A 2026 Guide to Property Taxes in Tamarac, FL

Tamarac has built a reputation for offering some of the most accessible home prices in Broward County. Whether you are eyeing a golf course villa or a single-family home near the Sawgrass Expressway, the sticker price often looks great compared to neighbors like Parkland or Weston. But as any experienced local agent will tell you over a cup of coffee: the purchase price is only half the story. You have to look at the monthly carrying costs, and that means understanding the tax bill.

If you are looking at homes for sale in Tamarac FL, you might notice that the tax rates here are structured a bit differently than in other parts of South Florida. Your total bill isn’t just one big number decided by the city. It’s a mix of “Ad Valorem” taxes—which are based on your home’s value—and specific service fees that everyone pays regardless of home size.

In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly how the bill comes together for the 2025/2026 tax year, the exemptions that can save you thousands, and the key deadlines you need to mark on your calendar.

How Tamarac Property Taxes Are Calculated

Most people think the property tax bill is complicated, but the math is actually straightforward once you know the formula. It really comes down to three main numbers: your home’s assessed value, the exemptions you qualify for, and the local millage rate.

The basic equation looks like this: (Assessed Value – Exemptions) x Millage Rate = Ad Valorem Tax

Once you have that number, you simply add on the “Non-Ad Valorem Assessments” (we’ll get to those in a minute) to get your final total.

The Broward County Property Appraiser (BCPA) is the entity responsible for setting that first number—the value of your home. They determine the “Just Value” based on market sales, but if you are a permanent resident, your “Assessed Value” is often capped by the Save Our Homes amendment, keeping it lower than the actual market price.

On the other side of the equation, the taxing authorities—like the City of Tamarac, the County Commission, and the School Board—meet every August and September to set the millage rate. That rate determines how much tax you pay for every dollar of property value.

Current Millage Rates in Tamarac (2025/2026)

So, what is the actual rate right now? To understand the cost of living in Tamarac, you need to look at the “millage.” One “mill” equals one dollar of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

For the 2025 tax bills (payable in 2026), the total millage rate for Tamarac residents (Tax District 3112) sits at approximately 21.0965 mills.

Here is how that total rate generally breaks down:

• City of Tamarac Operating: roughly 7.0 to 7.2 mills. This pays for city parks, police, and local infrastructure.
• School Board: roughly 6.3 mills. This portion funds public education in Broward County.
• County & Library: roughly 5.6 mills. This covers broader county services.
• Other Districts: The remainder goes to entities like the South Florida Water Management District, the Children’s Services Council, and the Hospital District.

It is worth noting that these rates can fluctuate slightly during budget hearings each year. You will see the proposed rates on your TRIM notice, which usually arrives in your mailbox in August.

Hidden Costs: Non-Ad Valorem Assessments

If you are looking at condos for sale Tamarac FL, this section is critical. While millage rates are based on value, Non-Ad Valorem assessments are flat fees. Whether your home is worth $150,000 or $800,000, you generally pay the same amount for these specific services.

These assessments cover essential services like fire rescue and trash collection. Because they are flat fees, they can make the “effective” tax rate feel much higher on lower-priced properties.

Here are the estimated assessments you should budget for in the 2025/2026 cycle:

• Fire Rescue Assessment: Approximately $420 per residential unit.
• Solid Waste (Trash/Recycling): Currently $278.75 annually per residential unit.
• Stormwater & Other Fees: These vary slightly but are generally smaller amounts.

When you add these up, you are looking at roughly $700 to $750 in fixed costs added to your bill before a single percentage of tax is calculated on your home’s value.

Real-World Examples: Estimating Your Tax Bill

Let’s run some numbers to see what this actually looks like for a buyer. We will use the approximate 21.0965 millage rate and the standard assessment fees.

Scenario A: The Single-Family Home Imagine you buy a home with a market value of $450,000. After you establish residency, let’s assume the Assessed Value is set at $350,000.

• Exemptions: You have the standard Homestead Exemption ($50,000).
• Taxable Value: $300,000 ($350k – $50k).
• Ad Valorem Tax: $300,000 x 0.0210965 = ~$6,329.
• Assessments: Fire, Waste, and Stormwater = ~$750.
• Total Estimated Bill: ~$7,079.

Scenario B: The Condo Now, let’s look at a condo with a market value of $200,000 and an Assessed Value of $150,000.

• Exemptions: Standard Homestead Exemption ($50,000).
• Taxable Value: $100,000.
• Ad Valorem Tax: $100,000 x 0.0210965 = ~$2,110.
• Assessments: Fire, Waste, and Stormwater = ~$750.
• Total Estimated Bill: ~$2,860.

Notice how on the condo, the fixed assessments make up a larger chunk of the total monthly cost.

Saving Money: Homestead & Senior Exemptions

The best way to lower your tax bill is to make sure you are claiming every exemption available to you. The most important one is the Florida Homestead Exemption. This knocks up to $50,000 off your assessed value ($25,000 off all taxes, and another $25,000 off non-school taxes). It also caps how much your assessed value can rise each year—either 3% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower.

But Tamarac is particularly known for being supportive of its retiree population, and there are extra savings if you qualify.

Additional Senior Exemptions If you are age 65 or older and meet specific income requirements (adjusted annually, roughly $38,686 for the 2025 tax year), the City of Tamarac offers an Additional Senior Exemption. This can reduce your assessed value by an extra $25,000 specifically for the city portion of your taxes.

Long-Term Resident Senior Exemption For those who have lived in their home for at least 25 years and meet the age and income criteria, there is an exemption that can cover 100% of the City’s Ad Valorem taxes, provided the home’s value is under $250,000.

Insider Tip: Keep an eye out for the “Tamarac Economic Empowerment Dividend” (TEED). This is a relief grant program the city has launched recently to help qualifying residents with living costs. It’s not a tax exemption on the bill itself, but it puts money back in your pocket.

Deadlines, Discounts, and How to Pay

Paying property taxes in Broward County follows a strict timeline. If you have a mortgage, your lender likely pays this from your escrow account, but it is still your responsibility to check that it’s paid.

Key Dates:

• August: You receive your TRIM Notice, which shows your property’s value and proposed tax rates.
• November 1: The official tax bills are mailed out.
• March 31: The final due date to pay without penalty.

If you are paying the bill directly (not through escrow), you can save money by paying early. The Broward County Tax Collector offers a sliding scale of discounts:

• 4% off if paid in November.
• 3% off if paid in December.
• 2% off if paid in January.
• 1% off if paid in February.

You can pay online via the Broward County Tax Collector website, by mail, or in person.

How Tamarac Compares to Nearby Cities

When you compare Tamarac to its neighbors, you might notice the millage rate is slightly higher. For context, Tamarac’s total rate is around 21.1 mills, whereas Fort Lauderdale is closer to 18.6 mills and Weston sits around 17.4 mills. It is roughly comparable to homes for sale in Sunrise FL (~20.5 mills) and homes for sale in Coral Springs FL (~20.3 mills).

However, looking at the rate alone can be misleading. You have to consider the “Total Cost of Ownership.” Tamarac home prices are often significantly lower than Weston or Fort Lauderdale for comparable square footage.

Ideally, you balance the two: you might pay a slightly higher tax rate here, but your mortgage principal is lower because the purchase price was more affordable. It often works out to a very competitive monthly payment, which is why the area remains so popular.

Frequently Asked Questions