The local tax guide · Tennessee
Knox County
property tax, explained.
Living in Knox County does not automatically mean paying Knoxville city property tax. Confirm the parcel’s city boundary first, then apply the residential assessment ratio and the appropriate rate.
Sources reviewed
Follow the dollars
The same $400,000 appraisal, two tax boundaries
Residential assessed value is $400,000 × 25% = $100,000. In the 2025 example, county tax is $100,000 ÷ 100 × $1.5540 = $1,554. Inside Knoxville, city tax adds $2,155.60, making the combined amount $3,709.60 before relief or adjustments. Outside Knoxville, do not add that city levy.
Residential tax at your entered rate, before tax relief, tax freeze adjustments, discounts, fees, penalties or interest. The default example covers county tax only.
Use the inputs from your record
Knox County tax calculator
Annual illustration
$1,554.00
Using the starting example inputs.
- Taxable base
- $100,000.00
- Value-based tax
- $1,554.00
Residential tax at your entered rate, before tax relief, tax freeze adjustments, discounts, fees, penalties or interest. The default example covers county tax only.
Match the value and rate year. Calculations happen in your browser; this form does not submit your inputs.
Check the boundary and the assessment separately
Use the KGIS property maps, linked by the Trustee, to identify the parcel and jurisdiction. A Knoxville mailing address alone is not proof that a home is within the city limits. Then find the tax-year appraisal through the Knox County Property Assessor.
The city’s property tax page explains the 25% residential assessment ratio. Do not enter the already-reduced assessed value into this calculator: that would apply the reduction twice. This guide is for residential property, not commercial or business personal property.
A reappraisal changes more than the value on the notice
The assessor announced a move to a two-year reappraisal cycle starting in 2026. Its explanation distinguishes changes in appraised values from the certified rate process. A higher appraisal by itself is not enough to calculate the resulting tax change.
Keep the new notice and the previous bill together. Compare the appraisal year, classification and final adopted rate before budgeting. The examples here retain their 2025 labels deliberately. For an assessment question or the applicable appeal process, contact the assessor; its office is separate from the tax collector.
Tax relief and a tax freeze are different programs
The Trustee’s relief and freeze page explains eligibility and the current application process. State tax relief is a payment credit, not a blanket exemption from receiving or paying a bill. Senior tax freeze is a separate program with its own requirements.
Check ownership, occupancy, age or disability requirements, income rules and the application year with the Trustee. This calculator does not subtract a guessed benefit for selecting “senior” or “veteran.” Keep any approval notice so you can reconcile the actual benefit with the bill.
Keep county and city payment records separate
Use the county tax lookup for Knox County charges and the city tax lookup for Knoxville charges. Paying one does not establish that the other is paid.
For county billing and relief questions, call the Trustee at 865-215-2305. For city billing, the Revenue Office lists 865-215-2084. Verify the amount and deadline on each actual bill rather than treating the combined calculator result as a payment instruction.
Sources and review scope
Property Tax Almanac checked these official sources on September 26, 2026. Illustrative inputs are labeled; this review does not establish every parcel’s current rate or individual eligibility.
- Knoxville property tax information — Residential assessment ratio, county/city rate display, billing contacts.
- Knoxville FY2025 financial report (PDF) — 2025 rate table: county 1.5540, city 2.1556, combined 3.7096 per $100 assessed value.
- Assessor’s reappraisal announcement — Two-year cycle starting in 2026; assessment and rate distinction.
- Trustee tax relief and freeze — Separate programs, eligibility and payment-credit explanation.
The calculator divides the taxable base by 100, multiplies by the entered rate and rounds to cents. It is a bill-checking tool, not an official tax determination. Other site tools may use different benchmark assumptions.
Report a correction with the page, tax year and official source. See our data methodology or return to Tennessee counties.