Palm Beach County Florida PAPA Property Guide
Search Palm Beach County PAPA Records, PCN, Values, Homestead and Tax Bills
Palm Beach County property research starts with the Property Appraiser’s Public Access system—commonly called PAPA. The Property Appraiser maintains the parcel card, 17-digit Property Control Number, ownership, municipality, legal description, sale history, market value, assessed value, exemptions, taxable value and map tools. The Constitutional Tax Collector separately handles the actual tax bill and payment, while the Clerk & Comptroller maintains deeds, mortgages, liens and other Official Records.
This 2026 guide is built around the current tax-roll cycle. Palm Beach County has already submitted its 2026 preliminary tax roll, TRIM notices are scheduled for August 20, and the formal VAB appeal window will follow. Use the steps below to search the correct parcel, understand the value fields, prepare for TRIM, check homestead and portability, estimate buyer taxes and move from PAPA to the Tax Collector without confusing one office with another.
Search owner, address, PCN, subdivision or book/page
Decode all 17 digits of the Palm Beach PCN
Separate market, assessed and taxable values
Review 2026 TRIM, VAB and November tax-bill timing
ADDRESS → 17-DIGIT PCN → PAPA → TRIM → TAX BILL
PAPA PROPERTY SEARCH
PCN
Match
Market Value
Review
Homestead
Verify
TRIM / VAB
Prepare
2026 TRIM SCHEDULED • AUGUST 20
Property Appraiser
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS
Parcel identifier
17-digit PCN
2026 preliminary parcels
662,126
Editorial review
August 7, 2026
August 7, 2026 current status
Palm Beach County 2026 Property Roll Is Between Preliminary Values and TRIM
The most important upcoming event is the 2026 TRIM mailing. Palm Beach County’s Property Appraiser announced that 2026 Notices of Proposed Property Taxes and Non-Ad Valorem Assessments are scheduled to be mailed August 20, 2026. That notice is where owners should check 2026 market value, assessed value, exemptions, taxable value, proposed millage and the VAB filing deadline.
$551.94 billion
2026 preliminary countywide market value reported by the Property Appraiser.
+7.35%
Preliminary countywide taxable-value increase from 2025 to 2026.
$5.47 billion
Preliminary taxable new-construction value added to the 2026 roll.
57,383
Tangible personal property accounts reported in the preliminary roll.
Do not look for a final 2026 tax bill yet: TRIM is a proposed-tax notice, not the annual bill. The Tax Collector says 2026 property taxes open for collection November 1 and tax bills are mailed by the beginning of November.
Buying property right now? Use PAPA to study the parcel and use the Property Appraiser’s tax calculator for planning. Do not simply copy the seller’s prior tax bill, especially when the seller has a long-established Save Our Homes benefit.
Start with the correct constitutional office
Property Appraiser, Tax Collector and Clerk Handle Different Records
Property Appraiser
- PAPA property search
- 17-digit PCN
- Market and assessed values
- Homestead and exemptions
- Save Our Homes cap
- Portability
- TRIM notices
- Ownership/mapping records
Constitutional Tax Collector
- Annual property-tax bill
- Online tax lookup
- November–March payment
- Early-payment discounts
- Installment payment plan
- Receipts
- Delinquent taxes
- Tax certificates and deeds
Clerk & Comptroller
- Deeds and mortgages
- Liens
- Official Records
- Certified document copies
- Recording documents
- Tax deeds records
- VAB petition administration
- Property-record research
Fast routing rule: PCN, PAPA, market value, assessed value, exemptions, portability, TRIM or map = Property Appraiser. Bill, discount, payment or delinquency = Tax Collector. Deed, mortgage, lien or certified Official Record = Clerk.
Compare another Florida system: Palm Beach calls its public database PAPA and uses a 17-digit PCN. Orange County uses a different parcel-search structure. See the existing
Orange County Property Appraiser search guide when comparing Florida parcel identifiers and office workflows.
Choose the Palm Beach County Property Task You Need
Find owner or property
Search PAPA by owner, street address, PCN, subdivision, condominium or municipality.
