Lakeland kept its city tax rate at 5.4323 mills for 2026. Polk County bills earn a 4% discount if paid in November and are late after March 31.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: the Polk County Property Appraiser and its important dates, the Polk County Tax Collector, the 2025 final millage rates and LkldNow’s report on the Sept. 24 budget vote.
Two county offices handle your property tax bill. The Polk County Property Appraiser sets the value of your home and handles exemptions. The Polk County Tax Collector sends the bill and takes the money. The rates come from the city, the county, the School Board and special districts. In Florida you save by paying early: 4% off in November.
Who to call
- Property Appraiser (values, homestead, exemptions): 863-534-4777, polkflpa.gov
- Property Appraiser, Lakeland office: 930 E. Parker St., Suite 272, 863-802-6150, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
- Tax Collector (bills, payments, installments): 863-534-4700, search and pay
- Exemption questions by email: paexemptions@polkflpa.gov
The Property Appraiser’s Bartow office has no in-person counter service while it is being renovated; the Lakeland office at 930 E. Parker St. is open.
The tax rate
Lakeland’s own rate is 5.4323 mills, or $5.4323 for every $1,000 of taxable value. The City Commission voted 7-0 on Sept. 24 to keep it for fiscal 2027, which began Oct. 1; City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said the city has held that rate since 2022. Rising values and new construction will bring in about $3 million more than last year, LkldNow reported.
The city is only part of the bill. These are the 2025 final rates, the latest full set the Property Appraiser has published:
| Taxing authority | Mills |
|---|---|
| Polk County general fund | 6.6348 |
| City of Lakeland | 5.4323 |
| School Board, state-required rate | 3.0420 |
| School Board, local rate | 2.2480 |
| Lakeland Area Mass Transit District | 0.5000 |
| Southwest Florida Water Management District | 0.1831 |
| Total, tax area 91510 | 18.0402 |
Lakeland parcels outside the transit district paid 17.5402 mills. Properties inside the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority add 2 mills, for 20.0402. Fire protection, garbage collection, lighting and other services can appear on the bill as separate non-ad valorem assessments.
Chart: where the money goes
The Tax Collector’s own example: a property with a $75,000 taxable value and a 7.2-mill rate owes $540 to that taxing authority ($75,000 ÷ 1,000 × 7.2).
When to pay
From the Tax Collector’s discount schedule:
| Paid in | Discount |
|---|---|
| November | 4% |
| December | 3% |
| January | 2% |
| February | 1% |
| March | none |
Unpaid real estate taxes become delinquent on April 1, when 3% interest and an advertising charge are added. If the bill is still unpaid by June 1, a tax certificate (a lien) is sold on the property, per the Tax Collector’s delinquency page. The discount date is set by the postmark, the online payment date or the walk-in date.
Installments: you can pay in four parts if last year’s taxes were more than $100. The application is due before May 1 of the tax year; once enrolled, you are re-enrolled automatically. Details are on the installment page.
Homestead exemption
If you own and live in your home as of Jan. 1, file for the homestead exemption with the Property Appraiser. The filing deadline is March 1 under Florida Statute 196.011; in 2026 it fell on Monday, March 2. Late applications are accepted until the Value Adjustment Board petition deadline. Bought after Jan. 1? File for the following year.
The Property Appraiser asks for a Florida driver’s license showing the new address, a Social Security number and one proof of residency, such as Florida voter registration or Florida vehicle registration. Update your driver’s license address first. You can file online in about 15 minutes, the office says.
How to appeal your value
- Read your TRIM notice. The Truth in Millage notice, mailed Aug. 17 this year, shows your value, exemptions and the proposed rates.
- Call the Property Appraiser at 863-534-4777 to ask about the value. Many disputes end there.
- File a Value Adjustment Board petition. The 2026 deadline was Sept. 11, 2026. If you missed it and can show good cause, the Property Appraiser’s important dates page links the good cause petition.
On the Nov. 3 ballot
Two measures could change future bills:
- Amendment 3 (statewide) would raise the homestead exemption on non-school taxes from $50,000 to $150,000 on Jan. 1, 2027, and to $250,000 a year later, and cut the cap on yearly assessment increases for non-homestead property from 10% to 5%. It needs 60% of the vote. LkldNow reported the city estimates it would cost Lakeland about $14.5 million a year.
- Polk County Public Schools referendum: passed. Voters approved the 1-mill school property tax with more than 60% of the vote, the district said Nov. 4 (unofficial until certified). It adds $1 per $1,000 of taxable value for four years and is expected to raise about $65.6 million a year. See what the school tax costs you.
See voting in Polk County for registration and early voting.
What this means for you
- Pay in November for the full 4% discount.
- New homeowner? File for homestead by March 1.
- The 2026 appeal window has closed; next year’s TRIM notice arrives in August.
Related: Lakeland home prices, moving to Lakeland and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
When are Polk County property taxes due?
Bills can be paid from November with a discount: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. Unpaid taxes become delinquent on April 1.
What is the Lakeland property tax rate?
The city’s own rate is 5.4323 mills, unchanged since 2022 and kept for 2026. With county, school, water district and transit levies, the 2025 total was 18.0402 mills for Lakeland parcels in the transit district.
When is the homestead exemption deadline in Polk County?
First-time applications go to the Polk County Property Appraiser by March 1 of the tax year. You must have owned and lived in the home on Jan. 1.
How do I appeal my property value in Polk County?
Call the Property Appraiser first at 863-534-4777. If that does not settle it, file a Value Adjustment Board petition; the 2026 deadline was Sept. 11, 2026.
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