How to read your property tax bill

Bills look different in every state and county, but they're built from the same parts: who's taxing you, on what value, at what rate, and by when. Here's what each part means, and what to check.

By MillRate USA · Last reviewed 2026-10-31

1. The property and the owner

The top of the bill identifies the property, usually by a parcel, account or property ID number, along with the owner's name and the property's address. Check that it's your property and that your mailing address is right. Not receiving a bill may not excuse a late payment: Texas's Tax Code, for example, says failing to receive a bill doesn't affect the due date, penalties or interest.

2. The values

Most bills show more than one value, and only the last one is multiplied by the rate.

  • Market or appraised value: what the assessor thinks the property is worth.
  • Assessed value: the value on the roll. In some states it's the market value; in others a set share of it, such as about 50% in Michigan and 70% in Connecticut.
  • Exemptions, deductions or credits: amounts taken off for a homestead, age, disability or veteran status.
  • Taxable value: what's left. This is the number the rate applies to.

If the value looks wrong, the bill may be too late to appeal it, because in most of the states we cover the deadline follows the assessment notice you got earlier in the year. Massachusetts and Rhode Island are exceptions: their deadlines are tied to the bill. See appeal deadlines by state.

3. The taxing units and their rates

Your bill pays for several local governments at once. Each line is one unit: the county, the city or township, the school district, and often a library, college, hospital, fire, water or other special district. Each has its own rate.

Rates are written in one of three ways: per $100 of value (Texas, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey), per $1,000 of value (Iowa, Massachusetts, Rhode Island), or in mills, which are dollars per $1,000 (Connecticut, Michigan). The rate converter switches between them, and the rate units guide explains why they differ.

Some bills show one combined rate instead of a line for each unit. New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island publish one rate per town; Indiana and Iowa certify a combined rate for each tax district.

4. The math

For each unit: taxable value × rate ÷ 100 (for a rate per $100) or ÷ 1,000 (for a rate per $1,000 or mills). Add the units together, then subtract any credits. The calculation guide works through examples, including Indiana's bill caps, which can lower the bill below rate × value.

5. Amount due, due dates and payment options

The bill shows the total, the due date or installments, and often what happens if you pay late. Some states split the year into installments (New Jersey has four; Indiana and Iowa two); others leave it to each town or county. Some places offer split payments or plans for seniors. Due dates by state has the schedule in each state we cover.

If you pay through your mortgage, the bill may go to your lender. Check that it was paid, and that your escrow covers it.

What Texas bills must show

Texas spells it out. Under Section 31.01 of the Tax Code, a bill or the statement with it must show each unit's appraised, assessed and taxable value, the exemptions applied, the unit's total tax rate, the tax due, the due date and delinquency date, any split-payment or discount options, the penalty and interest rates, and the assessor's name and phone number. For a home or other real property, it must also show the values, rates and taxes for each of the five years before, and how much each changed.

Five things to check on every bill

  1. Is a homestead exemption or credit applied? If it's your main home and there's none, ask your assessor.
  2. Did the taxable value change a lot? Compare with last year's bill.
  3. Did any rate change? Each place page on this site shows the published rate for every year we have. Why bills go up covers the usual reasons.
  4. Are the units right? A unit you don't think you're in is worth a call to the assessor.
  5. When is it due? Put the date in your calendar now.

Find your place's published rate on the states page or with the property tax calculator.

Sources

This guide explains how bills generally work. It isn't legal or tax advice. Your bill and your tax collector have the final word. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].