Check property values
Review market, assessed, exemption and taxable values separately.
Research nearby sales
Use PAPA Nearby Sales or Advanced Sales Search before a value discussion or purchase.
Apply for homestead
Use the official e-file system and prepare Florida residency evidence.
Pay property taxes
Move from PAPA to the Tax Collector’s live Property Tax account system.
File a value appeal
Review the August TRIM deadline and file with the Value Adjustment Board when necessary.
Official PAPA property lookup
How to Search Palm Beach County Property Records
Palm Beach County’s advanced PAPA search supports far more than a basic address search. It can narrow real property by owner, address, PCN, subdivision, book/page, municipality, condominium complex, ZIP code, market-value range, property-use type, range-township-section and legal description.
Select real property.
Choose residential, commercial or all property types depending on the task.
Search owner names last name first.
PAPA’s example uses formats such as “Smith” or “Smith John.” Start broad before adding a first name.
Use street components carefully.
Search street number plus the core street name first. Add prefix, suffix, direction or unit number only when needed.
Use the PCN for an exact match.
PAPA accepts the number with or without hyphens.
Use subdivision or condominium search for large developments.
This is particularly useful in Palm Beach County’s condo communities, gated developments and large planned subdivisions.
Use Official Records Book/Page when you already have deed references.
PAPA can search book/page information and can display Official Records references inside the property card.
Open the matching parcel card.
Confirm municipality, owner, PCN, subdivision and legal description before trusting value or tax information.
Save the 17-digit PCN.
Reuse it for map search, tax lookup, TRIM review, VAB petitions, tax calculations and office calls.
Search smarter: PAPA’s broad filters are especially useful for owner portfolios, condominium complexes, market-value ranges, neighborhoods and sales research. Do not limit yourself to one exact-address search when the spelling or unit format may be different.
Palm Beach County’s parcel fingerprint
How to Decode the 17-Digit Property Control Number
Each parcel, condominium unit and cooperative living unit receives a unique 17-digit Property Control Number, or PCN.
74
Municipality / tax area
First two digits identify the municipality or unincorporated area.
42-43-15
Range / Township / Section
Six digits locate the parcel within the Public Land Survey System.
04
Subdivision
Two digits identify the development or subdivision grouping.
000
Block / building / floor
Three digits can identify a block or similar internal grouping.
0270
Parcel / lot
Final four digits identify the parcel and can preserve split genealogy.
SUBID: Palm Beach County calls the first 10 PCN digits the SUBID. It can be useful for grouping properties within the same subdivision or unplatted section.
Open the Official PCN Guide
See Palm Beach County’s explanation of municipality, range-township-section, subdivision, block and parcel digits.
Six Fields to Verify Before Using a PAPA Property Record
PCN
Match all 17 digits.
Location
Confirm property address.
Municipality
Check taxing location.
Owner
Match owner of record.
Legal description
Confirm lot/unit.
OR Book/Page
Compare deed reference.
Recent-sale lag: The Property Appraiser warns that transactions may not appear immediately because there can be elapsed time between a marketplace transaction and receipt of the transaction from external jurisdictions.
PAPA property-card decoder
What Palm Beach County Property Record Fields Mean
Location Address
Physical situs of the property.
Municipality
City or unincorporated jurisdiction connected to the parcel.
PCN
17-digit identifier used across Palm Beach property and tax workflows.
Official Records Book/Page
Recording reference that can help locate the deed in Clerk records.
Sales Information
Sale date, price, deed type and prior owner data.
Exemption Information
Approved homestead and other exemptions associated with the parcel.
Market Value
Property Appraiser’s estimate of full market value for the tax roll.
Assessed Value
Value after applicable assessment limitations such as Save Our Homes.
Taxable Value
Assessed value after applicable exemptions, subject to differences among taxing authorities.
Historical taxes on PAPA are not a live payoff: PAPA can display prior tax information for context, but current balance, discount, delinquency or payment status belongs with the Constitutional Tax Collector.
