Palatka property tax map.
What you actually pay in property taxes across Palatka and Putnam County. Real annual numbers, homestead exemption math, and how Putnam compares to neighboring counties.
How property tax works in Putnam County.
Florida has no state income tax, but it relies heavily on property tax to fund public services. Putnam County's effective tax rates run in the 1.0%-1.5% range — slightly above St. Johns County (0.93%) and Alachua (1.07%) but below Duval (1.18%) and the City of Jacksonville Beach (1.24%).
Buying? Search homes for sale in Palatka, FL
Selling? What’s my home worth?
Three things shape what you actually pay: the county/city/district millage rate, the assessed value, and your exemptions. Florida's homestead exemption shaves $50,000 off the assessed value for primary residences, which on a $205K home saves roughly $565/year.
The single most important thing buyers miss: when you buy in Florida, the seller's taxes are frequently lower than what your taxes will be in year two. The Save Our Homes amendment caps annual assessment increases at 3% for homesteaded properties, but the cap resets when ownership transfers. A long-time Putnam County owner — particularly someone who's owned their home for 15+ years — might be paying tax on an assessed value half the current market value. You'll start fresh at the full purchase price. Always estimate at the purchase price.
| Area | Effective Rate (Homestead) | Annual Tax on $250K Home* | Notable Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Palatka | 1.22% | $2,440 | City millage adds to county |
| Unincorporated Putnam County | 1.08% | $2,160 | Most common rate |
| Interlachen (city) | 1.16% | $2,320 | Small city millage |
| Crescent City | 1.18% | $2,360 | Small city millage |
| Welaka | 1.10% | $2,200 | Small town, low millage |
| Pomona Park | 1.10% | $2,200 | Small town, low millage |
*Annual tax estimate on a $250,000 home with homestead exemption applied. Effective rate = total annual tax ÷ assessed value, after homestead. Specific bills depend on additional special-district assessments where applicable.
The Save Our Homes cap, explained.
Florida's Save Our Homes (SOH) amendment limits annual increases in the assessed value of homesteaded properties to 3% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. In Putnam County, where home values have appreciated 35-55%+ since 2018, the SOH cap is the single biggest reason long-term residents pay disproportionately less tax than recent buyers.
The SOH cap is preserved for the homeowner as long as they own and occupy the home. When the home is sold, the cap resets and the new owner starts at the home's full market value. For buyers: the seller's tax bill is typically not a reliable predictor of what you'll pay.
Portability: Florida homeowners moving from one homesteaded property to another can transfer up to $500,000 of their SOH benefit. For in-state buyers moving to Palatka from elsewhere in Florida — and there are meaningful numbers of these, particularly from South Florida — this can be substantial savings. Out-of-state buyers don't get this benefit.
| Home Price | Lowest (Unincorporated) | Putnam Avg | Highest (City of Palatka) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $1,290 | $1,395 | $1,495 |
| $200,000 | $1,725 | $1,860 | $2,000 |
| $275,000 | $2,375 | $2,560 | $2,750 |
| $350,000 | $3,025 | $3,260 | $3,510 |
| $500,000 | $4,320 | $4,665 | $5,010 |
| $750,000 | $6,480 | $6,990 | $7,520 |
All figures assume homestead exemption applied. Non-homesteaded properties (second homes, investment, vacation rentals) typically run 25-35% higher than the figures shown above due to loss of homestead and SOH protections.
<a href="https://movewithmomentum.com/data/palatka-property-tax-map">Palatka Property Tax Map 2026 — Momentum Realty</a>Putnam County property tax sits in the middle of the North Florida pack — not as low as St. Johns or Alachua, but lower than Duval's higher-millage submarkets. The bigger affordability story isn't the millage rate, it's the underlying home prices being so much lower. A $275K Putnam County home carries roughly $2,560/year in property tax — compare that to $5,275 on a $550K St. Augustine home. The absolute dollar savings is what matters to most working-household buyers, and it's substantial.
Effective tax rates calculated from the most recent (2025 tax year) millage rates for Putnam County and applicable city millages. Effective rate = total millage applied to homesteaded assessed value ($50K exemption applied).
Primary sources: Putnam County Tax Collector · City of Palatka · Florida Department of Revenue. Data accuracy reflects Momentum Realty's best available information as of the last update date.
Important: Information on this page is for general informational purposes only and is not financial, legal, tax, or insurance advice. Always consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Affiliated Business Arrangement: The principal owners of Momentum Realty, Jon Brooks and Brittany Brooks, have a 50% ownership interest in Titan Title Services LLC. You are not required to use Titan Title Services LLC. There are frequently other settlement service providers available with similar services; you are free to shop around to determine that you are receiving the best services and rate. See full disclosures →
Last updated: Q2 2026 (May). Next refresh: Q3 2026 (August).
What changed since June 20, 2026
Updated November 4, 2026. The guidance above still applies; the market figures around it have moved since June 20, 2026. In Palatka, the median sold price over the past 12 months was $246,325 (up 7.1% from $230,000 a year earlier), with 130 homes for sale, 28 pending and 5.9 months of supply as of November 4, 2026. Putnam County had 398 active listings and 74 pending sales on November 4, 2026, with 805 closings over the past 12 months (down from 863 the 12 months before). The median list price was $244,900, or $176 per square foot, the median active listing had been on the market 86 days, and 5.9 months of supply reads as a balanced market on our scale.
Mortgage rates rose: the 30-year fixed averaged 6.47% in Freddie Mac's survey for the week of June 18, 2026 and 7.24% for the week of October 29, 2026. On a $246,325 home (the median sold price above) with 20% down, that moves principal and interest from about $1,242 to about $1,343 a month, roughly $101 more (our arithmetic; taxes and insurance not included).
On November 3, 2026, Florida voters approved Amendment 3 with about 62% of the vote when the race was called (unofficial results; 60% was needed). It raises the homestead exemption from non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments after that, and school taxes are not affected. It also cuts the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property, such as rentals and businesses, from 10% to 5%. Someone who was not a Florida resident on December 31, 2026 gets the current exemption when first qualifying, and the higher exemption starts in their fifth year. For a Putnam County homestead assessed at $150,000 or more, the 2027 step from $51,411 to $150,000 is worth about $988 a year at the FY2025-26 county-average non-school rate of 10.0211 mills (our arithmetic; city and special-district rates differ, and 2027 millage is not set yet).
Did Florida's Amendment 3 pass?
Yes. Voters approved it on November 3, 2026 with about 62% of the vote when the race was called, above the 60% required. The larger homestead exemption from non-school taxes starts in 2027 ($150,000) and rises to $250,000 in 2028.
How much could Amendment 3 save a Putnam County homeowner?
For a homestead assessed at $150,000 or more, about $988 a year in 2027 at the FY2025-26 county-average non-school rate of 10.0211 mills (our arithmetic). The real figure depends on your city, special districts and the 2027 rates local governments adopt.
Newer on this topic:
- Amendment 3 and mortgage rates: our November 3, 2026 brief
- Save Our Homes tax estimator
- What your property tax will be after you buy
- Putnam County Market Pulse
Sources: Momentum Realty county and city figures computed from realMLS (NEFAR) listing data as of November 4, 2026 (12-month closings; list price, price per square foot and days on market from current active listings); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey via FRED, weeks of June 18, 2026 and October 29, 2026; Putnam County Property Appraiser, FY2025-26 adopted budget (FY2025-26 millage); News4JAX and CBS12 election coverage, November 3, 2026; Momentum Research macro brief, November 3, 2026. Figures change daily; verify before relying on them. Equal Housing Opportunity.