Knoxville homeowners get two bills: Knox County's from the trustee and the city's from the Revenue Office. Both are due from Oct. 1 and late on March 1.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from Knox County Finance, the Knox County Property Assessor, the Knox County Trustee and the City of Knoxville’s Property Taxes page and 2025-26 budget.
If you own a home inside Knoxville city limits, you pay two property tax bills: one to Knox County, collected by the Knox County Trustee, and one to the City of Knoxville, collected by the city’s Revenue Office. Both bills are payable from Oct. 1 and become delinquent on March 1 of the following year. Homes outside the city pay only the county bill.
2026 is a reappraisal year in Knox County. The property assessor revalued every parcel this spring, and under Tennessee law the county and the city then set new “certified” rates meant to raise about the same money from the new values. The rates on the bills going out this fall are therefore different from the 2025 rates below. Your bill shows your own appraisal and rate.
Who to call
- County tax bill and payment: Knox County Trustee, 865-215-2305, 400 Main St., Suite 427
- City tax bill and payment: City of Knoxville Revenue Office, 865-215-2084, 400 Main St., Suite 453, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
- Appraised value and appeals: Knox County Property Assessor, 865-215-2360, 400 Main St., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
- Look up and pay a county bill: Knox County property tax lookup
How your bill is worked out
Tennessee assesses homes at 25% of appraised value. The tax rate is set per $100 of that assessed value. So a home appraised at $239,700 (the median value of an owner-occupied home in Knoxville in the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey) is assessed at $59,925.
The rates
| Body | Rate per $100 of assessed value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Knox County | $1.5540 | Fiscal year 2026 (bills mailed fall 2025) |
| City of Knoxville | $2.1556 | Fiscal year 2025-26 |
| Total inside city limits | $3.7096 |
Knox County Finance says the county rate splits between general government (general fund $0.6724 and debt service $0.3952) and the schools. Both rates were reset after the reappraisal. Look up the new rates on the city’s Property Taxes page and the county’s Finance page.
An example at 2025 rates
At the 2025 rates, that $239,700 home paid about $931 to the county and $1,292 to the city, about $2,223 in all. Use the assessor’s property tax calculator for your own parcel.
Due dates and discounts
- Oct. 1: bills are payable.
- End of October: the city takes 1% off its real estate tax if you pay the city bill in full by then. The county bill has no discount.
- March 1: unpaid bills become delinquent and interest begins.
The trustee takes payments online, by phone (865-215-2305, option 3) and by mail to P.O. Box 70, Knoxville, TN 37901; card payments carry a processing fee charged by the trustee’s software provider. The city accepts payments at its Revenue Office and online. If your mortgage company pays your taxes from escrow, it receives the bill; you do not need to pay it again.
Help for seniors, disabled owners and veterans
The state’s tax relief program and Knox County’s tax freeze program help older and disabled homeowners with limited incomes and some disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. Both are applied for through the trustee and the assessor. The assessor’s office says the deadline to apply is April 5. Details are on the assessor’s website.
How to appeal your appraisal
You appeal the value, not the tax rate.
- Informal review. Ask the property assessor to take another look. For the 2026 reappraisal, the assessor took online informal appeals through May 29 and mailed results by mid to late June.
- Knox County Board of Equalization. If you disagree with the assessor, appeal to the county board, which meets in July.
- State Board of Equalization. A decision of the county board can be appealed to the state board, run by the Tennessee Comptroller.
Bring evidence: recent sales of similar homes nearby, an independent appraisal, or photos of damage or defects. Owners who missed this year’s window can still ask the assessor to correct a factual error on the property record, such as the wrong square footage.
What this means for you
- Your appraisal likely rose sharply this year; your tax does not rise by the same share, because both rates were reset.
- Pay the city bill by Oct. 31 to save 1%. Pay both bills by the last day of February to avoid interest.
Related guides: Knoxville home prices, moving to Knoxville and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
When are Knox County property taxes due?
Bills are payable from Oct. 1 and become delinquent on March 1 of the following year. City of Knoxville taxes follow the same Oct. 1 and March 1 dates.
Who do I pay property taxes to in Knoxville?
Two offices. The Knox County Trustee (865-215-2305) collects county taxes, and the City of Knoxville Revenue Office (865-215-2084) collects city taxes, both in the City-County Building at 400 Main St.
Does Knoxville give a discount for paying property taxes early?
Yes. The city takes 1% off its own real estate tax bill when it is paid in full by the end of October. The discount does not apply to the county bill.
What is the Knox County property tax rate?
Knox County’s rate for fiscal year 2026 was $1.5540 per $100 of assessed value. The City of Knoxville’s was $2.1556. Both bodies reset their rates after the 2026 reappraisal, so check the rate printed on this year’s bill.
How do I appeal my property assessment in Knox County?
Start with an informal review by the Knox County Property Assessor (865-215-2360). If you disagree with the result, appeal to the Knox County Board of Equalization, which meets in July.
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