What is the average property tax rate in Kentucky?

Kentucky's average effective property tax rate is about 0.80% of market value — well below the national average. Actual combined rates (state + county + city + school + special districts) range roughly from 0.6% to over 1.0% depending on the county.

How does Kentucky assess property value?

County Property Valuation Administrators (PVAs) assess real estate at 100% of fair cash (market) value as of January 1 each year. Unlike some states, Kentucky does not apply an assessment ratio, so the assessed value equals the full market value.

What is the Kentucky homestead exemption for 2024-2025?

Homeowners who are 65 or older, or who are totally disabled, can subtract a homestead exemption of $46,350 (for the 2023-2024 assessment cycle) from their property's assessed value before tax is calculated. The amount is adjusted for inflation every two years.

Does Kentucky charge a state property tax?

Yes, but it is small: the state real-property rate is about 11.4 cents per $100 of value (roughly 0.114%). Most of your bill comes from county, city, school district, and special-district levies, which vary widely by location.

When are Kentucky property taxes due?

Property tax bills are typically mailed in the fall, with a 2% discount for early payment in November, the face amount due by December 31, and penalties accruing after January 1. Check with your county sheriff's office for exact dates.

Kentucky Property Tax Estimator

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Kentucky’s property taxes are among the lowest in the United States, averaging roughly 0.80 percent of market value. This estimator multiplies your home’s assessed value by a combined state-plus-local rate and subtracts the homestead exemption if you qualify by age or disability.

How it works

Kentucky assesses real estate at 100 percent of fair cash (market) value, so the assessed value equals the full market value — there is no assessment ratio to apply. Your bill is the sum of the small state rate (about 11.4 cents per $100, or 0.114%) and your local county, city, school, and special-district rates. The estimate is computed as:

taxable value = assessed value − homestead exemption (if eligible)
annual tax    = taxable value × combined rate

You can enter the combined rate as a percentage of value. The default is the statewide effective average of 0.80 percent; replace it with your county’s exact combined rate for a precise figure.

Example

A 250,000 dollar home at the 0.80 percent statewide average rate owes 250,000 × 0.0080 = 2,000 dollars per year. If the owner is 67 and claims the 46,350 dollar homestead exemption, the taxable value drops to 203,650 dollars and the tax falls to about 1,629 dollars.

Notes

Estimate only, not tax advice. Combined rates vary significantly by county, city, and school district — Jefferson County (Louisville) and Fayette County (Lexington) typically run above the statewide average, while many rural counties run below it. The homestead exemption applies only to owners who are 65+ or totally disabled and is adjusted for inflation every two years. Get your exact assessment and rate from your county PVA and the Kentucky Department of Revenue at revenue.ky.gov.