City of Huntsville property in Madison County is taxed at 58 mills. Taxes are due Oct. 1 and must be paid by Dec. 31. Tax Collector: 256-532-3370.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Madison County Tax Collector and its important dates, payments and tax levy pages, the Tax Assessor’s property tax facts and the Limestone County Revenue Commission.
Most of Huntsville sits in Madison County, where two elected offices handle property tax: the Tax Assessor values and lists property and grants exemptions, and the Tax Collector, Valerie Miles, sends the bills and takes the money. Taxes are due Oct. 1 and must be paid by Dec. 31. On Jan. 1 they are delinquent and fees and interest are added.
Parts of west Huntsville lie in Limestone County, where one office, the Revenue Commission, assesses and collects. If your bill comes from Athens, see the Limestone section below.
Who to call
- Tax Collector (bills, payments): 256-532-3370
- Tax Assessor (values, homestead exemption, new owners): 256-532-3350, taxassess@madisoncountyal.gov
- Board of Equalization (appeals): 256-532-3736
- Limestone County Revenue Commission: 256-233-6433, 100 S. Clinton St., Suite A, Athens
The rate: 58 mills in the City of Huntsville
City of Huntsville property in Madison County carries a total of 58 mills, or $5.80 for every $100 of assessed value, according to the Tax Collector’s levy page.
| Levy | Mills |
|---|---|
| State general tax | 2.5 |
| State soldier tax | 1.0 |
| State school tax | 3.0 |
| County general tax | 7.0 |
| County road and bridge tax | 4.0 |
| Countywide school tax | 5.5 |
| City of Huntsville | 13.0 |
| Huntsville City School special tax No. 2 | 6.5 |
| Huntsville City special school taxes (6.5, 4.0 and 5.0) | 15.5 |
| Total | 58.0 |
Where the money goes
Counting the countywide school tax and the state school tax, 30.5 of the 58 mills fund schools. In the county’s own comparison, Huntsville’s total is below the City of Madison’s 69.5 mills and above the 36.5 mills on unincorporated land.
How a bill is worked out
Alabama taxes an owner-occupied home at 10% of its appraised value (Class III). Multiply the appraised value by 10% for the assessed value, multiply that by the millage, then subtract any exemption, the Tax Assessor explains.
Using that formula, a Huntsville home appraised at $293,600 (the city’s median home value in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates) would be assessed at $29,360. At 58 mills that is about $1,703, less the basic homestead exemption of about $48. Your own bill depends on the appraisal on your notice. The Assessor has an estimate page.
Key dates
- Oct. 1: taxes due. Ownership and use on Oct. 1 decide each year’s assessment.
- Dec. 31: last day to pay without penalty, in person or by postmark. Also the deadline to claim a homestead exemption and to report new buildings, pools, decks or additions.
- Jan. 1: taxes delinquent; fees and interest added.
- March 31: last day to pay delinquent real estate taxes by personal check or card. In April and May only cash or certified funds are accepted.
- First week of May: the online tax lien sale.
Paying
- Online through the county’s property search. Cards cost 2.75% plus 30 cents; e-checks cost $1.50. The county keeps none of the fee.
- In person, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, at the Madison County Service Center, 1918 Memorial Parkway NW, Huntsville, or the Madison satellite office, 100 Plaza Blvd., Madison.
- By mail to Madison County Tax Collector, 1918 Memorial Parkway NW, Huntsville, AL 35801, postmarked by Dec. 31. Include the stub from your notice.
The county says it will never phone you to ask for bank details. If someone does, hang up and call 256-532-3370.
Homestead exemption and other breaks
A homestead exemption is for an owner who lives in a single-family home as a primary residence on Oct. 1. The deadline is Dec. 31. The basic exemption (H-1) takes $4,000 of assessed value off the state tax and $2,000 off the county tax, about $48 a year, the Assessor says. Owners 65 or older and owners who are permanently and totally disabled can claim larger exemptions (H-2, H-3 and H-4), some tied to income of $12,000 or less. You can file online or at the Service Center.
New owners: record the deed in the Probate Office, then assess the property with the Tax Assessor and claim exemptions before Dec. 31. The county says the duty is yours, not your title company’s.
How to appeal
If you think your value is too high, file a written protest with the Madison County Board of Equalization within 30 days of receiving the notice of a change in value. A county appraiser reviews it first; if you are still not satisfied, the board holds a hearing. You can appeal the board’s decision to Circuit Court within 30 days of the board’s adjournment, but taxes must be paid by Dec. 31, or a bond filed for double the tax, to keep that right. Board of Equalization: 256-532-3736.
If you live on the Limestone County side
The Limestone County Revenue Commission maps, appraises, assesses and collects property tax for the Limestone part of Huntsville. Its Citizen Access opens each Oct. 1 for records and online payment, and its site carries the county’s millage chart for each city. Office: 100 S. Clinton St., first floor, Suite A, Athens; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; 256-233-6433.
What this means for you
- Bought a home this year? Claim the homestead exemption before Dec. 31.
- Paying by mail? The envelope needs a Dec. 31 postmark.
- Added a room or a pool? Report it by Dec. 31 to avoid a 10% penalty.
More guides: home prices in Huntsville, moving to Huntsville and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
When are Madison County, Alabama, property taxes due?
Property taxes are due Oct. 1. The last day to pay in person, or to have a mailed payment postmarked, without penalty is Dec. 31. Taxes are delinquent on Jan. 1.
What is the property tax rate in Huntsville?
City of Huntsville property in Madison County is taxed at 58 mills, or $5.80 for each $100 of assessed value, according to the Madison County Tax Collector. Of that, 22 mills go to Huntsville City Schools taxes.
What is the homestead exemption deadline in Madison County?
Dec. 31. You must own the single-family home and live in it as your main residence on Oct. 1 of the tax year. Apply with the Madison County Tax Assessor, 256-532-3350.
How do I appeal my property value in Madison County?
File a written protest with the Madison County Board of Equalization within 30 days of receiving the notice of a change in value. The board’s number is 256-532-3736.
Where do I pay property taxes in Huntsville?
Online through the county’s property search, by mail, or in person 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the Madison County Service Center, 1918 Memorial Parkway NW, Huntsville.
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