PAPA Countywide Map
Use the Palm Beach County Map Search for Parcel Context
The countywide PAPA map accepts searches by address, owner or PCN and includes parcel-selection, reporting, measurement and multi-property tools.
Advanced map feature: After selecting one or more parcels, the map can produce Property and Mailing Reports. This is useful for neighborhood research and multi-parcel analysis.
GIS is not a survey: Use map boundaries for research and orientation only. A legal boundary, setback or title decision may require a survey, recorded plat or other authoritative record.
Market Value, Assessed Value and Taxable Value Are Not the Same
Market Value
Property Appraiser’s estimate based on market conditions as of January 1.
This is the value owners normally compare with sales evidence.
Assessed Value
Market value after applicable assessment caps and limitations.
A long-held homestead can have a large gap between market and assessed value.
Exemptions
Homestead, veteran, disability, senior and other benefits can reduce taxable value.
Not every exemption applies to every taxing authority.
Taxable Value
The taxable base is used with applicable millage rates to calculate ad valorem taxes.
Non-ad valorem assessments are added separately.
Buyer warning: A seller’s low assessed value can reflect years of Save Our Homes protection. A sale can cause reassessment, so the buyer’s future tax bill can be substantially different from the seller’s bill.
Florida assessment limits
3% Save Our Homes Cap vs 10% Non-Homestead Cap
3%
Save Our Homes
For homestead-exempt property, annual assessed-value growth is limited to 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.
The first year of homestead establishes the property’s base for future SOH treatment.
10%
Non-Homestead Limitation
Generally applies to non-homestead property such as second homes, rentals, vacant land and commercial property.
The limitation does not apply to school-board millage and can reset after qualifying ownership changes or other statutory events.
A cap is not a cap on the entire tax bill: Changes in millage rates, non-ad valorem assessments, new construction and other factors can change taxes independently from the assessment cap.
Open Official 3% and 10% Cap Guide
Check Save Our Homes and non-homestead assessment limitation rules.
2026 regular filing deadline passed
Palm Beach County Homestead Exemption
A qualifying permanent Florida resident can receive homestead protection on a property owned and used as the permanent residence as of January 1.
First exemption
$25,000 is applied to the first $50,000 of assessed value and applies to all taxes, including school taxes.
Additional exemption
Florida provides an additional inflation-adjusted homestead amount for qualifying assessed value above $50,000; it does not apply to school taxes.
Save Our Homes
Homestead also establishes the assessment-cap protection discussed above.
2026 deadline: Palm Beach County’s regular deadline is March 1 or the next business day when March 1 falls on a weekend. March 1, 2026 was a Sunday, so the regular 2026 filing deadline moved to Monday, March 2.
What to prepare before filing
- Social Security numbers for applying owners and spouses
- Valid Florida driver license or Florida ID
- Florida vehicle registration when used as residency proof
- Florida voter registration when applicable
- Declaration of Domicile when applicable
- Federal tax return or utility documentation when requested
- Permanent-residency documentation for non-U.S. citizens
- Correct 17-digit PCN and ownership information
Move the Save Our Homes benefit
Palm Beach County Homestead Portability
Florida portability lets a qualifying owner transfer all or part of the Save Our Homes assessment difference from a former Florida homestead to a new Florida homestead.
Palm Beach County states that the transferable benefit can be as much as $500,000.
The new residence generally must be established on or before January 1 of the third year after abandoning the prior homestead, and the portability application deadline is March 1.
Higher-value move: When the new residence has a higher market value, the transferred assessment difference can reduce the new assessed value by the eligible portability amount.
Lower-value move: When moving to a lower-value residence, Florida uses a proportional calculation rather than automatically transferring the same dollar amount.
Open Palm Beach Portability Guide
Check eligibility, March 1 filing, examples and the Portability Calculator.
2026 notice scheduled August 20
How to Read the 2026 Palm Beach County TRIM Notice
The Notice of Proposed Property Taxes—commonly called the TRIM notice—is the annual warning point before the final tax bill. It shows the values and proposed rates that affect the upcoming tax cycle.
Valuation date
Property is valued based on conditions as of January 1.
