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Arkansas senior property tax guide
Last updated: 20 September 2026
Turning 65 does not automatically eliminate Arkansas property tax. The main statewide help is the homestead credit, an assessed-value freeze for qualifying older or disabled homeowners, and Amendment 79 assessment caps. Some disabled veterans may qualify for a separate exemption.
Bottom Line
If you own and live in your Arkansas home, call your county assessor first. Ask whether the homestead credit and age-65 or disability freeze are active. A 2026 tax bill generally reflects the 2025 assessment year, with a credit up to $600. Act 174 bill record raises the credit to $675 for assessment years beginning January 1, 2026, normally affecting taxes paid in 2027.
Important 2026 Deadline
Arkansas property taxes are due by October 15, 2026. Unpaid balances can become delinquent and face a penalty. If full payment will be hard, contact the county collector before the deadline and ask about partial-payment options. See the Washington collector page for a current county example.
Start Here
- Check your tax bill. Look for the homestead credit and compare the taxable assessed value with last year.
- Call the assessor. Ask, “Is my homestead credit active, and is my age-65 or disability freeze active?” Use the state county officials directory.
- Call the collector if payment is the problem. The assessor handles value and relief status. The collector handles payment and delinquency questions.
If you are not sure what “freeze,” “credit,” or “exemption” means, see our property tax terms guide before you call.
| Your situation | Start with | Ask this |
|---|---|---|
| You own and live in the home | County assessor | “Is the homestead credit active?” |
| You are 65 or older | County assessor | “Is my taxable-value freeze active?” |
| You have a qualifying disability | County assessor | “What disability proof do you accept?” |
| You cannot pay the full bill | County collector | “Can I make partial payments?” |
| You are a disabled veteran | County collector | “Do I qualify for the veteran exemption?” |
What Has Changed
- The $675 increase is now law. The May version of this article still described HB1103 as approved legislation. It became Act 174 on May 1, 2026. The 2026 fiscal summary says $675 applies to assessment years beginning January 1, 2026.
- The payment-year distinction matters. A current Pulaski credit page still shows up to $600 for the tax bill being collected in 2026, while the current Benton Amendment 79 page describes the new $675 assessment-year credit. This is why readers should match the amount to the assessment year on the bill.
- The regular 2026 value-appeal filing date passed. The third Monday in August was August 17, 2026. People who already filed may still be in the hearing process. People who missed it should ask the assessor or county clerk about correction options and next-year appeal timing.
- The 2026 payment deadline is close. Taxes are due October 15. Readers who cannot pay in full should contact the collector now rather than wait until after the deadline.
Main Arkansas Relief Options
Arkansas property tax relief is mostly built into the property record. It is not usually a cash grant. The assessor decides how the home is classified and valued. The collector sends the bill and collects payment. Understanding which office handles which problem can save time.
| Relief | What it does | Best office | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homestead credit | Reduces real property tax on a qualifying principal residence | Assessor | Amount depends on assessment year |
| Age-65/disability freeze | Freezes taxable assessed value for an eligible homestead | Assessor | Does not freeze millage |
| Amendment 79 caps | Limits annual taxable-value increases after reappraisal | Assessor | Sales and improvements can change value |
| Veteran exemption | Can exempt qualifying property for certain disabled veterans | Collector | VA eligibility rules are specific |
For a broader comparison, use our state property tax guide or the property tax finder.
Arkansas Homestead Property Tax Credit
What it helps with: The credit reduces ad valorem real estate tax on a qualifying principal residence. It cannot reduce the qualifying tax below zero, and it is not a cash refund for any unused amount.
Who may qualify: Arkansas uses “homestead” for a dwelling used as the owner’s principal residence. State guidance also recognizes some recorded sales contracts, recorded life estates, and certain revocable or irrevocable trusts. A person may claim only one homestead credit. The Washington County FAQ gives a practical current summary of these rules.
How much: Act 330 bill record raised the credit to $600 for assessment years beginning January 1, 2025. Act 174 then raised it to $675 for assessment years beginning January 1, 2026.
Do not mix up assessment year and payment year. Arkansas generally collects property tax in the year after the assessment. That means the bill due October 15, 2026, generally comes from the 2025 assessment and can show up to a $600 homestead credit. The 2026 assessment-year credit is $675 and normally appears on taxes paid in 2027.
Where to apply: Apply with the county assessor. Local forms and proof requirements can differ. If you moved, changed ownership, placed the home in a trust, or kept a life estate after transferring title, ask the assessor to review the exact ownership record instead of assuming the credit will continue automatically.
Age 65 or Disability Freeze
What it helps with: Qualifying homeowners can have the taxable assessed value of their homestead frozen. This can protect an older homeowner from reappraisal increases that would otherwise raise taxable value.
Who may qualify: The homeowner must qualify for homestead treatment and be age 65 or older or meet the state disability rule. Current county guidance is not perfectly consistent in how it describes disability proof. For example, some county pages refer to Social Security disability standards while others use “100% disabled” wording. Because the evidence can differ by office and circumstance, ask the assessor exactly what proof it accepts.
