Property owners in Florida may be eligible for exemptions and additional benefits that can reduce their property tax liability. To qualify for the exemption, you must be a permanent resident of Florida, and the home must be your primary residence.The homestead can't exceed one acre in a city or 160 acres in a rural area. A completed Homestead Exemption Application showing the homestead address. To obtain the benefits of the homestead exemption for asset protection, the debtor must be a resident in Florida. Claiming a Florida homestead exemption involves some very specific requirements that must be completed within a specified time frame. When to file: Application for all exemptions must be made between January 1 and March 1 of the tax year. General Residence Homestead Exemptions: You may only apply for residence homestead exemptions on one property in a tax year. But in Florida, people who live in the homes they own as their primary residence can get tax breaks called homestead exemptions. Return to Harris County Appraisal District,.