Permanent Florida residency required on January 1. How to Declare Your Property as a Homestead.In order to qualify for homestead exemption: You must be a Florida resident. Meet the March 1 filing deadline. You may visit one of our locations, or fill out and sign an Assessor's Exemption Application Form in front of a Notary Public and mail that application to the. The new owner must apply for the exemption no later than March 1 of the next year. Homestead Fraud Report Form (Please fill out form and click Submit). If you need a Homestead Declaration Form, we will be happy to provide one for you. We are not permitted to assist in completing the legal document. However,. The refugee's application for the homestead ad valorem tax exemption had been denied.