Form DR-501, Original Application for Homestead and Related Tax Exemptions – Manatee County, FL

What is DR-501?

Who needs to file DR-501?

When to file DR-501

Documents you need

• Florida driver license or, if you do not drive, a Florida identification card: attach a copy for each applicant.
• Florida vehicle tag registration(s) for all vehicles owned or leased by you: attach a copy.
• Manatee County voter registration card, only if you are registered to vote: attach a copy.
• Resident Alien Card copy, if you are not a United States citizen.
• If title to the property is held in a trust: a copy of the entire trust agreement or a recorded Memorandum of Trust, submitted with the application.
• For a mobile home: proof of ownership (title or registration) for both the mobile home and the real property, plus Form DR-402, the Real Property application.
• For portability of the Save Our Homes cap, if you had a Florida homestead in 2024, 2025 or 2026: Form DR-501T, Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference, by the March 1 deadline.
• For age 65 and older exemptions: proof of age; the benefits table also lists Form DR-501SC (household income) for the limited income exemptions.
• For other added benefits: the proof the table on page 5 lists for that benefit, such as a spouse's death certificate for the widowed exemption or proof of disability from a Florida physician, DVA or SSA.
• If you do not have a Manatee voter registration or Florida vehicle registration: contact the office for a list of acceptable alternate documents.

How to fill out DR-501

1. 1

   Confirm county, tax year and application type

   At the top of page 1, check that County is Manatee and Tax Year is 2027. Mark New or Change to show what you are applying for.

2. 2

   Enter the property information

   Give the homestead address, the mailing address if different, and the parcel identification number or legal description. Enter the type of deed, the date of deed, and the recording details: Book, Page, Date or Instrument number.

3. 3

   Answer the trust question

   Mark Yes or No for whether the property is in a trust. If Yes, enter the name of the trust as on the deed and attach the full trust agreement or a recorded Memorandum of Trust.

4. 4

   Complete applicant and co-applicant details

   In the Applicant and Co-applicant/Spouse columns, enter name, phone number, Social Security number and date of birth. The Social Security number is mandatory under section 196.011(1)(b), Florida Statutes.

5. 5

   Report citizenship and ownership

   Mark whether each person is a US citizen; if not, enter the Immigration # or Resident Alien Card #. Then enter the % of ownership, the date homestead was established, and the name and address of any owners not residing on the property.

6. 6

   Enter marital status and relationship

   Mark the marital status of the applicant and the co-applicant, explaining if you choose Other. Enter the co-applicant's relationship to the applicant, such as spouse, parent or sibling.

7. 7

   Disclose other homestead claims

   Mark Yes or No for whether the applicant and co-applicant currently claim residency or homestead in another county or state. Give the address and the dates the current or previous homestead was established and ended, if applicable.

8. 8

   Fill in the proof of residence table

   On page 2, provide as much as you can: previous residency outside Florida and date terminated, driver license or ID number, vehicle tag number, voter registration number, declaration of domicile, employer, last IRS return address, school location of dependent children, and Yes/No for bank statement and utilities at the homestead address.

9. 9

   Select additional benefits

   Check each added benefit you are applying for, such as the local-ordinance age 65 exemptions, widowed, blind or disability exemptions, veteran or first responder benefits. Items marked with a footnote 1 need an additional application. For the two veteran-related exemptions with a refund option, enter the previous parcel number and county if you had the same exemption on another parcel.

10. 10

    Read the certification, sign and date

    On page 3, read the authorization and certification that the information is true, correct and in effect on January 1 of this year. The applicant and co-applicant each sign and date; leave the property appraiser block blank.

11. 11

    Review and download the completed PDF

    Check each entry against your documents, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Assemble it with the copies described under How to submit and send it through one of the agency's channels.

How to submit DR-501

Common mistakes to avoid

• Filing after March 1, 2027; the instructions treat a late filing as a waiver of the exemption for the year.
• Assuming the previous owner's homestead exemption on the tax notice carries over; the exemption is granted to the individual, so the new owner must reapply.
• Not owning the property and establishing permanent residence on it on or before January 1, 2027.
• Mailing the application without legible copies of the driver license or ID, vehicle registrations, and voter or Resident Alien Card documentation.
• Leaving out the trust agreement or recorded Memorandum of Trust when the property is held in a trust.
• Omitting the spouse's information in column two when the spouse is not filing for homestead.
• Filing on a mobile home without proof of ownership for both the home and the real property and without Form DR-402.
• Forgetting Form DR-501T by March 1 when you want to transfer the Save Our Homes cap from a previous Florida homestead.
• Sending the application without signing and dating it, or giving information that is not true as of January 1; knowingly false information is a first-degree misdemeanor.