Tuscaloosa County property taxes: rates, due dates and how to appeal

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Tuscaloosa County Tax Collector, Tax Assessor and Assessor Department pages, the county’s millage chart and the Alabama Department of Revenue’s property tax assessment page.

Tuscaloosa County property tax bills are due Oct. 1 and can be paid without penalty through Dec. 31. Two elected county officials handle them, both in the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse at 714 Greensboro Ave.: the Tax Assessor sets values and grants exemptions, and the Tax Collector sends the bills and takes the money. The City of Tuscaloosa does not bill property tax itself; its share is on the county bill.

Who to call

• Tax Collector Susan Jones (bills, payments): Room 124, 205-464-8230, collector@tuscco.com, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
• Tax Assessor Leigh Ann Fair (values, homestead, protests): Room 108, 205-464-8240, assessor2@tuscco.com
• Online payment help desk: 205-263-1573, alproptax.com

Key dates

From the Tax Collector’s important dates page:

Alabama taxes run a year in arrears. The bill due Oct. 1 goes to whoever owned the property on Oct. 1 of the year before, the Assessor Department explains, so a buyer often sees the seller’s name on the first bill. Courtesy notices are mailed before Oct. 1; a missing notice does not change the due date.

How to pay

• Online at alproptax.com by credit or debit card. The payment page lists a convenience fee of $2.50 minimum and 2.5% maximum. Checks are not taken online.
• By mail, check or money order payable to “Tax Collector, Tuscaloosa County,” to 714 Greensboro Ave., Room 124, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, postmarked by Dec. 31.
• In person at Room 124 on the courthouse’s first floor, with cash, check (before April 1), money order or cashier’s check. Bring the notice, or know the owner’s name or the address.

The rate: 51.5 mills in the city

A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Inside the City of Tuscaloosa the total is 51.5 mills, according to the county’s millage chart current as of Oct. 1, 2026:

The same figures appear for the city in the Alabama Department of Revenue’s 2025 millage rates.

How the city compares

Northport, about four miles north across the Black Warrior River, totals 38.5 mills.

How a bill is worked out

An owner-occupied home is Class III property, assessed at 10% of its appraised value under state law. For a home the assessor values at $200,000:

• Assessed value: $200,000 x 10% = $20,000
• Tax before exemptions: $20,000 x 0.0515 = $1,030

Homestead and other exemptions then reduce the bill.

The 7% cap. Under state Act 2024-344, which began with tax year 2025, the taxable assessed value of most parcels can rise no more than 7% a year. It does not apply to new construction, major improvements, a class change or most changes of ownership, and it sunsets in 2028 unless lawmakers extend it, the assessor’s valuation notice FAQ says. The county reappraised every parcel in 2025; the next countywide reappraisal is in 2029.

Homestead exemption

The homestead exemption must be claimed or it is lost. You qualify if you own a single-family home and live in it as your main residence on Oct. 1, the first day of the tax year. After a purchase:

1. Record your deed at the Tuscaloosa County Probate Office.
2. Bring a copy of the recorded deed to the Tax Assessor’s Office, Room 108.
3. Report any later change of owner or address, including an owner’s death.

Age 65 or older, or totally disabled: an owner 65 or older whose household taxable income is $12,000 or less, or who is 100% permanently and totally disabled, may be exempt from all tax on the home and up to 160 acres. These owners sign up, and sign again each year, between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. The assessor has other exemptions for owners 65 or older who do not qualify for this one; call 205-464-8240.

How to appeal your value

You appeal the market value, not the tax. File the county’s protest form with the Tax Assessor’s Office or the Appraisal Department, or mail it to the Tuscaloosa County Board of Equalization, P.O. Box 20113, Tuscaloosa, AL 35402-0113. You do not need a valuation notice to protest. The county says to meet the 30-day protest period, because Tuscaloosa County has no full-time Board of Equalization: it holds its hearings once a year. Staff will contact you to set a hearing.

What this means for you

• Pay by Dec. 31 to avoid interest and the $5 fee.
• New owners: claim the homestead exemption at Room 108 with your recorded deed.
• 65 or older or disabled: sign up between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.

More guides: moving to Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa home prices and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

When are Tuscaloosa County property taxes due?

Bills are due Oct. 1 and can be paid without penalty through Dec. 31; a mailed payment must be postmarked by Dec. 31. From Jan. 1, interest of 1% a month and a $5 fee per parcel are added.

What is the property tax rate in the City of Tuscaloosa?

51.5 mills, according to the county’s millage chart current as of Oct. 1, 2026: 6.5 state, 10.5 county, 21 school and 13.5 city. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value.

How do I get the homestead exemption in Tuscaloosa County?

Record your deed at the Probate Office, then bring a copy to the Tax Assessor’s Office in the courthouse, Room 108. You must own and live in the home as your main residence on Oct. 1 of the tax year. Call 205-464-8240.

How do I appeal my property value in Tuscaloosa County?

File the county’s protest form with the Tax Assessor’s Office or the Appraisal Department within the 30-day protest period. The Board of Equalization schedules a hearing; it meets only once a year.

Can I pay Tuscaloosa County property taxes online?

Yes, at alproptax.com, by credit or debit card with a convenience fee of at least $2.50. The help desk is 205-263-1573. Checks are not taken online.