the Volusia County Property Appraiser (vcpa.vcgov.org) for property-specific figures.