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 typical homeowner in Kentucky pays just $1,418 each year in property taxes, which is much less than the $3,057 national median. The state’s average effective property tax rate (annual tax payments as a percentage of home value) is also low at 0.80%.

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 1.14%, while Carter County has the lowest rate at a mere 0.50%.

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 up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one 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 Jan. 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 Jan. 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.

Tax rates are calculated during the summer and tax bills are sent out in the fall, typically by either Oct. 1 or Nov. 1. In areas where bills are sent out by Oct. 1, homeowners who pay their bill by Nov. 30 receive a 2% discount on the total amount. Conversely, homeowners who do not pay until January face a 5% penalty. In February and beyond, you'll incur another 5% penalty, with an additional 10% on top of that, for a total fee rate of 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 average effective tax rates for every county 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 15% 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 $1,905. And at 0.86%, property tax rates in Jefferson County are higher than the state average (0.80%), but are still relatively low compared to the rest of the U.S.

Fayette County

Fayette County’s average effective tax rate is 0.92%, which is fairly high on a national scale. The same goes for the county's median annual tax payment, which is $2,282 in comparison to the state median, $1,418. 

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 average effective property tax rate in Kenton County is 1.04%, well above the state average of around 0.80%.

Boone County

The typical homeowner in Boone County pays $2,154 annually in property taxes. That is considerably less than the national median ($3,057), but is much higher than the state median of $1,418. 

Warren County

Warren County has property tax rates far lower than those of the state’s other major counties. The average effective property tax rate in Warren County is just 0.65%, although the median annual tax payment is $1,484.

Hardin County

Like Warren County, the property tax rate in Hardin County is lower than the statewide median. The average effective rate is 0.74%. At that rate, a homeowner whose home has a value equal to the state median of $186,500 would pay $1,379 annually in property 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 average effective tax rate for the county is 0.89%.

Campbell County

If you're looking for a bargain on property taxes in Kentucky, Campbell County may not be your best bet. That's because no county in the state has a higher average effective property tax rate than Campbell at 1.14%. Even worse, that's 0.24% higher than the national average, which currently sits at 0.90%.

Madison County

Madison County is located in central Kentucky, southeast of the city of Lexington. Average effective property tax rates in Madison County are lower than those in nearby Fayette County. The average effective rate is 0.78%, meaning a person with home of median value ($200,600) home would pay $1,567 per year in property taxes.

Bullitt County

Bullitt County sits south of Louisville and contains Fort Knox, a 40,000-acre military base. Property tax rates in Bullitt County rank highly in the state, with an average effective tax rate of 0.87%. For reference, a homeowner with property worth the county's median home value of $214,000 would be on the hook for about $1,855 annually in property tax payments.