Calculate your property tax for TN. Enter your home value, apply exemptions, and see your estimated annual tax.
Tennessee's effective property tax rates are low-to-moderate, commonly 0.6% to 0.8% of market value. Residential property is assessed at 25% of appraised value (a classification ratio), and — importantly — Tennessee's state property tax does not apply to owner-occupied residential property, so most homeowners pay only local county/city/school tax. Relief includes a homestead exemption for seniors and a veterans' exemption. This guide explains the calculation and relief; the calculator below estimates your bill.
Tennessee values property at appraised (market) value, then applies the 25% residential assessment ratio to reach the assessed value; your tax is the assessed value times the combined rate (mills per $100) of the county, city, and school district. Because the state levy exempts owner-occupied homes, the bill is usually just the local levies — which keeps the effective rate low.
Tennessee's key feature is that the state property tax does not apply to owner-occupied residential property — only business, industrial, and non-owner-occupied property pay the state levy. So as a homeowner living in your primary residence, you pay county, city, and school tax but not the state portion, which materially lowers the bill versus a rental or second home you own.
Tennessee's Property Tax Relief (homestead exemption) refunds part of the tax for owners 65+ or disabled (and surviving spouses) with household income under a limit (about $30,000–$40,000 recently) whose tax exceeds a set percentage of income. It is administered locally and scales with burden — the main relief for lower-income older Tennesseans.
Tennessee grants a disabled veterans' exemption (a full exemption for 100% service-connected-disabled veterans, with partial relief for lower ratings) and exemptions for surviving spouses. There is also a blind exemption. These are claimed with the county and are the largest reliefs for eligible owners.
Tennessee's restraint comes from the 25% residential ratio and the state-levy exemption for owner-occupied homes, not a growth cap. There is no Prop 13-style assessment cap; values are kept at market through reappraisal (commonly every 4–6 years) and rates are set locally. The state-exemption is the biggest saving for homeowners.
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.
Tennessee taxes are commonly paid annually in two installments by the county trustee on the combined rate, with penalty on late payment and a tax sale after sustained delinquency. The homestead relief is administered locally; the veterans' exemption with the county. Remember the state levy does not apply to owner-occupied homes.
To lower your Tennessee bill: (1) confirm your home is coded owner-occupied so the state levy does not apply; (2) if 65+/disabled with income under the limit, apply for Property Tax Relief (homestead refund) through your county; (3) claim the disabled-veterans' exemption (full for 100%); (4) verify the 25% ratio was applied; (5) appeal within the window if the appraised value looks high. The owner-occupied coding is the largest single saving.
In practice, a Tennessee bill is the assessed value (25% of market for residential) times the combined county/city/school rate, plus the city wheel tax (a per-foot or flat vehicle tax, separate). The $25,000 homestead exemption for 65+/disabled and the disabled veterans' exemption reduce the base. Because the ratio is 25%, the effective rate is low. Read the assessment notice (commonly by the county board deadline) and grieve the market value if needed.
If you are buying in Tennessee, note the $25,000 homestead exemption (65+/disabled) and the disabled veterans' exemption; also budget for the separate city wheel tax on vehicles. Because residential is assessed at 25%, the effective rate is low; compare county and city rates. Grieve the market value if comparable sales are lower. Verify your exemptions and occupancy status.
To appeal in Tennessee, file by the county board of equalization deadline. (1) Compare the market value to recent sales. (2) File with the board. (3) Appeal to the state Board of Equalization if needed. (4) Confirm the $25,000 homestead exemption (65+/disabled) and the veterans' exemption. The 25% ratio means the standard is a fraction of market value.
Tennessee's reform debate centers on the $25,000 homestead exemption, the disabled veterans' exemption, and school-finance reform; proposals sometimes adjust the exemption or the ratios. Because residential is assessed at 25%, the effective rate is low; reform tends to focus on equity and on the separate vehicle wheel tax. Watch the Legislature for exemption changes.
25% residential ratio — residential value taxed at 25% of market. $25,000 homestead exemption — for 65+/disabled. Disabled veterans' exemption — a set-dollar removal. Wheel tax — a separate per-vehicle city tax. Board of equalization — the local appeal body.
Two $300,000 homes. Homeowner A: taxable value is 25% ($75,000); at a 0.6% effective rate the bill is about $1,800 (plus a separate vehicle wheel tax). Homeowner B, a 65-year-old, claims the $25,000 homestead exemption, potentially cutting the net toward $1,300–$1,500. The example shows the 25% ratio keeps the base low.
Tennessee homeowners with a mortgage pay via escrow; the lender remits the installments (and the separate vehicle wheel tax is paid directly, not through escrow). The 25% ratio keeps the base low. Claim the $25,000 homestead exemption and the veterans' exemption and tell the lender. Buyers should compare county/city rates; the escrow is modest but should be accurate.
Tennessee owners should confirm your home is coded as owner-occupied so the state property tax does not apply — this exemption is the largest single saving and is missed by owners who never updated their occupancy status. If you are 65+, disabled, or a surviving spouse with income under the limit, apply for Property Tax Relief (the homestead refund) through your county. A 100% service-connected-disabled veteran should file the full exemption. Because the residential ratio is 25%, verify it was applied and appeal within the window if the appraised value looks high. The owner-occupied coding plus the homestead relief do most of the work.
What is Tennessee's residential assessment ratio? Residential property is assessed at 25% of appraised value; the rate is applied to that.
Does Tennessee tax owner-occupied homes at the state level? No. The state property tax does not apply to owner-occupied residential property, so homeowners pay only local levies.
What is Tennessee's homestead relief? A Property Tax Relief refund for owners 65+/disabled (and surviving spouses) with income under a limit, administered locally.
What veterans' relief exists in Tennessee? A disabled veterans' exemption (full for 100%), plus surviving-spouse and blind exemptions.
How do I appeal my Tennessee assessment? File with the county board of equalization by the notice deadline, then to the State Board of Equalization.
Enter your home value, select your state, and see your estimated annual property tax.