Preliminary roll
Preliminary roll and exemption denial activity begins.
2026 TRIM mailing
Palm Beach County announced August 20 as the scheduled mailing date.
Value petition window
A valuation petition must be received no later than 25 days after TRIM mailing.
Tax collection
2026 taxes open for collection and annual bills are issued.
Delinquency
Unpaid annual property tax becomes delinquent after March 31.
Read these TRIM fields in this order
1. Market value
Ask whether the January 1 value reflects the property and relevant sales.
2. Assessed value
Check Save Our Homes or non-homestead limitations.
3. Exemptions
Verify homestead and other approved exemptions.
4. Taxable values
Different taxing authorities can have different taxable amounts.
5. Proposed millage
Taxing authorities—not the Property Appraiser—set proposed rates.
6. Petition deadline
Save the exact VAB deadline printed on the notice immediately.
Do not wait for the November bill to dispute value: The VAB value-petition deadline is tied to the August TRIM notice, not the later Tax Collector bill.
Open Palm Beach County TRIM Help
Review the proposed-tax notice, tax-rate contacts and valuation-dispute guidance.
Formal appeal route
How to File a Palm Beach County VAB Petition
Review TRIM
Identify the exact value, classification, exemption or portability issue.
Contact Appraiser
Request an informal discussion with the Property Appraiser.
File VAB petition
Submit the correct petition and fee before the statutory deadline.
Present evidence
Attend the scheduled hearing and present organized valuation evidence.
Informal discussions do not stop the deadline: Palm Beach County’s VAB specifically warns that talking with the Property Appraiser does not toll the petition deadline.
Valuation deadline: A real or tangible property valuation petition must be received no later than the 25th day following TRIM mailing. Denied exemption or classification petitions generally use a separate 30-day deadline following the denial notice.
2026 status: The Clerk’s 2026 online petition site was still being prepared when this article was verified. Paper petitions could already be filed in person or by mail. Check the live 2026 VAB page before filing.
Standard value petition
Current standard filing fee: $20 per parcel.
VAB address
301 N. Olive Ave.
Room 206
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Evidence to organize before filing
- 2026 TRIM notice
- 17-digit PCN
- Comparable sales
- Property-condition photos
- Repair estimates when relevant
- Incorrect building or land characteristics
- Professional appraisal when useful
- Exemption or portability documents when disputed
2026 taxes open November 1
Palm Beach County Property Tax Lookup and Payment
The Constitutional Tax Collector, Anne M. Gannon, collects Palm Beach County real-estate property taxes. The office says annual property taxes are payable November 1 through March 31.
Copy the PCN from PAPA.
Confirm the same parcel in the Tax Collector system.
Open the matching account.
Confirm PCN, owner, tax year and property before reviewing payment status.
Read the Collection Cart.
The Tax Collector’s FAQ says an amount due will appear in the Collection Cart; a paid account will display “No payment due for this account.”
Choose eCheck or card.
eCheck is free. Credit/debit card payments currently carry a 2.4% convenience fee with a $2 minimum.
Save the confirmation.
Keep the PCN, transaction number, tax year and payment date.
November
4%
Early-payment discount
December
3%
Early-payment discount
January
2%
Early-payment discount
February
1%
Early-payment discount
March
0%
Gross amount due
April 1: Unpaid property tax becomes delinquent and is subject to penalties and interest. Palm Beach County states that delinquent real-estate taxes cannot be paid through the normal online payment route.
Current online fees: eCheck is free. Credit/debit card payments carry a 2.4% convenience fee with a $2 minimum, charged by the payment processor.
No partial ordinary payments: The Tax Collector’s general payment rules state that partial payments are not accepted and a payment cannot be split across different payment methods. The formal Installment Payment Plan is the separate way to divide eligible taxes.
Four-payment budget option
Palm Beach County Installment Payment Plan
The Installment Payment Plan divides eligible annual property taxes into four payments rather than one November–March lump sum.
1st installment
One-quarter of prior-year estimated tax. Payment by June 30 receives a 6% discount; payment may be made through July 31 without that discount.