What the freeze does not do: It does not freeze the total tax bill. Millage rates can change. Taxable value can also change after certain new construction or substantial improvements. The Benton assessor FAQ clearly explains that the freeze is on taxable value, not the millage rate.
If you turn 65 this year: Contact the assessor as soon as possible. Arkansas guidance provides relief for currently owned homesteads when the homeowner reaches 65, but the county needs the age information on the property record. Do not assume the office will add it automatically.
If you need help with other Arkansas programs at the same time, our Arkansas senior benefits guide can help you find other state and local starting points.
Amendment 79 Assessment Caps
Even before the age-65 freeze applies, Amendment 79 can limit how fast taxable assessed value rises after reappraisal. Current Arkansas county guidance describes a 5% annual cap for homestead property and a 10% cap for most non-homestead real property until full assessed value is reached.
These limits do not mean every tax bill can rise by only 5% or 10%. Local millage can change, and special rules apply after ownership changes, new construction, newly discovered property, and substantial improvements. If a home was recently purchased, ask the assessor what value will be used at the next assessment date.
If you think the value is wrong: First ask the assessor for the property record and a review. Check square footage, condition, land classification, improvements, and ownership. If you still disagree, Arkansas allows an appeal to the county board of equalization. The state valuation appeal guide says the normal filing deadline is the third Monday in August each year.
2026 appeal timing: The third Monday in August was August 17, 2026, so the normal filing deadline has passed. If you filed before that date, follow the board’s hearing instructions. If you did not, ask the assessor or county clerk whether the issue is a correctable record error and how to prepare for the next appeal cycle.
Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption
Some senior veterans have a much stronger form of relief than the regular homestead credit. Arkansas provides an exemption for a veteran who meets specific U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rules, including certain special monthly compensation awards, total blindness, or a service-connected 100% total and permanent disability. The ADVA property tax guide directs eligible veterans to the county collector.
Recent laws matter. Act 876 bill record says the VA eligibility letter generally needs to be submitted only once to establish the exemption, rather than every year, although the taxpayer must report changes that affect eligibility. Act 880 bill record allows certain trust and limited-liability-company ownership arrangements to qualify beginning with assessment years on or after January 1, 2026.
Do not assume a regular age-65 freeze is the best route if you may qualify for the veteran exemption. Bring your VA documentation and ownership papers to the collector. For broader veteran help, see our Arkansas veteran benefits guide.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Pull two tax bills. Use the current bill and the prior bill. Compare the credit line, taxable assessed value, and millage.
- Call before visiting. Ask the assessor which homestead and freeze statuses are on the parcel and what proof is missing.
- Fix the record first. If the home is not marked as your principal residence, solve that before arguing about the dollar amount.
- Separate value from payment. The assessor handles value and Amendment 79 relief. The collector handles payment, penalties, and delinquency.
- Keep written proof. Save the application, supporting documents, staff name, date of call, and any confirmation number.
Documents to Gather
- Current tax bill or parcel number
- Photo ID and proof of age
- Deed or recorded sales contract
- Recorded life-estate papers, if used
- Trust or LLC papers, if relevant
- Disability proof requested by the assessor
- VA eligibility records for a veteran exemption
- Prior tax bill and value-change notice
Important Arkansas Dates for 2026
| Date | What it controls | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2026 | Normal deadline to file a valuation appeal with the county equalization board | If already filed, follow hearing instructions; if missed, ask about corrections and next year |
| October 15, 2026 | Deadline to pay current property taxes without becoming delinquent | Call the collector before the deadline if full payment is difficult |
| October 15 | Homestead-credit registration can still matter through the statutory cutoff | Ask the assessor whether your current-year application is complete |
Current county pages also show that partial payments can be available on current taxes. For example, the Greene collector page says current taxes may be paid in partial payments. Ask your own collector for its payment methods and any card or processing fees.
Reality Checks
- The freeze is not a bill freeze. Millage changes can still raise or lower taxes.
- The credit is not a refund check. It reduces qualifying real property tax only up to the amount owed.
- County pages can look inconsistent. In 2026, some pages describe the $600 bill being collected now while others describe the new $675 assessment-year credit.
- A sale can reset taxable value. Do not assume the prior owner’s capped or frozen value transfers to a buyer.
- Local charges can remain. A homestead credit does not necessarily erase special improvement assessments, personal property tax, or every line on a county bill.
- Arkansas does not appear to have a broad statewide senior circuit-breaker. Current state property-tax materials center on the credit, freeze, caps, and veteran exemption rather than a separate low-income rebate or general deferral program.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for the bill to fix itself. If the credit or freeze is missing, contact the assessor.
- Calling the wrong office. Assessor for value and relief status; collector for payment and delinquency.
- Assuming age 65 means zero tax. Most homeowners still owe property tax after the freeze.
