Arizona Property Tax Calculator 2026

How Arizona Property Tax Works

Property tax in Arizona 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. The statewide effective rate is approximately 0.62% of market value, placing Arizona 0.48% below the national average of 1.10%.

The effective rate combines all local levies: county tax, municipal tax, school district tax, and any special assessments. Because Arizona has multiple taxing jurisdictions, your actual rate depends heavily on where in the state your property is located. The 0.62% figure is a weighted average across all Arizona counties.

On the median Arizona home valued at $334,000, the typical annual property tax bill is about $2,071 — or roughly $173 per month when paid through a mortgage escrow account.

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

In Arizona, property taxes are assessed and collected at the county level. Each county has an assessor who determines property values and a treasurer (or equivalent office) who collects taxes. The state sets the framework and maximum rates; counties, municipalities, and school districts each add their own levies within those limits.

Mill rates (expressed as dollars of tax per $1,000 of assessed value) are set annually based on local budget needs. A mill rate of 10 equals a 1.0% effective rate. Most jurisdictions reassess properties every one to four years, though some reassess annually. 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 Arizona county assessor's office or check your county's official website. Your most recent property tax bill will also show the breakdown of all levies applied to your parcel.

Arizona Property Tax Exemptions and Relief Programs

Arizona's Senior Property Valuation Protection program freezes property values for qualifying seniors, preventing assessment increases.

Veterans may qualify for a partial or full exemption depending on disability rating and service history. 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 — typically within 30 to 90 days of receiving your assessment notice.

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

Limited Property Value and the 5% Cap — Why Your Arizona Bill Lags the Market

Arizona does not tax your home's market value, and that single fact explains most of the confusion about Arizona property tax bills. Every parcel carries two values: the Full Cash Value (FCV), which tracks the market, and the Limited Property Value (LPV), which is what you are actually taxed on. Under Proposition 117, approved by Arizona voters in 2012 and effective from tax year 2015, the LPV can rise by no more than 5% per year — and it can never exceed the FCV. So if your home's market value jumps 15% in a year, your taxable value still moves only 5%.

On top of that, owner-occupied homes are Legal Class 3 and are assessed at 10% of the Limited Property Value, not 100%. A home with an LPV of $334,000 therefore has an assessed value of $33,400, and the mill rate is applied to that figure. This is why comparing Arizona's mill rate directly against another state's is meaningless — you have to compare effective rates, which is what the calculator above uses. Two practical consequences: after a hot market year your bill rises far less than your Zillow estimate suggests, and after a market drop your bill can keep rising for a few years while the capped LPV catches up to the falling FCV. Sources: Arizona Department of Revenue — Limited Property Value and Arizona Legislative Council — Proposition 117 analysis. Last updated 2026-08-17.

Arizona's 1% Constitutional Cap and the Primary vs Secondary Tax Split

Arizona splits every residential tax bill into two parts, and only one of them is capped. Primary taxes fund day-to-day operations — schools, cities, counties, community colleges. Secondary taxes fund voter-approved bonds, budget overrides and special districts such as fire, flood control and irrigation. The distinction matters because the Arizona Constitution (article IX, section 18) limits primary property tax on an owner-occupied residence to 1% of its Limited Property Value — and imposes no such ceiling on the secondary side.

When the combined primary rate would push a homeowner past that 1% line, the homeowner does not pay the excess: the state absorbs it through the Homeowner Rebate, funded as state aid to education. The calculator above now shows where you sit — the assessed value at 10% of LPV, the dollar value of the 1% cap on your home, and your estimated bill as a percentage of that cap. On the statewide median home of $334,000 the cap is $3,340, and a typical bill of about $2,071 sits at roughly 62% of it, so most Arizona owners have real headroom.

Two practical implications. First, a rising bill in a low-rate county is usually secondary-side: a new bond or override was approved locally, and no constitutional cap restrains it — check the secondary line on your bill before assuming a valuation error. Second, the cap is measured against LPV, not Full Cash Value, so the Proposition 117 5% growth limit and the 1% cap compound in the homeowner's favour during a fast market. Sources: Arizona Department of Revenue — Limited Property Value and Tax Foundation — property taxes by state and county. Last updated 2026-08-24.

Tips to Manage Your Arizona Property Tax Bill

First, verify your assessment is accurate. Review your property record card at the county 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, Arizona property taxes are due in two installments: October 1 and March 1 of the following year.