Fayetteville, AR Property Tax Rate: 57.3 Mills, Credits, and Deadlines

The Fayetteville, AR property tax rate is approximately 57.3 mills combined across the Fayetteville School District, the City of Fayetteville, and Washington County, and that rate is applied to just 20 percent of your home’s market value.¹² On a $250,000 home, that produces a gross tax of about $2,865, which drops to roughly $2,265 after the homestead property tax credit.

Where the 57.3 Mills Goes

A mill is one dollar of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Several taxing authorities stack their own millage, and the combined rate inside Fayetteville city limits runs about 57.3 mills, broken down roughly as follows:¹

Fayetteville School District: 45.0 mills, the single largest slice, funding teacher salaries, school facilities, and district operations.
City of Fayetteville: 6.8 mills total, with about 2.3 mills covering general city operations like police and fire, and the rest funding specific levies such as the public library and capital improvements.³
Washington County: 6.37 mills for county-wide services including courts, roads, and the jail.

Voters can raise or lower individual levies through ballot measures, so the current figures are published on the Washington County millage rate page.⁴

How Your Assessed Value Is Set

The Washington County Assessor first estimates true market value, meaning what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in a normal transaction.⁵ Arkansas law then requires the assessor to multiply that market value by 20 percent to produce the assessed value, which is the figure used in all tax calculations.² A $250,000 home carries a $50,000 assessed value.

Arkansas operates on a four-year reappraisal cycle, so the assessor’s office periodically re-evaluates every parcel in the county.⁶ Between full reappraisals, your assessed value generally stays the same unless you make substantial improvements. If you think a new appraisal is too high, you can appeal to the Washington County Board of Equalization by the third Monday in August of the assessment year, and from there to County Court by the second Monday in October.⁷

Calculating Your Own Bill

The math takes two steps. First, take 20 percent of your market value to get the assessed value. Then multiply that by the total millage expressed as a decimal (0.0573 for the combined Fayetteville rate). For a home worth $250,000:

Assessed value: $250,000 × 0.20 = $50,000
Gross tax: $50,000 × 0.0573 = $2,865
After the $600 homestead credit: $2,265

Your actual bill can vary depending on which taxing districts overlap your parcel, which exemptions you qualify for, and any special improvement assessments on your street. The Washington County Collector mails a statement each year showing the exact breakdown.

Credits and Exemptions That Lower the Rate You Actually Pay

Homestead Property Tax Credit

Every Arkansas homeowner who uses the property as a primary residence can claim a homestead credit that reduces the tax bill directly. Beginning with 2026 tax bills, the maximum credit is $600.⁸ The credit cannot push a bill below zero. You have to register with the county assessor and have the property classified as your homestead before January 1 of the year following assessment.⁹

Assessment Freeze at 65 or on Disability

Amendment 79 to the Arkansas Constitution freezes the assessed value of a homestead for owners who are at least 65 or permanently disabled. Once you hit 65 or become disabled, your homestead’s assessed value locks at whatever it was on that date and cannot rise, even if the market jumps. The freeze does not cover substantial improvements added later. If you’re in a nursing home you still qualify, and in joint-ownership situations only one owner needs to meet the age or disability threshold for the property to benefit.¹⁰

Disabled Veteran Exemption

Veterans rated 100 percent permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition can receive a full exemption from property taxes on the homestead and personal property. Unmarried surviving spouses receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation also qualify.¹¹ A few conditions:

The veteran or surviving spouse must be the listed owner and must occupy the home.
A VA Summary of Benefits letter must be submitted to the county every year by October 15.
The exemption does not cover rental property, special improvement taxes, or city liens.

Veterans receiving this exemption are not eligible for the homestead credit or the Amendment 79 freeze, so the exemption replaces them rather than stacking on top. Missing the annual letter deadline means the county cannot issue refunds for prior years of eligibility.¹¹

Payment Deadline and Penalties

The Washington County Collector handles all property tax payments, and the annual deadline is October 15. You can pay online with a credit card or electronic check, in person at the Collector’s office, or by mail postmarked by the deadline. Pay after October 15 and the county adds a 10 percent penalty on top of the tax owed, with 10 percent annual interest also accruing on delinquent real estate balances.¹²

1
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. 2024 Millage Report – 2025 Collections
2
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Property Tax FAQs
3
Fayetteville, AR. Frequently Asked Questions
4
Washington County, AR. Millage Rates
5
Justia. Arkansas Code 26-26-1202 – Valuation Procedures
6
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Reappraisal Cycle Information
7
Washington County, AR. Equalization Board
8
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Property Tax Relief
9
Justia. Arkansas Code 26-26-1118 – Homestead Property Tax Credit Established
10
Justia. Arkansas Constitution Amendment 79
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Washington County, AR. Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans
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Washington County, AR. Collector