Ron DeSantis wants to block New Yorkers from cashing in on his no property tax plan and
The idea of eliminating property taxes in Florida has been getting attention, fueled by comments from Governor Ron DeSantis and ongoing conversations among state lawmakers. The proposal would drop property taxes for primary residences while keeping taxes in place on investment and commercial properties, DeSantis said in a recent press conference. (1)
For homeowners — and would-be movers from high-tax states — the concept is undeniably appealing.
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Florida already stands out as one of the most tax-friendly states in the U.S., largely because it has no state income tax. That alone has made it a magnet for residents relocating from places like New York and California, where taxes take a toll on household budgets. Removing property taxes would take that appeal even further, potentially saving homeowners thousands of dollars annually.
However, property taxes are a cornerstone of how local governments in Florida operate. They fund public schools, emergency services, infrastructure and community programs. Eliminating them would create an inevitable revenue gap that would need to be filled elsewhere, whether through higher sales taxes, new fees or alternative funding models.
Who would benefit from the end of property taxes in Florida?
Florida already has systems in place that favor full-time residents — most notably, the Homestead Exemption. (2) This benefit reduces the taxable value of a primary residence and caps annual increases, but it requires homeowners to establish permanent residency in the state. These kinds of protections are designed to prevent people from immediately moving in and taking advantage of tax breaks without truly committing to living in the state.
If property taxes were ever reduced or eliminated, similar guardrails could become a central part of the policy conversation. Lawmakers are looking for ways to ensure that longtime residents — rather than short-term or opportunistic movers — receive the greatest benefit. In a state experiencing rapid population growth, that balance is both politically and economically significant.
DeSantis reiterated a common question he gets during the press conference: “Should someone from New York be able to move the day after the election and, all of a sudden, they don’t pay?” he asked. “I think they should pay for a time.” (1)