Alaska Property Tax Calculator 2026

How Alaska Property Tax Works

Property tax in Alaska is an annual tax levied on real estate by local governments — primarily counties, municipalities, and school districts. The amount you owe is determined by your property's assessed value multiplied by the local mill rate. On average, Alaska homeowners pay 0.94% of their home's value in property tax each year, the same as the U.S. figure of 0.94%.

The effective rate combines all local levies: county tax, municipal tax, school district tax, and any special assessments. Because Alaska has multiple taxing jurisdictions, your actual rate depends heavily on where in the state your property is located. The 0.94% figure is all real-estate tax paid on owner-occupied homes in Alaska divided by their total value, as published in the Tax Foundation's Property Taxes by State and County, 2026 from Census Bureau American Community Survey data for 2020–2024. It is a statewide average — not a rate any single jurisdiction charges, and not your bill.

The Census Bureau puts the median owner-occupied home in Alaska at $352,900 and the median real-estate tax bill at $3,901 a year — roughly $325 per month when paid through a mortgage escrow account (American Community Survey, 2020–2024).

Who Collects Property Tax in Alaska — and How Rates Are Set

In Alaska, property tax is levied only by municipalities — organized boroughs and cities. There is no state property tax on homes, and large parts of the state have no property tax at all. Where the tax exists, the borough or city assessor sets values and the municipality sends the bill.

Mill rates (expressed as dollars of tax per $1,000 of assessed value) are set annually based on local budget needs. Ten mills is 1% of assessed value, which equals 1% of market value only where homes are assessed at full market value. States differ on that — some tax full market value, others a fixed fraction of it — so your assessment notice is the place to check which applies to you. If your home's market value rises faster than neighboring properties, your share of the tax burden can increase even if the mill rate stays the same.

To find your exact rate, contact your borough or city assessor's office or check its official website. Your most recent property tax bill will also show the breakdown of all levies applied to your parcel.

Alaska Property Tax Exemptions and Relief Programs

Alaska law requires every municipality that levies property tax to exempt part of the assessed value of the primary home of residents aged 65 or older, disabled veterans and certain surviving spouses, and it lets municipalities adopt an additional residential exemption for owner-occupiers by local vote (AS 29.45.030 and 29.45.050). The amounts are set in statute and local ordinance, so confirm the current figures with your borough or city assessor.

Veterans may qualify for separate property-tax relief, which takes a different form in each state - an exemption, a credit or a refund - so ask your borough or city assessor what Alaska offers. Agricultural land often receives a preferential assessment based on use-value rather than market value. If you believe your assessment is incorrect, you have the right to appeal — the deadline is printed on your assessment notice and is often only a few weeks away.

To apply for any exemption, contact your borough or city assessor. Most exemptions require an annual or one-time application and proof of eligibility (residency, age, disability documentation, etc.).

Tips to Manage Your Alaska Property Tax Bill

First, verify your assessment is accurate. Review your property record card at your borough or city assessor's office and check for errors in square footage, bedroom/bathroom count, or lot size. Even small errors can inflate your assessed value and tax bill. If the assessment seems high, look up recent sale prices of comparable homes in your neighborhood and file an appeal if warranted.

Second, apply for every exemption you qualify for. Homestead, senior, veteran, and disability exemptions can reduce your taxable value by thousands of dollars. Third, if your mortgage servicer handles tax payments through escrow, review your escrow statement annually. Servicers sometimes over-estimate and hold excess funds — you may be entitled to a refund. Finally, Alaska property tax due dates are set by each borough or city, so check your own bill.