Kentucky Property Tax Calculator

Kentucky Property Taxes

Thinking about buying a home in the Bluegrass State? Good news: property taxes in Kentucky are relatively low. In fact, the median homeowner in Kentucky pays just $1,611 each year in property taxes, which is much less than the $3,211 national median. The state’s  effective property tax rate (annual tax payments as a percentage of home value) is also low at 0.71%.

Of course, where you choose to live in Kentucky has an impact on your taxes. Campbell County has the highest average effective rate in the state at 0.95%, while Warren County has one of the lowest rates at 0.61%.

Whether you’re looking to purchase a new home or refinance your current one, the process of getting a mortgage can be stressful. Take a look at our guide to mortgages in Kentucky to ease the process and allow you to make a well-informed decision.

A financial advisor can help you understand how homeownership fits into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Kentucky Property Tax Rules

Property taxes in Kentucky follow a one-year cycle, beginning on January 1 of each year. That’s the assessment date for all property in the state, so taxes are based on the value of the property as of January 1.

Real estate in Kentucky is typically assessed through a mass appraisal. This technique uses data on sales in the marketplace, as well as property-specific factors such as home size and date of construction, to calculate a market value for each home. Homeowners who disagree with their assessed value can file an appeal with the county clerk.

Property tax rates are set during the summer, with tax bills typically mailed in the fall, often on or after October 1 and sometimes as late as November 1. When bills are mailed by October 1, homeowners who pay by November 1 qualify for a 2% discount. Payments made from November 2 through December 31 are due at face value. Taxes that remain unpaid in January incur a 5% penalty, and after January 31 an additional 10% penalty and a 10% sheriff’s fee apply, bringing the total added charges to 20%.

Kentucky Property Tax Rates

Tax districts in Kentucky include cities, counties, school districts and other special districts. Those districts set rates each year based on the total assessed value in the district and the amount of revenue they need. Thus, rates change annually. Typically, however, these changes are small.

The table below shows the effective tax rates for a cross section of counties in Kentucky. Effective tax rates are calculated by taking the median annual property tax payment as a percentage of the median home value. They reflect the amount a typical homeowner can expect to pay each year.

Want to learn more about your mortgage payments? Check out our mortgage payment calculator.

Jefferson County

Home to more than 17% of Kentucky's residents, Jefferson County is easily the most populous county in the state. The county also has quite a large median tax payment of $2,223. And at 0.86%, property tax rates in Jefferson County are higher than the overall effective tax rate for the state (0.71%), but are still lower than the national median. 

Fayette County

Fayette County’s effective tax rate is 0.83%, which means the median homeowner pays $2,640 per year in property taxes. The median home value in Fayette County is $318,400. 

Kenton County

Located in northern Kentucky across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Kenton County has some of the highest property taxes in the state. The median annual tax bill is $2,654, which is about 0.93% of the median home value.

Boone County

The typical homeowner in Boone County pays $2,480 annually in property taxes. That is considerably less than the national median ($3,211), but much higher than the state median of $1,611

Warren County

Warren County has property tax rates far lower than those of the state’s other major counties. The effective property tax rate in Warren County is just 0.61%, although the median annual tax payment is $1,711.

Hardin County

Like Warren County, the property tax rate in Hardin County is lower than the statewide median. The effective rate is 0.62%. The median homeowner in Hardin County pays $1,568 per year in real estate taxes. 

Daviess County

Tax rates in Daviess County vary depending on whether or not you live in a city. Actual rates apply to assessed value. Effective rates, which take into account exemptions and the discount for early payment, are lower. The effective tax rate for the county is 0.78% and the median tax bill is $1,637.

Campbell County

If you're looking for a bargain on property taxes, Campbell County may not be your best bet. That's because it has one of the highest effective property tax rates in the state at 0.95%. The typical homeowner here pays $2,658 per year in property taxes. 

Madison County

Madison County is located in central Kentucky, southeast of the city of Lexington. Effective property tax rates in Madison County are lower than those in nearby Fayette County. The effective rate is 0.67%, meaning the median homeowner pays $1,796 per year in property taxes.

Bullitt County

Bullitt County sits south of Louisville and contains Fort Knox, a 40,000-acre military base. The median home value in Bullitt County is $275,000 and the median property tax bill is $2,079. That means the typical homeowner has an effective property tax rate of 0.76%.