Asheville property tax runs $0.9885 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2025–2026, combining the city and county levies. On a home assessed at $300,000, that comes to about $2,966 a year. Residents inside the city school district pay an extra 11 cents per $100, which pushes the total closer to $1.10 per $100, or about $3,296 on the same house. Bills go out in early August, are technically due September 1, and can be paid without penalty through January 5.
What the Current Rate Costs You
The bill has two main pieces, plus a third that applies only to some addresses:
- City of Asheville: 44.19 cents per $100 of assessed value
- Buncombe County: 54.66 cents per $100 of assessed value
- City school tax: 11.00 cents per $100 of assessed value (not all Asheville residents pay this)
The combined city-plus-county rate for property inside Asheville city limits is $0.9885 per $100.1City of Asheville. City Budget Multiply your assessed value by that rate and divide by 100 to get your annual bill before any exemptions. If your address also falls in the city school district, add the 11 cents.
The 2026 Reappraisal
Buncombe County is conducting a countywide property reappraisal effective January 1, 2026. North Carolina law requires counties to reassess real property at 100% of market value periodically, and the county sets new appraised amounts using a schedule of values adopted after public hearings.2Buncombe County. MyValueBC 2026 / Reappraisal If your home’s market value has climbed since the last reappraisal, expect a higher assessed value on your next notice.
A higher assessed value doesn’t automatically produce a proportionally higher bill. The Board of Commissioners sets tax rates during the annual budget process each spring and will publish a revenue-neutral rate for review before finalizing the budget by June 30.2Buncombe County. MyValueBC 2026 / Reappraisal A revenue-neutral rate would collect the same total revenue as the prior year despite the new values. Whether the adopted rate stays revenue-neutral or rises depends on the county’s budget.
The county appraises land, buildings, and improvements based on features like square footage, construction quality, location, and land use, using recent qualified sales leading up to the reappraisal date.3Buncombe County. Real Estate After the review, you’ll receive a notice of value showing your new assessment.
Appealing Your Assessment
If the new assessed value doesn’t reflect what your property would actually sell for, you can push back. Start informally by contacting the Property Assessment office to discuss the valuation. If that doesn’t resolve it, file a formal appeal with the Board of Equalization and Review, which hears cases from owners who believe their assessment is too high or that errors were made during the appraisal.4Buncombe County. Need to Appeal Your Property Values? We’re Here For You
The Board can order corrections when warranted.5Buncombe County. Board of Equalization and Review With the 2026 reappraisal in play, the appeal window matters more than usual this cycle. Watch for the Board’s session dates, because appeal deadlines are firm.
Relief for Seniors and Disabled Homeowners
North Carolina’s Homestead Exclusion can significantly cut the taxable value of a qualifying homeowner’s primary residence. To qualify for the 2026 tax year, you must meet all three requirements:
- Be at least 65 years old or totally and permanently disabled
- Have prior-year income of no more than $38,800
- Occupy the property as your permanent residence
The program excludes the greater of the first $25,000 or 50% of the home’s appraised value from taxation.6North Carolina Department of Revenue. Form AV-9 2026 Application for Property Tax Relief On a home appraised at $300,000, that removes $150,000 from the taxable value and cuts the tax bill roughly in half. Apply through the Buncombe County Tax Department using the state’s AV-9 form.
Deadlines and Late Interest
Property tax bills go out in early August and are technically due September 1. In practice, North Carolina allows a grace period: you can pay without penalty through January 5 of the following year.7Buncombe County. Tax Collections January 5 is the deadline most homeowners need to remember.
Miss it, and interest starts right away. From January 6 through February 1, interest accrues at 2% of the unpaid balance. After February 1, the rate drops to three-quarters of one percent per month until the taxes, interest, and any penalties are paid in full.8North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Code 105-360 The 2% hit on January 6 is the painful one. Waiting a single day past the deadline is expensive.
A separate deadline applies if you own taxable business personal property, including equipment used for a short-term rental. Personal property must be listed with the Tax Department by the end of January each year, and a late listing triggers a 10% penalty.9Buncombe County. Tax Department
How to Pay
Buncombe County offers a few payment routes. The myBuncombeCounty online portal lets you look up your bill and pay electronically, and it’s the fastest option. For mailed payments, send checks or money orders to:
Tax Collections Division
PO Box 3140
Asheville, NC 28802
Mailed payments are considered timely based on postmark date. In-person payments now go to 182 College Street in Asheville, not the former 94 Coxe Avenue address.9Buncombe County. Tax Department You get a receipt on the spot when paying in person. Keep your confirmation or receipt regardless of method. Processing takes one to five business days, and having proof of payment saves trouble if the county’s records lag.
Have your Parcel Identification Number ready before contacting the Tax Department or paying. The number uniquely identifies your property in county records and appears on prior bills. You can also look it up through the Tax Department’s online search tools.
Federal Deductions Worth Knowing
The property taxes you pay to Buncombe County and the City of Asheville are deductible on your federal return if you itemize on Schedule A, along with state income taxes. The total deduction for all state and local taxes combined is capped under the One Big Beautiful Bill at $40,000 for most filers with adjusted gross income under $500,000. The cap phases down at higher incomes and is $20,000 for married filing separately. If your property taxes, state income taxes, and any vehicle property taxes together stay under the cap, you can deduct the full amount.10Internal Revenue Service. New and Enhanced Deductions for Individuals
Mortgage interest is the other big line for many owners. You can deduct interest on up to $750,000 of home acquisition debt, or $375,000 if married filing separately, for mortgages taken out after December 15, 2017. Older mortgages may qualify under the previous $1,000,000 limit.11Internal Revenue Service. Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction These deductions only help if your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction.
A Note on Other Local Taxes
Property tax isn’t the only local levy that touches Asheville homeowners. Everyday retail purchases carry a combined 7% sales and use tax, made up of a 4.75% state rate and a 2.25% local addition for Buncombe County.12North Carolina Department of Revenue. Current Sales and Use Tax Rates If you rent your property short-term through a platform like Airbnb or VRBO, Buncombe County levies a 6% occupancy tax on gross receipts from those rentals, collected on top of sales tax and remitted to the county.13Buncombe County. Occupancy Tax These are separate from the annual property tax bill, but they matter if you’re weighing the full local tax picture on a home.