Knox County property tax is levied at $1.5540 per $100 of assessed value, with bills issued by the Knox County Trustee and due on the first Monday of October each year. You have until the last day of February to pay without penalty. The Property Assessor sets the value of each parcel, and the Knox County Commission sets the rate as part of its annual budget.1Knox County Tennessee Government. Finance – General Information
How to Calculate What You Owe
Your appraised value is not your taxable value. Tennessee law applies an assessment ratio based on how the property is classified, and only that percentage of the appraisal is taxed.
- Residential and farm property: 25% of appraised value
- Commercial and industrial property: 40% of appraised value
- Public utility property: 55% of appraised value
Those ratios are set in state statute and apply the same way in every Tennessee county.2Justia. Tennessee Code 67-5-801 – Classification and Rate of Assessment
To get your bill, divide the assessed value by 100 and multiply by the tax rate. A home appraised at $300,000 has an assessed value of $75,000, which at $1.5540 per $100 produces an annual bill of about $1,166.
When and How to Pay
Bills become due on the first Monday in October. The payment window runs through the last day of February. On March 1, any unpaid balance is delinquent.3Justia. Tennessee Code 67-5-2010 – Interest – Delinquent Taxes
The Trustee accepts payment in several ways:
- Online at the Trustee’s website by electronic check or credit card. Card payments typically carry a processing fee.
- By mail, with the tax bill coupon enclosed.
- In person at the Trustee’s main office or satellite locations during business hours.
What Happens If You Pay Late
Delinquent accounts accrue interest at 1.5% per month, added on the first day of each month the balance remains unpaid.3Justia. Tennessee Code 67-5-2010 – Interest – Delinquent Taxes A $1,200 bill unpaid from March through December accumulates about $180 in interest over those ten months.
If the balance stays unpaid long enough, the county can file a delinquent tax suit and ultimately sell the property at a tax sale to collect what is owed. You retain a right of redemption: paying all back taxes, interest, penalties, and court costs before the sale is finalized stops the process. Tax sales are not common, but they are the end point of ignoring a delinquent bill.
Relief for Seniors, Disabled Homeowners, and Veterans
Tennessee reimburses part of the property taxes paid by two groups of qualifying homeowners: those aged 65 or older, and those who are totally and permanently disabled. Both must meet an annual household income limit that adjusts with cost-of-living changes. For the 2025 tax year, the Knox County income limit was $37,530. The reimbursement applies to a capped portion of the property’s market value, not the full bill.4Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. Tennessee Code 67-5-701 Through 67-5-704 – Tax Relief
Disabled veterans are treated differently. Under T.C.A. ยง 67-5-704, veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities can receive tax relief regardless of income. Qualifying conditions include paraplegia, legal blindness, loss of two or more limbs, 100% disability from being a prisoner of war, and a permanent and total service-connected disability determination from the VA. Surviving spouses of disabled veterans may also qualify. Applicants need VA documentation of their disability status.4Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. Tennessee Code 67-5-701 Through 67-5-704 – Tax Relief
The Tax Freeze for Homeowners 65 and Older
Knox County also participates in Tennessee’s property tax freeze. Rather than refunding part of what you paid, the freeze locks your tax bill at its current amount so it cannot rise in future years, even if the rate goes up or your property is reappraised at a higher value. To qualify, you must be at least 65 by the end of the year you apply, own and occupy the property as your primary residence, and meet the income limit.5Tennessee General Assembly. Tennessee Code 67-5-705 – Property Tax Freeze Act
Freeze income limits run higher than relief limits and vary by county. For the 2025 tax year, Knox County’s standard freeze limit was $50,410, with a local option limit of $61,920.6Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. Property Tax Freeze Income Limits 2025 The freeze is not permanent; you reapply every year and must continue to meet the income and residency requirements. Applications for both the relief and freeze programs are available through the Knox County Trustee’s office.
Appealing an Assessment You Think Is Too High
If you believe the Assessor overvalued your property, your first step is the Knox County Board of Equalization. The board hears disputes about valuation and classification. It meets annually, and you must file your appeal before it adjourns for the year. Missing that deadline makes the Assessor’s valuation conclusive at the local level.7Justia. Tennessee Code 67-5-1401 – Failure of Taxpayer to Protest Assessment Before Board – Effect
At the hearing, you carry the burden of showing the appraisal exceeds fair market value. The strongest evidence tends to be a recent independent appraisal or recent sale prices of comparable nearby properties. A residential appraisal typically runs a few hundred dollars, more for complex or high-value properties. Weigh that cost against the potential tax savings. If a win would only shave $50 off your annual bill, paying for an appraisal probably does not pencil out.
If the local board rules against you, you can appeal to the Tennessee State Board of Equalization. Appeals must be filed within the state board’s deadlines, and the filing fee is capped at $10. The state board waives the fee entirely for homeowners aged 65 or older whose primary residence is appraised at $150,000 or less, and for indigent filers who submit an affidavit.8Justia. Tennessee Code 67-5-1501 – Jurisdiction and Duties
When Your Appraisal Can Change
Tennessee requires counties to reappraise all property on a regular cycle so assessed values track the market. Knox County has historically reappraised every four years and is moving to a two-year cycle. The next full reappraisal is expected to take effect in 2028, with the review process starting in 2026. When a reappraisal raises your appraised value, your tax bill can go up even if the rate holds steady, because the assessed value rises with it.