Property taxes are one of the most confusing aspects of owning a home. Are you mystified by your property tax bill or just want to estimate property taxes before buying a house in Tennessee? This complete guide to Hamilton County, TN property taxes covers EVERYTHING you want to know: city and county property tax rates in Hamilton County, how to pay your bill, how property taxes are calculated, and more.
Hamilton County, TN Property Taxes
Property tax rates are set by the Hamilton County Assessor of Property and the Board of Commissioners. The Hamilton County Assessor is responsible for evaluating and assigning property values. Next, the assessed value of your home is multiplied by the rate set by the Board. The Hamilton County Trustee receives a tax roll, mails property tax bills, and collects property tax payments. Even the Hamilton County Auditor has involvement.
Tennessee has a four-year property reappraisal cycle. The most recent Hamilton County, TN property tax assessment was in 2021. Property taxes are assessed on 25% of the property’s appraised value (the assessed value).
Who Is the Hamilton County, TN Tax Collector?
In Tennessee, property taxes are collected by the Hamilton County Trustee. If you live in a city, you likely have a city collecting official as well for separate city property taxes. For example, Chattanooga property taxes are collected by the Chattanooga City Treasurer.
The Hamilton County, TN Trustee is Bill Hullander, an elected official. Along with collecting county property taxes, his office collects city taxes for the cities of Collegedale, East Ridge, Lakesite, Red Bank, Ridgeside, Soddy Daisy, and Walden.
Hamilton County Trustee, 625 Georgia Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402 (423) 209-7270
Chattanooga City Treasurer, 101 E 11th St #100, Chattanooga, TN 37402 (423) 643-7262
Hamilton County, TN Property Tax Search
While you should receive your property tax bill if your address is updated, Tennessee law does not require that tax notices be mailed to indicate the amount due. You can search for Hamilton County, TN property tax records online to see your tax payment history, current tax bill, and more.
Click here to search Hamilton County, TN property tax records. You can see current tax information, prior year tax payments, and pay your bill.
Here is the Chattanooga property tax search tool to get a copy of your tax bill. You can also request a copy at Chattanooga City Hall, by emailing the City Treasurer at [email protected], or calling (423) 643-7262.
Hamilton County, TN Property Tax Rates
Here is everything you need to know about how Hamilton County property taxes are calculated, estimating your tax bill, and more.
How Are Property Taxes Calculated in Hamilton County, TN?
Here is how to calculate your property taxes:
(Appraised Value x Assessment Ratio) x Tax Rate
The assessment ratio is 25% for residential property.
If you live in an unincorporated area and your home is appraised at $300,000 (the county median), your property tax would be:
- $300,000 x 25% = $75,000 assessed value
- $75,000 assessed value x $.022373 = $1,677.98 tax bill
In Chattanooga, you would have a higher combined rate with your city property tax. A home appraised at $290,000 (city median) would have a property tax bill of $3,253.29 ($44.873 per $1,000 tax rate).
How Much Are Property Taxes in Hamilton County?
Unless you live in an unincorporated area, you will have two property tax rates: a county and a city rate.
The Hamilton County property tax rate is $2.2373 per $100 assessed value. That’s an effective tax rate of 0.559%, about half the national average.
The Chattanooga property tax rate is $2.250. For Chattanooga homeowners, that’s a combined property tax rate of $4.4873 per $100 assessed value. The effective property tax rate in Chattanooga is 1.122%. That’s right at the national average of 1.1%.
Here are property tax rates for other cities in Hamilton County.
- Ridgeside: $2.5500 (combined $4.7873)
- Lookout Mountain: $1.8800 (combined $4.1173)
- Signal Mountain: $1.7012 (combined $3.9385)
- Collegedale: $1.3897 (combined $3.6270)
- East Ridge: $1.2500 (combined $3.4873)
- Soddy Daisy: $1.1159 (combined $3.3532)
- Red Bank: $1.1000 (combined $3.3373)
- Walden: $0.5315 (combined $2.7688)
- Lakesite: $0.2000 (combined $2.4373)
Note: The county’s tax rates are expressed as the tax per $100 assessed value. When calculating your property taxes, move the decimal point of the tax rate two spots to the left before multiplying it by the assessed value. Example: $2.2373 tax rate ÷ $100 assessed value ratio = $0.022373 x assessed value.