2nd installment
Due September 30 and based on one-quarter of estimated tax with the published plan discount.
3rd installment
Due December 31 and based on one-half of the remaining balance after earlier installments.
4th installment
Due March 31 for the remaining annual balance.
2026 enrollment is closed: The Tax Collector’s 2026 enrollment deadline was April 30. Enrollment for the 2027 Installment Payment Plan opens November 1, 2026.
Minimum estimated tax: The property or tangible tax must total more than $100 to qualify for the plan.
Open Installment Payment Plan
Check current enrollment status, payment calculations and due dates.
Existing unpaid prior-year taxes
What to Do With Delinquent Palm Beach County Property Taxes
Do not use an old statement
Request the current delinquent amount because penalties, interest and collection costs can change.
Online payment unavailable
Palm Beach County states that delinquent real-estate property tax cannot be paid through the standard online payment system.
Postmark rule changes
Once a tax is delinquent, the Tax Collector says postmark date is not proof of payment; payment must be received by the applicable deadline.
Delinquent tax help: Call the Constitutional Tax Collector at
561-355-2264 for a current amount and accepted payment methods.
Official Records are maintained by the Clerk
Search Palm Beach County Deeds, Mortgages and Liens
The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller maintains Palm Beach County Official Records, including deeds, mortgages, judgments, liens, plats and tax deeds. Current Clerk Mike Caruso oversees the office.
Start with PAPA.
Copy the owner name, legal description and Official Records Book/Page or instrument reference from the property card.
Search by party name and date.
Use grantor/grantee names and the approximate recording period.
Use the PAPA book/page reference.
This can quickly connect the assessment parcel with its recorded deed.
Open and verify the document.
Match party names, legal description, instrument type and recording information.
Order certification only when needed.
A free or ordinary copy may be enough for research; courts, lenders or other institutions may require a certified copy.
| Clerk service |
Current published fee |
Typical use |
| Ordinary copy |
$1 per page |
Basic property-document research. |
| Certification |
$2 per instrument |
Official certified paper copy, plus copy charges. |
| Electronic certified copy |
$8 per document |
Downloadable electronic certification; processor fee may apply. |
| Recording first page |
$10 |
Base recording charge for eligible standard-size instruments. |
| Additional recording page |
$8.50 |
Each additional standard-size page. |
| Deed documentary stamps |
$0.70 per $100 |
State documentary stamp tax when applicable to real-property conveyances. |
Free research copies: Palm Beach County’s Clerk says uncertified, watermarked Official Records can be viewed, saved and printed online without a document-copy charge.
Property card ≠ title opinion: PAPA ownership and sales information is designed for assessment purposes. Use recorded documents and qualified title/legal assistance for binding ownership, mortgage or lien conclusions.
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, Tax Collector and VAB Contacts
Property Appraiser Main Office
Dorothy Jacks
301 N. Olive Avenue, 5th Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-355-2866
Property Appraiser Hours
Monday–Friday
8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
General questions:
561-355-3230
Constitutional Tax Collector
Anne M. Gannon
301 N. Olive Avenue, 3rd Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-355-2264
Value Adjustment Board
Clerk & Comptroller
301 N. Olive Avenue, Room 206
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-355-6289
Property Appraiser regional offices: Palm Beach County also lists service centers in Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach and Belle Glade. Use the official contact page before traveling.
Tax Collector in-person service: The current Tax Collector site states that a reservation is required for in-person service at its service centers.
Official live-action routes
Palm Beach County Property Action Center
Search PAPA
Owner, address, PCN, subdivision, municipality, book/page and more.
Open PAPA Map
Search parcel location, measurements and multiple properties.
Tax Lookup
Check amount due, payment status and annual tax bill.
Official Records
Find deeds, mortgages, liens, plats and certified copies.
Exactly 10 Palm Beach-specific questions
Palm Beach County Assessor Property Search & Tax Lookup FAQs
1. How do I search Palm Beach County property records?
Use the official Palm Beach County Property Appraiser PAPA search. You can search by owner name, street address, 17-digit Property Control Number, subdivision, Official Records book/page, municipality, condominium complex, ZIP code, market-value range, property-use type or legal description. For an exact parcel match, save the PCN.
