The average Arkansas property tax rate is about 0.56% of a home’s value, which comes to roughly $1,040 a year on the typical Arkansas home. That makes Arkansas property tax one of the lower burdens in the country. This guide breaks down the Arkansas property tax rate, what the typical bill looks like, how your bill is figured, where the money goes, and — most useful of all — how
to check whether you are overpaying and how to pay less.
Arkansas Property Tax at a Glance
| Effective tax rate | 0.56% |
| Median annual bill | $1,040 |
| Median home value | $188,000 |
| Rank among states | #37 of 50 highest |
| vs. U.S. average | $3,231 below the U.S. average ($4,271) |
| Reassessed | Real property is assessed every year, and state law requires each county to conduct a full reappraisal of all real estate on a periodic cycle (roughly every few years). New construction or major improvements can also trigger a new value between cycles. |
Rate & bill: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year (effective rate B25090/B25082 – the Tax Foundation method; median bill B25103; value B25077).
| Arkansas Property Tax | Figure |
|---|---|
| Effective property tax rate | 0.56% |
| Median annual property tax bill | $1,040 |
| Median home value | $188,000 |
| Rank (highest to lowest) | #37 of 50 states |
| U.S. average bill | $4,271 |
In This Arkansas Guide:
What Is the Arkansas Property Tax Rate?
The Arkansas property tax rate is not one flat number — it is the combined result of your county, city, township, and school-district rates, applied to your home’s assessed value. Across Arkansas, homeowners pay about 0.56% of their home’s value on average, or around $1,040 a year on a typical $188,000 home. That puts Arkansas in the middle nationally — ranked #37 of 50 states from highest to lowest. Two
homes worth the same amount can still owe very different bills depending on the town and school district, so treat the statewide figure as a starting point, not your exact bill.
If your bill went up, start by finding the assessed value on your notice and confirming the property details (size, condition, features) the assessor has on record are accurate — errors here are common and fixable. Next, make sure you’re receiving every break you’re entitled to, such as the homestead credit or a senior/disabled freeze, by asking your county assessor’s office. If the assessed value still looks too high for
what your home would sell for, you generally have the right to appeal — your county assessor can explain the local process and the current deadline.
Think your Arkansas bill is too high? Check in two minutes.
How Arkansas Property Tax Is Calculated
Your Arkansas property tax starts with an assessed value set by County Assessors. Each of Arkansas’s 75 counties has an elected County Assessor’s office responsible for valuing real estate and personal property, with statewide oversight from the Assessment Coordination Division of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).. Arkansas assessors first determine your property’s market value (what it would sell for), then apply an assessment ratio set by state
law to arrive at the taxable “assessed value” — the figure your tax is actually based on.
Look for the assessed value listed on your assessment notice or tax statement, since that number, not the full market value, drives your bill. That assessed value is then multiplied by the combined local tax rate to produce your bill. In Arkansas, property is generally reassessed Real property is assessed every year, and state law requires each county to conduct a full reappraisal of all real estate on a periodic
cycle (roughly every few years).
New construction or major improvements can also trigger a new value between cycles.. The single most important number to check is your assessed value: if it is higher than what your home would sell for, your bill is too high — and that is exactly what an appeal fixes.
The actual rates in Arkansas are set by Rates (called “millage”) are set by local taxing bodies — school districts, cities/municipalities, and county government — and are formally levied by the county quorum court. Schools, voters, and local elected boards all play a role, so the total rate is a combination of several local levies.. That is why your neighbor one town over can pay a different bill on an
identical house.
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Where Your Arkansas Property Tax Money Goes
Arkansas property taxes mostly fund local public schools, which typically take the largest share, along with county and city services such as roads, libraries, police, and fire protection. Very little property tax money goes to the state itself — it stays local. For most Arkansas homeowners, the school-district share is the biggest single piece of the bill, which is why property taxes tend to be highest where schools rely most
on local funding.
One Arkansas note: Arkansas has a voter-approved measure known as Amendment 79 that limits how fast the taxable assessed value of a home can rise each year and provides a homestead credit and a special “freeze” on assessed value for qualifying seniors and disabled homeowners. These caps and the freeze can keep your taxable value from jumping even when market values climb.
How Arkansas Property Tax Compares
The U.S. average property tax bill is about $4,271 a year. The typical Arkansas bill of $1,040 is $3,231 below that. Remember that a low rate does not always mean a low bill — a state with cheap rates but expensive homes can still cost you more than Arkansas. The dollar bill and your own assessment matter more than the headline rate.
How to Lower Your Arkansas Property Tax
You cannot change the Arkansas property tax rate, but you have two real levers on your own bill. First, claim every exemption you qualify for. Arkansas offers property tax breaks that can lower your bill, including a homestead tax credit for your primary residence and additional relief such as an assessed-value freeze for homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled, plus exemptions for certain disabled veterans. Amounts and eligibility
rules apply, so check with your county assessor to see whether you qualify — many homeowners who are eligible have never applied.
Second, appeal your assessment if your home is valued higher than it would sell for — studies suggest a large share of homes are over-assessed, and appeals often succeed.
Don’t want to appeal your Arkansas taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Arkansas property tax rate?
The average effective Arkansas property tax rate is about 0.56% of a home’s value, based on U.S. Census data. On the typical Arkansas home that works out to roughly $1,040 a year. Your own bill depends on your county, city, and school district, plus any exemptions you claim — see the data box above.
Why is my Arkansas property tax so high?
Property tax in Arkansas is driven mostly by your local rates (especially school levies) and by your home’s assessed value. If your assessment is higher than what your home would actually sell for, you may be overpaying — that is the most common reason a bill is too high, and it is something you can appeal.
How can I lower my Arkansas property tax?
Two things help most in Arkansas: make sure you are claiming every exemption you qualify for (homestead, senior, veteran, or disability), and appeal your assessment if your home is over-valued. Both can lower your bill, and both are free to do yourself.
Arkansas Property Tax Sources & Data
- Arkansas Department of Revenue (property tax): https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/arkansas-assessment-coordination-division/
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
Arkansas property tax rates and typical bills on this page come from U.S. Census (American Community Survey) data as
published by the Tax Foundation, and were last checked in July 2026. Rates and bills change each year and vary by county
— confirm your own figures with your county assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.