Hamilton County, TN Property Tax Payments – Due Dates, Where to Pay & Late Penalties
Your Hamilton County, TN property tax bill will be mailed out around the end of September. Property taxes are due on October 1 and cover the tax bill for the current calendar year.
You have until the last day of February to pay your property taxes before they are delinquent. Beginning March 1, you will be charged 1.5% interest per month (18% per year) on the base tax amount owed.
If your tax bill is unpaid for one year after the due date, it is filed with the Hamilton County Chancery Court by the Clerk and Master. The Clerk & Master’s Office is responsible for collecting delinquent property taxes and conducting property tax sales to recover delinquent taxes.
Property with delinquent taxes for one year past the due date can be sold at the tax auction. Owners still have one year to redeem the property after the auction sale by paying the delinquent taxes and all fees and interest owed.
Where to Pay Property Taxes in Hamilton County, Tennessee
You can pay your tax bill in person, mail your payment, or pay online.
Payments can be mailed to the Trustee’s office at the Hamilton County Courthouse:
Hamilton County Trustee
625 Georgia Ave, Room 210
Chattanooga, TN, 37402
You can pay your bill in person at the Hamilton County Trustee’s office above or at the satellite office at 6125 Preservation Drive, Suite 101, Chattanooga, TN 37416 in the Bonny Oaks Industrial Park.
As long as you have your entire, original tax bill, you can pay current taxes at any First Horizon Bank in Hamilton County.
For homeowners living in Chattanooga, city property taxes are collected by the Chattanooga City Treasurer. You can pay your taxes at the Treasurer’s office in City Hall: 101 E 11th St #100, Chattanooga, TN 37402. You can also pay your City of Chattanooga property tax bill online by clicking here. Note that you can only pay current taxes online. If you pay with a debit or credit card (online or in person), you will be charged a processing fee of 2.35% ($1.49 minimum). Current city taxes may be paid at First Horizon Bank locations as well.
Hamilton County, TN Property Tax Appeal
The Property Assessor determines fair market value for property based on sales data from all Hamilton County real estate transactions which are run through appraisal models. If you do not agree with your home’s appraisal, you have the right to appeal.
For a successful appeal, you must have a basis for your complaint and provide evidence supporting your belief.
You can begin by reviewing property information on the sales comparison tool and Assessor of Property search tool. Next, contact the Hamilton County Assessor of Property office at (423) 209-7990 to speak with an appraiser who can review this information with you. If your concerns have not been addressed, you can file an appeal with the Hamilton County Board of Equalization.
Informal reviews and appeals should be filed before May 20 but are accepted through mid-June. This can be done through the online filing system here.
An informal review is not an appeal, but it can be used for expedited review and correction of errors. In the case of an appeal, you will receive notice of the board’s decision and have the right to accept or appeal it.
You can use this portal to check the status of your property appraisal appeal.
If you disagree with the board’s decision, you can appeal to the State Board of Equalization for a hearing before an administrative judge. An initial decision will be made within 90 days of the hearing. You have 30 days if you wish to appeal further to the Assessment Appeals Commission which will issue a final decision within 90 days of another hearing.
You can learn more about the entire property appraisal appeals process on the Comptroller of the Treasury website.
Property Tax Exemptions in Hamilton County | Tax Relief, Tax Freezes & Senior Tax Breaks
Does Tennessee give seniors a break on property taxes? Is there a tax relief program if you are struggling to pay your bill? Fortunately, there are many forms of assistance for homeowners.
