Property taxes in Morgan County, Alabama are due October 1 each year and become delinquent if you haven’t paid by December 31, when 12 percent annual interest starts accruing on the unpaid balance.1Morgan County Revenue Commissioner. Answers to Your Questions The Revenue Commissioner’s office in Decatur handles assessments, collections, and exemption applications, and the amount you owe depends on your property’s fair market value, where it sits in the county, and whether you qualify for a homestead exemption.
How Your Bill Is Calculated
The county appraisal department sets a fair market value for your property. Alabama law then applies an assessment ratio based on the type of property. Residential, agricultural, and forest land is Class III, assessed at 10 percent of fair market value. Commercial and industrial property that doesn’t fit another class is assessed at 20 percent.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 40-8-1 – Classification of Property
That assessed value gets multiplied by the total millage rate for your location. One mill is $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed value. Rates in Morgan County vary by municipality:
- Decatur: 45.3 mills
- Hartselle: 39.4 mills
- Falkville and Trinity: 42.4 mills
- Huntsville (Morgan County portion): 46.8 mills
- Unincorporated areas and all other municipalities: 37.4 mills
Every location includes 6.5 mills for the state and 16.6 mills for the county; the rest comes from city, school, and fire district levies.3Morgan County Alabama Property Tax. Millage Rates for Morgan County, Alabama
A quick example. A Decatur home with a fair market value of $200,000 has an assessed value of $20,000 (10 percent of market value). Multiply $20,000 by 0.0453, and the annual bill is $906 before any exemptions.
When and How to Pay
Taxes become due October 1 and must be paid by December 31 to stay current.4Alabama Department of Revenue. When Are My Property Taxes Due? You can look up your bill and pay online through the Revenue Commissioner’s website.5Morgan County Revenue Commissioner. Morgan County Alabama Revenue Commissioners Office Credit card payments carry a convenience fee. You can also mail payment to the Revenue Commissioner at the courthouse in Decatur, or pay in person at the Hartselle satellite office during business hours.6Morgan County Revenue Commissioner. How to Pay Your Property Taxes in Morgan County AL
If your mortgage includes an escrow account, your lender normally pays the tax bill directly in a lump sum before the deadline. Check your escrow disbursement records or call the county after the due date to confirm the payment actually went through, especially in the first year after buying or refinancing.
Exemptions That Can Lower Your Bill
Alabama’s homestead exemptions can cut your Morgan County bill substantially, and in some cases wipe it out. All of them require that you own and occupy the property as your primary residence, and the property can’t exceed 160 acres.7Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 810-4-1-.23 – Homestead and Principal Residence Exemptions From Property Tax
Standard Exemption (Under Age 65)
If you’re under 65 and don’t have a qualifying disability, the standard exemption removes up to $4,000 in assessed value from state property taxes and up to $2,000 from county taxes, though counties can authorize up to $4,000.8Alabama Department of Revenue. Homestead Exemptions On a home assessed at $20,000, the state portion alone saves about $26 at the 6.5 state mill rate. Modest, but it stacks up over years of ownership.
Age 65 and Older
Homeowners 65 and over get a full exemption from state property taxes with no cap on assessed value. County-level relief depends on income. If your combined taxable income on your federal return is $12,000 or less, you’re exempt from all property taxes (state, county, and municipal) with no assessed value limit.8Alabama Department of Revenue. Homestead Exemptions Seniors with income above $12,000 still get the full state exemption plus a county exemption capped at $5,000 in assessed value.7Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 810-4-1-.23 – Homestead and Principal Residence Exemptions From Property Tax Bring proof of age when you apply.
Permanently and Totally Disabled
If you’re permanently and totally disabled, you’re exempt from all property taxes regardless of age or income.7Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 810-4-1-.23 – Homestead and Principal Residence Exemptions From Property Tax You qualify with either a disability pension or annuity from a government agency or private employer, or written certification on Alabama Department of Revenue Form PT-PA-1 from two physicians licensed in Alabama, at least one of whom must be actively treating the condition related to your disability.
Legally Blind
Blind homeowners get a full state exemption with no assessed value cap. At the county level, the exemption covers up to $5,000 in assessed value regardless of income.8Alabama Department of Revenue. Homestead Exemptions
How to Apply
Apply through the Morgan County Revenue Commissioner’s office. Bring your deed, proof of residency such as an Alabama driver’s license showing the property address, and any documentation supporting eligibility (proof of age, disability certification, or income records). The exemption stays in effect as long as you own and occupy the home. It doesn’t transfer when the home is sold; the new owner has to apply on their own.
If You Miss the Deadline
Missing December 31 starts an escalating sequence. Interest accrues at 12 percent per year beginning January 1.9Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 40-5-9 – Interest on Delinquent Taxes In February, the delinquent account is turned over to probate court. By April, the property is advertised for sale, and in May the county holds a tax lien sale.4Alabama Department of Revenue. When Are My Property Taxes Due?
At a tax lien sale the county sells the lien on your property, not the property itself. After the sale you have a redemption period to pay what’s owed plus the buyer’s costs and clear the lien. If the lien stays unredeemed for at least four years, the lien holder can file a foreclosure action in circuit court to take title. That foreclosure can’t result in judgment for at least 90 days after filing, and you can still redeem by paying the full amount into the court any time before judgment is entered.10Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 40-10-197 – Action to Foreclose the Right to Redeem
You won’t lose your home overnight, but every month you wait adds interest and costs. The sooner you contact the Revenue Commissioner’s office about a delinquent bill, the more options stay on the table.
Disputing Your Property Valuation
If you think the county’s appraisal overstates what your property is actually worth, you can file a written protest with the Morgan County Board of Equalization. You have 30 days from the date the assessment change notice was mailed.11Morgan County Revenue Commissioners Office. Morgan County Revenue Commissioners Office – Appeals Process Miss that window and you’re stuck with the valuation for the year.
Send the protest by certified mail for proof of delivery, or drop it off in person. The strongest protests include concrete evidence: a recent independent appraisal from a certified professional, comparable sales from similar homes nearby, or documentation of damage or deterioration that reduces value. Photographs alone rarely move the needle. Pair them with dollar figures.
After the protest comes in, the board schedules a hearing where you present your evidence. The board may adjust the value or issue a formal ruling upholding the original assessment.
If the board rules against you, you can appeal to the Morgan County Circuit Court within 30 days of the decision. To preserve that right you have to pay the taxes due based on the prior year’s assessment before they become delinquent, or post a bond through the circuit clerk for double the amount of taxes owed.12Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 40-3-25 – Appeals From Rulings of Board of Equalization Court appeals involve filing fees and often attorney costs, so they tend to make financial sense only for higher-value properties where a valuation reduction produces meaningful savings over several years. For most homeowners, the Board of Equalization hearing is where the dispute gets settled.