Estimate your Alabama property tax based on the state's 0.38% average effective rate. Enter your home value for an instant, free calculation.
Enter any tax exemption amount you qualify for in Alabama
Alabama has among the lowest property taxes in the country — the typical homeowner pays under $1,000 a year. Residential property is assessed at only 10% of market value, and owners 65+ are exempt from the state portion entirely.
Alabama assesses residential (Class III) property at 10% of appraised market value. Millage applies to that assessed value — a statewide 6.5 mills plus local county, school, and municipal mills. The lien date is October 1, and homestead and other exemptions further reduce the taxable amount.
| Home Value | Estimated Annual Tax | Monthly (Escrow) |
|---|---|---|
| $195,000 (median) | $741 | $62/mo |
| $250,000 | $950 | $79/mo |
| $600,000 | $2,280 | $190/mo |
Effective rates vary within Alabama. These figures are median-tax-to-median-value estimates from U.S. Census ACS data (2019–2023 ACS 5-year (SmartAsset)) for some of the most populous counties:
| County | Effective Rate |
|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 0.59% |
| Mobile County | 0.46% |
| Madison County | 0.41% |
| Montgomery County | 0.44% |
| Shelby County | 0.48% |
| Baldwin County | 0.32% |
| Lee County | 0.44% |
| Tuscaloosa County | 0.31% |
Among these counties, effective rates range from about 0.31% in Tuscaloosa County to 0.59% in Jefferson County. Your actual rate depends on the local mill/millage set by your county, city, and school district.
Owner-occupied primary residences qualify for a regular homestead exemption (Homestead 1) that removes $4,000 of assessed value from state property tax and $2,000 from county property tax for owners under 65. It must be claimed with the county revenue commissioner or tax assessor.
Homeowners 65+ are exempt from the state portion of property tax regardless of income (Homestead 2), and those 65+ with limited income (Alabama taxable income around $12,000 or less) or who are permanently and totally disabled can receive a much larger exemption, often eliminating both state and county tax up to statutory limits (Homestead 3). Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, and certain surviving spouses, may be fully exempt on specially adapted or VA-acquired housing.
Property taxes become due October 1 and are delinquent after December 31, after which penalties and interest accrue and delinquent parcels are subject to the county's annual tax sale.
After a valuation notice, an owner may file a written protest with the county Board of Equalization, generally within 30 days. An unsatisfactory decision may be appealed to the county circuit court within 30 days.
Alabama has among the lowest property taxes in the U.S. — an effective rate of roughly 0.38%–0.40% of home value — and the typical homeowner pays under $1,000 a year, since homes are assessed at just 10% of market value.
Appraised market value is multiplied by the 10% residential assessment ratio, then by the local millage (a statewide 6.5 mills plus county, city, and school mills). A mill is $1 per $1,000 of assessed value, and homestead exemptions reduce the assessed value first.
Homeowners 65 and older are exempt from the state portion, and lower-income seniors (Alabama taxable income around $12,000 or less) or permanently and totally disabled owners can be exempt from both state and county taxes up to statutory limits. Rules vary by county.