Calculate your property tax for KS. Enter your home value, apply exemptions, and see your estimated annual tax.
Kansas's effective property tax rates are moderate, commonly 1.2% to 1.6% of market value. Property is assessed at different ratios by class: residential real property at 11.5% of market value, commercial/industrial at 25%, and agricultural at a use-value. Taxes are levied by counties, cities, school districts, and community colleges. Relief includes a homestead exemption for seniors/disabled, a veterans' exemption, and a circuit-breaker. This guide explains the calculation and relief; the calculator below estimates your bill.
Kansas values property at market value, then applies the classification ratio — 11.5% for residential — to reach the taxable value; your tax is the taxable value times the combined rate (mills per $1,000) of the county, city, school, and community-college districts. Because the residential ratio is low, the effective rate on market value stays moderate. The equalization process keeps ratios uniform across the state.
Kansas's Homestead Exemption removes a set amount of the appraised (market) value of a primary residence for owners 65+ or permanently disabled (and for surviving spouses) with household income under a limit (about $45,000–$50,000 recently). The exemption amount is set by the state (commonly the first portion of value, e.g. a few hundred thousand dollars of appraised value), so it can eliminate the tax for lower-value homes of qualifying owners. Apply with the county appraiser.
Kansas's Property Tax Relief Program (circuit breaker) refunds part of the tax for seniors and disabled persons with income under the limit whose tax exceeds a set percentage of income. It is claimed on the state income-tax return (or a separate form) and scales with burden. The program is the main ongoing relief for lower-income older Kansans after the homestead exemption.
Kansas grants a veterans' exemption (a set dollar reduction for qualifying veterans, larger for service-connected disability), a disabled veterans' exemption (a larger or full exemption for 100% disability), and exemptions for surviving spouses. These are claimed with the county and are the largest reliefs for eligible owners.
Kansas uses classification ratios (residential 11.5%, commercial 25%) rather than a growth cap. There is no Prop 13-style assessment cap; values are kept at market through reappraisal (commonly every 4–6 years). The low residential ratio is the main reason homeowner effective rates are moderate.
The figures below draw on our county datasets where available; rates differ by jurisdiction, so use your specific locality's rate in the calculator.
Estimates apply each county's effective rate to a $250,000 market value for comparison only; your actual bill depends on your own assessed value, exemptions, and local levies.
Kansas taxes are generally paid in two installments (commonly December 20 and May 10) on the county's combined mill rate, with penalty and interest on late payment and a tax sale after prolonged delinquency. The homestead exemption and circuit-breaker are claimed separately (the exemption with the county appraiser; the circuit-breaker on the state return). The low 11.5% residential ratio keeps the effective rate moderate.
To lower your Kansas bill: (1) apply for the Homestead Exemption (a set amount of appraised value removed for 65+/disabled with income under the limit) with the county appraiser; (2) file the Property Tax Relief Program (circuit breaker) on your state return if income qualifies; (3) claim the veterans' exemption (full for 100% disability); (4) grieve by about March 15 using comparable sales; (5) follow county and school mill-rate votes. The homestead exemption can eliminate the tax for lower-value homes of qualifying owners.
In practice, a Kansas bill is the 11.5%-assessed residential value times the combined county/city/school/community-college mill rate, minus the homestead exemption (for seniors/disabled) and any circuit-breaker. The equalization process keeps the 11.5% residential ratio uniform. Because the ratio is low, the effective rate is moderate; read the valuation notice (commonly by March 15) and grieve the market value if it looks high.
If you are buying in Kansas, obtain the valuation and confirm the homestead exemption (for 65+/disabled) eligibility, plus the circuit-breaker on your state return. Because residential is assessed at only 11.5%, the effective rate is moderate; compare mill rates across counties and school districts. Grieve the market value by March 15 in your first year if it looks high. Verify any veterans' exemption transfers or must be reclaimed in your name.
To appeal in Kansas, file by about March 15. (1) Compare the market value to recent sales. (2) File with the county board of tax appeals. (3) Appeal to the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals if needed. (4) Verify the homestead exemption and circuit-breaker. The 11.5% ratio means the standard is a fraction of market value.
Kansas periodically debates the classification ratios (residential 11.5%), the homestead exemption amount, and the circuit-breaker; school-finance reforms also affect local rates. Some proposals would increase the residential ratio or expand exemptions. Because the low residential ratio is the key to moderate rates, any change to it is significant. Follow the Legislature's tax committee and the Board of Tax Appeals.
11.5% residential ratio — residential value taxed at 11.5% of market. Homestead exemption — for 65+/disabled, a set amount of appraised value. Circuit-breaker — the Property Tax Relief Program. Board of tax appeals — the local appeal body (March 15). Equalization — the process keeping ratios uniform.
Two $250,000 homes. Homeowner A: taxable value is 11.5% (~$28,750); at a 1.4% effective rate the bill is about $3,500. Homeowner B, a 65-year-old, claims the homestead exemption (removing a set amount of appraised value) and the circuit-breaker, potentially cutting the net toward $2,500–$3,000. The example shows the low residential ratio keeps the base moderate.
Kansas homeowners with a mortgage pay via escrow; the lender pays the county/city/school/community-college installments. A revaluation or a rate change adjusts the escrow. If you claim the homestead exemption (65+/disabled) or the circuit-breaker, inform the lender. Buyers should obtain the valuation and compare mill rates; because residential is 11.5%, the base is a fraction of price.
What is Kansas's residential assessment ratio? Residential real property is assessed at 11.5% of market value; commercial is 25%. The rate is applied to that taxable value.
What is the Kansas homestead exemption? For owners 65+ or disabled (and surviving spouses) with income under a limit, it removes a set amount of a primary residence's appraised value; apply with the county.
Is there a circuit-breaker in Kansas? Yes. The Property Tax Relief Program refunds part of the tax for lower-income seniors/disabled whose tax exceeds a set share of income.
What veterans' relief exists in Kansas? A veterans' exemption (larger for service-connected disability), a full exemption for 100% disabled veterans, and surviving-spouse exemptions.
How do I appeal my Kansas assessment? File with the county board of tax appeals by the spring deadline (commonly March 15), then to the state Board of Tax Appeals.
Enter your home value, select your state, and see your estimated annual property tax.