Kansas property taxes (2026)

How Kansas property taxes work

Kansas splits its bill across the winter: the first half is due December 20 and the second half May 10 of the following year, collected by the county treasurer. Homes are assessed at 11.5% of appraised market value, and the mill levy applies to that slice.

County appraisers value annually and mail valuation notices in late February or early March. The appeal clock is 30 days from the mailing date — and the first step is an informal meeting with the county appraiser's office, which resolves the majority of disputes.

Beyond the informal hearing, appeals climb to the county's hearing process and the state Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA), including a small-claims path for homes. You can also pay under protest at bill time if you missed the spring window — one appeal route per year is the rule.

Statewide relief runs through the school levy and refunds: a portion of every home's value is exempt from the statewide 20-mill school finance levy (raised to $75,000 of appraised value by recent legislation), and income-qualified homeowners — seniors especially — can claim the homestead refund or the SAFESR/'golden years' style programs on the state return.

When payments are due

Two halves: December 20 and May 10.

How to appeal your assessment

The statewide rule: Request an informal hearing with your county appraiser within 30 days of the valuation notice's mailing date (notices mail late February–early March)

Miss the 30-day spring window and you can still pay the December bill under protest — but you only get one appeal route per year, so pick the spring hearing when you can.

1. Read your valuation notice (around March 1)It shows appraised market value; your bill runs on 11.5% of it. The 30-day clock starts at mailing.
2. Request the informal hearingFile the request with the county appraiser — free, and most residential disputes end here with comparable sales and photos.
3. Get the appraiser's decisionA written result follows the informal meeting.
4. Escalate to the Board of Tax AppealsThe small-claims division handles homes informally; filing windows follow the informal decision.
5. Or pay under protestIf you missed spring, file the protest form when paying by December 20 — it opens the same review path.

County pages have the exact local deadlines, forms, and filing links.

Statewide exemptions

Reassessment

County appraisers revalue annually at fair market value as of January 1; homes are assessed at 11.5% of appraised value.

Value notices (Valuation notice) usually mail in late February–March.

Common questions

When are property taxes due in Kansas?

December 20 (first half) and May 10 (second half), to your county treasurer. Pay the full year by December 20 if you prefer one payment.

How do I appeal my Kansas valuation?

Request an informal hearing with your county appraiser within 30 days of the valuation notice mailed around March 1. Most cases end there; the rest can climb to the Board of Tax Appeals' small-claims path — or you can pay under protest in December if you missed spring. One route per year.

Why is my assessed value 11.5% of my appraisal?

That's the Kansas residential assessment ratio — mill levies apply to 11.5% of appraised value. County levy sheets quote total mills; multiply by your assessed value and divide by 1,000.

What Kansas property tax relief should I know about?

Three layers: the automatic exemption of part of your home's value from the statewide 20-mill school levy, the income-based homestead refund (K-40H), and the senior/veteran refund programs (SAFESR and the base-year freeze) claimed with your state return each spring.

What does paying under protest do?

It preserves your right to challenge the value at payment time (December 20) if you didn't appeal in the spring — same review track, later calendar. You can't do both in one year.