The Tennessee Tax Relief Program offers property tax relief for:
- Low-income seniors
- Disabled homeowners
- Disabled veteran homeowners
- Surviving spouses of disabled veterans
If you qualify, the state of Tennessee will pay all or some of your property taxes owed each year based on the maximum credit you receive in relation to your tax bill. The credit works as a rebate that does not need to be repaid.
Here is the maximum property tax credit for 2021:
- $986.63 for disabled veterans, widows of disabled veterans, and spouses of military members killed in action
- $165.94 for elderly and disabled homeowners
You can receive tax relief for Hamilton County property taxes and city taxes. Hamilton County matches up to half of the state tax relief!
To apply for Hamilton County, TN tax relief, submit an application to your tax collector. You can apply once you receive your county and/or city tax bill with a deadline 35 days after your city or county property tax delinquent date. Your taxes must be paid by the time you apply. If you are approved, you will receive a tax relief voucher with your tax bill which can be presented to the collecting official before the due date when you pay your remaining balance.
The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury offers a useful Tennessee Tax Relief Program Story Map. Use this tool to search for your city collecting official and county trustee contact information. You can also use this tax relief application status search to see if your application was approved.
For Chattanooga seniors:
The City of Chattanooga offers state-funded property tax relief programs as well as a city tax freeze program. The tax freeze works by freezing the tax on your primary residence. The full amount of your property taxes will be frozen and cannot go up as long as you qualify even if the Chattanooga property tax rate or your home’s assessed value increases – with the exception of improvements or additions. If the calculated property tax amount is lower than your frozen amount, you pay the lesser amount. Note that the water quality fee is not frozen.
The City of Chattanooga senior tax freeze program is based on age and income qualifications. To qualify, you must:
- Own and live in a home in Chattanooga city limits
- Be 65 or older by December 31, 2021
- Have a maximum 2020 of $41,380 for you, a spouse, and anyone listed on the deed
Applications must be submitted by April 5, 2021. You must reapply every year. Here is the property tax freeze application and the affidavit for income.
If you qualify for the Chattanooga senior tax relief and/or state tax relief, you may be eligible for water quality fee relief as well through the United Way of Greater Chattanooga.
Hamilton County, TN Property Tax FAQ
Are property taxes high in Tennessee?
The average effective property tax rate in Tennessee is just 0.64%, one of the lowest rates in the U.S. The average effective property tax rate in the United States is 1.1%. The effective property tax rate in Hamilton County, TN is 0.556% in unincorporated areas but around 1% in most cities.
Is there a grace period for property taxes in Tennessee?
Yes, the tax collection period is October 1 through the last day of February. Taxes are delinquent and late penalties apply starting March 1.
Can I pay my Hamilton County property taxes online?
You can pay Hamilton County, TN property taxes online through the Trustee website. Most cities also allow online tax payments or have city taxes collected by the Trustee.
What age do you stop paying property taxes in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not waive property taxes for seniors. However, low-income and disabled seniors 65 and older can qualify for property tax relief which works as a credit against taxes. Some cities such as Chattanooga also offer a tax freeze for seniors that prevents taxes from increasing in most cases.
When are Hamilton County, TN property taxes due?
Property taxes in Hamilton County, Tennessee are due on October 1st. You have until the end of February to pay before taxes are delinquent.
What is the Hamilton County, TN property tax rate?
The property tax rate in Hamilton County, Tennessee is $2.2373 per $100 assessed value. If you live in a city, you will have an additional city property tax rate ranging from $0.20 to $2.55 per $100.
What is the property tax rate in Chattanooga, TN?
The City of Chattanooga property tax rate is $2.250 per $100 assessed value for 2021. This is in addition to the Hamilton County tax rate ($2.2373) for a combined tax rate of $4.4873 per $100 assessed value (25% of market value).
Hopefully you now have a good understanding of property tax in Hamilton County, TN, including how to calculate your tax bill and predict your housing costs when buying a home. While our movers can’t help with taxes, we CAN take the hassle and stress out of moving. Give us a call at All Out Moving & Storage for a free estimate when relocating to or from the Chattanooga area!