2. What is a Palm Beach County PCN?
The Property Control Number is a unique 17-digit identifier assigned to each parcel and to each condominium or cooperative living unit. The digits encode municipality or tax area, range-township-section, subdivision, block or similar grouping, and parcel or lot information.
3. Who is the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser in 2026?
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS, is the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. The main office is at 301 North Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach, and Property Appraiser service questions can be directed to 561-355-2866 or the general-question line at 561-355-3230.
4. Is the Property Appraiser the same as the Palm Beach County Tax Collector?
No. The Property Appraiser determines property values, exemptions, PCNs, assessment caps and TRIM information. Constitutional Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon collects the actual annual property-tax bill, processes payments and handles delinquent taxes.
5. When will Palm Beach County 2026 TRIM notices be mailed?
The Property Appraiser announced that the 2026 TRIM notices are scheduled to be mailed August 20, 2026. The notice will show 2026 market, assessed and taxable values, exemptions, proposed millage rates, public hearing information and the applicable VAB petition deadline.
6. What is the Palm Beach County VAB deadline for a value appeal?
A real or tangible property valuation petition must generally be received no later than the 25th day following the mailing of the TRIM notice. Because filing timing depends on the actual notice mailing, use the exact deadline printed on your 2026 TRIM and confirmed by the Clerk’s VAB office.
7. What was the Palm Beach County homestead deadline for 2026?
The regular deadline is March 1 or the next business day if March 1 falls on a weekend. March 1, 2026 was a Sunday, so the regular 2026 deadline was Monday, March 2. Homestead applicants must generally have owned and occupied the property as their permanent Florida residence as of January 1.
8. How does Save Our Homes portability work in Palm Beach County?
Florida portability allows a qualifying homestead owner to transfer all or part of the Save Our Homes assessment difference to a new qualifying Florida homestead, up to $500,000. Palm Beach County states that the new residence generally must be established by January 1 of the third year after abandoning the prior homestead and the portability application deadline is March 1.
9. When can I pay 2026 Palm Beach County property taxes?
The Tax Collector says 2026 property taxes open for collection November 1. Annual taxes are payable through March 31. Early-payment discounts are 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. Taxes become delinquent April 1.
10. Where do I search Palm Beach County deeds and liens?
Use the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Official Records search. Official Records include deeds, mortgages, judgments, liens, plats and tax deeds. A PAPA property card’s Official Records book/page or recording reference can help identify the correct deed.
Official Sources and Editorial Verification
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
PAPA, current Property Appraiser, exemptions, tax roll and public data.
PAPA Advanced Search
Owner, address, PCN, subdivision, book/page, municipality and value search.
PAPA Countywide Map
Owner/address/PCN search, map selection and measurement tools.
Property Tax Collector
Tax calculation, discounts, delinquency and annual collection schedule.
Value Adjustment Board
Petition filing, current fees, deadlines and hearings.
Official Records
Deeds, liens, mortgages, plats and certified record copies.
What was verified for this 2026 guide: Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks, Tax Collector Anne Gannon, Clerk Mike Caruso, 2026 preliminary tax-roll figures, August 20 TRIM schedule, 17-digit PCN structure, PAPA search fields, Save Our Homes and 10% assessment caps, homestead requirements, portability up to $500,000, VAB filing rules and $20 standard fee, Tax Collector discounts and online fees, Installment Payment Plan status, Official Records copy/recording fees and Palm Beach County office contacts.
CountyPropertyAppraiser.org is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, Constitutional Tax Collector, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Value Adjustment Board, Palm Beach County Government, Florida Department of Revenue, PAPA or any payment or records platform used by those offices.
Property ownership, market values, assessment caps, exemptions, taxable values, millage rates, TRIM dates, VAB deadlines, payment fees, officials, forms and portal interfaces can change. For a time-sensitive filing or payment, the live official record and notice control.
Editorial verification date: August 7, 2026.
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