Search Huntsville Property Tax Records

Huntsville property tax records are managed by Madison County, not the city. The Madison County Tax Collector office handles all tax bills and payments for properties in Huntsville.

Property Taxes in Huntsville Are Handled by Madison County

In Alabama, cities do not assess or collect property taxes. That job falls to the county. If you own a home or land in Huntsville, your property tax bill comes from Madison County. The city of Huntsville sets its own millage rate, but the county office does all the work of figuring out your tax bill and taking your payment. This is how it works across all of Alabama, not just in Huntsville.

Madison County uses a split system with two offices. The Tax Assessor figures out what your property is worth. The Tax Collector sends out bills and takes payments. Both offices are in the Madison County Courthouse in downtown Huntsville. You can visit either one in person, or you can handle most tasks online. The county has a good web portal that lets you look up property tax records in Huntsville without leaving home.

The city of Huntsville levies $5.80 per $100 of assessed value. This is added on top of the state and county rates. When you look at your tax bill, you will see several line items. One is the state millage. One is the county millage. And one is the city millage for Huntsville. All of these get added up to make your total bill. The Tax Collector office takes payment for all of them at once.

Madison County Tax Collector Office

The Tax Collector office sends out property tax bills and takes payments for Huntsville. This is the office to contact if you have questions about your bill, need to set up a payment plan, or want to get a copy of past tax records. The office is on the first floor of the Madison County Courthouse.

The Tax Collector office is closed on state holidays. During the busy season from October through December, wait times can be longer than usual. If you just need to pay your bill, the online portal is often faster than visiting in person. The office also has a drop box outside for after-hours payments if you prefer to pay by check.

Madison County Tax Assessor Office

The Tax Assessor office handles property valuations for Huntsville. If you think your property value is wrong, this is the office to contact. They also handle exemptions like the homestead exemption that can lower your tax bill. The Tax Assessor and Tax Collector are separate offices in Madison County, though they work closely together.

You can search property tax records for any address in Huntsville through the online portal. The site shows the parcel number, owner name, property address, assessed value, and tax amount. It also has maps that show parcel boundaries. This is a free service, and you do not need to create an account to search basic property info in Huntsville.

How to Search Property Tax Records in Huntsville

Madison County has an online portal where you can search property tax records for Huntsville. Go to madisonproperty.countygovservices.com to start your search. You can look up properties by owner name, address, or parcel number. The site is free to use and works on any device.

To search Huntsville property tax records, you can use:

• Owner name (last name, first name)
• Property address or street name
• Parcel ID number
• Map and lot numbers

The search results show basic property info. Click on any result to see more details. The detail page shows the full legal description, building info, land size, and tax history. You can also see any exemptions on the property and the breakdown of how the tax bill is calculated. For certified copies of property tax records in Huntsville, you need to contact the Tax Collector office directly.

Madison County also has a GIS map viewer where you can search by clicking on a map. This is helpful if you know where a property is but do not have the exact address. The map shows parcel lines and lets you click on any lot to see the property tax info. You can access the GIS system through the county website.

How to Pay Property Taxes in Huntsville

Property taxes in Huntsville are due on October 1 each year. You have until December 31 to pay without a penalty. After that, the county adds interest and fees. The Tax Collector office sends out bills in the fall, but you do not have to wait for a bill to pay. You can look up your amount online and pay early if you want.

You can pay Huntsville property taxes in several ways:

• Online at the county website (credit card or e-check)
• In person at the Tax Collector office (cash, check, or card)
• By mail with a check to the Tax Collector
• Drop box at the courthouse (check only)

Online payments have a small fee for credit cards. E-check payments are usually free or have a lower fee. If you pay in person, bring your tax bill or your parcel number so staff can look up your account. The office gets very busy in December as the deadline nears. Try to pay early if you can to avoid long lines.

If you cannot pay your full bill by the deadline, contact the Tax Collector office. They may be able to set up a payment plan. Do not ignore your bill, because unpaid property taxes can lead to a tax lien sale in Huntsville. The county holds these sales each year for properties with unpaid taxes.

Property Assessment in Huntsville

Alabama uses a three-class system to assess property. Your property falls into one of three classes based on its use. Residential property is Class III and gets assessed at 10% of its market value. This is the rate that applies to most homes in Huntsville. Commercial property is Class II at 20%. Utilities are Class I at 30%.

Here is how it works. Say your home in Huntsville has a market value of $200,000. The county takes 10% of that to get the assessed value, which is $20,000. Then the millage rate is applied to the assessed value. If your total millage is 60 mills, you would owe $1,200 in property tax. The actual math is: $20,000 times 0.060 equals $1,200.

Madison County reappraises property on a four-year cycle. Each year, 25% of properties get a new look. Under Code of Alabama Section 40-7-1, the Tax Assessor must keep values fair and equal. If you think your value is too high, you can appeal. The appeal process starts at the Board of Equalization in Madison County.

A new state law took effect in 2025 that caps assessment increases at 7% per year. This comes from Act 2024-344 and is meant to protect homeowners from big jumps in their tax bills. The cap applies even if your property value goes up by more than 7% in a single year.

Property Tax Exemptions in Huntsville

Several exemptions can lower your property tax bill in Huntsville. The most common is the homestead exemption. If you live in your home as your main residence, you may qualify. Under Code of Alabama Section 40-9-19, the homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your home.

Huntsville residents may qualify for these exemptions:

• Homestead exemption for primary residence
• Senior exemption for age 65 and over
• Disability exemption for permanent disability
• Veteran exemption for certain veterans
• Current use exemption for farm or timber land

To apply for an exemption, visit the Tax Assessor office in Madison County. Bring proof of ownership and any documents that support your claim. For the senior exemption, bring your ID showing your date of birth. For disability, bring your award letter from Social Security or the VA. You only need to apply once, and the exemption stays on your property until you sell it or no longer qualify.

How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment

If you think your property value is too high in Huntsville, you can appeal. The first step is to contact the Tax Assessor office. Ask them to explain how they arrived at your value. Sometimes there is an error in the property details, like wrong square footage. Fixing the error may solve the problem without a formal appeal.

If you still disagree, you can file an appeal with the Madison County Board of Equalization. Under Code of Alabama Section 40-3-24, you have the right to appeal your assessment. The board meets to hear appeals after the assessment rolls come out. You will need to show evidence that your value is wrong. This could be recent sales of similar homes, an appraisal, or photos of damage.

The appeal process in Madison County works like this:

• File a written appeal with the Board of Equalization
• Attend a hearing to present your case
• The board makes a decision
• If you lose, you can appeal to circuit court

Keep in mind that appeals have deadlines. You usually have a short window after you get your assessment notice. Check with the Tax Assessor office for the exact dates in Madison County. Missing the deadline means you have to wait until next year to appeal your Huntsville property tax assessment.

Madison County Property Tax Records

Huntsville is in Madison County, and all property tax matters go through the county offices. Madison County handles tax assessment and collection for over 30 cities and towns in the area. For more on county tax rates, exemptions, and contact info, visit the Madison County property tax records page.

View Madison County Property Tax Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Huntsville and also have property tax info on this site. Each city has its own millage rate, but all property taxes go through the county where the city is located.