- Using the wrong year’s credit amount. Match $600 or $675 to the assessment year, not just the calendar date on a county webpage.
- Missing the appeal window. A value dispute has a much earlier deadline than the October tax-payment deadline.
- Ignoring title changes. A deed, trust, life estate, or LLC can change how the assessor or collector needs to document eligibility.
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
If the assessor says you do not qualify, ask for the exact reason and the rule or document that is missing. A denial can come from ownership records, principal-residence status, a competing homestead claim, missing proof of age or disability, or a filing problem.
If the problem is a valuation dispute, ask about the county board of equalization and the next available appeal step. If the 2026 filing deadline has passed, ask whether the issue is a correctable clerical or factual error. Do not assume every disagreement can still be formally appealed this year.
If the tax bill is creating a housing crisis, see our Arkansas emergency help guide and contact an Arkansas aging agency for local referrals. These programs do not replace the county tax process, but they may help with other bills while you work on the property-tax issue.
If Property Taxes Are Already Delinquent
Call the county collector first and ask whether the parcel is still handled locally. If unpaid real estate taxes have been certified to the state, the Commissioner parcel search lets an owner search by parcel number or name and see redemption information. The State Lands office handles certified delinquent property and lists 1-501-324-9422 for its Real Estate Division.
Do not wait until a sale date. Current State Lands guidance says parcels sold through the office cannot be redeemed on the sale date or afterward. If a parcel has reached the state process, confirm the exact redemption deadline and amount directly with that office.
If keeping the home is becoming unaffordable even after tax relief, our Arkansas housing help guide can help you compare other housing-cost programs. Homeowners facing repair costs may also benefit from our Arkansas home repair guide.
Local and Official Resources
- County assessor: Homestead credit, age-65/disability freeze, assessed value, ownership record, and valuation questions.
- County collector: Tax bill, payment methods, partial payments, penalties, delinquency, and disabled-veteran exemption.
- Arkansas DFA: Statewide assessment rules and county-office information. The state DFA property tax relief page is the main state starting point.
- Veterans Affairs: The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs explains the disabled-veteran exemption and directs applicants to county collectors.
- Annual notice: Act 877 bill record requires property tax statements to notify taxpayers about relief for people with disabilities and those age 65 or older.
For other state tax questions that are not limited to property tax, use our Arkansas senior tax guide.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Assessor: check relief status
“I own and live in this home. Can you check my parcel and tell me whether the homestead credit is active and whether an age-65 or disability freeze is active?”
Assessor: correct a value
“My assessed value changed and I think the property record may be wrong. Can you tell me how to get the property record card and whether this can still be corrected for 2026?”
Collector: payment problem
“I may not be able to pay the full property tax bill by October 15. Do you accept partial payments on current taxes, and what amount must be paid to avoid delinquency?”
Collector: veteran exemption
“I have a VA disability award and want to check the Arkansas disabled-veteran property tax exemption. What documents do you need, and is my exemption already active on this parcel?”
Resumen en Español
En Arkansas, cumplir 65 años no elimina automáticamente todos los impuestos de la vivienda. La ayuda principal incluye el crédito de vivienda principal, el congelamiento del valor tasado para propietarios de 65 años o más o con una discapacidad que cumpla las reglas, y los límites de aumento bajo la Enmienda 79.
Si está pagando una factura de impuestos en 2026, normalmente corresponde al año de tasación 2025 y el crédito puede ser de hasta $600. La Ley 174 de 2026 aumentó el crédito a $675 para años de tasación que comienzan el 1 de enero de 2026; normalmente ese cambio afecta los impuestos que se pagan en 2027.
Los impuestos actuales deben pagarse antes del 15 de octubre de 2026. Si no puede pagar todo, llame al collector del condado antes de la fecha límite y pregunte si acepta pagos parciales. Para el crédito, el congelamiento o un problema con el valor de la casa, llame al assessor del condado.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a full senior property tax exemption in Arkansas?
Not for most homeowners just because they are 65. Arkansas mainly uses a homestead credit, an assessed-value freeze for qualifying homeowners age 65 or older or disabled, and limits on assessment increases. A separate property tax exemption may apply to certain disabled veterans and eligible survivors.
How much is the Arkansas homestead credit in 2026?
It depends on which year you mean. Taxes being paid in 2026 generally come from the 2025 assessment year, when the statewide homestead credit was up to $600. Act 174 raises the credit to $675 for assessment years beginning January 1, 2026, which normally affects taxes paid in 2027.
Does the age-65 freeze freeze my tax bill?
No. It freezes the taxable assessed value of an eligible homestead, not the millage rate. Your bill can still change if local tax rates change or if taxable value is added for qualifying new construction or substantial improvements.
What if I turn 65 this year?
Contact your county assessor and ask to add the age-65 freeze to your homestead record. Arkansas guidance says the freeze can apply to a currently owned homestead as of the date the homeowner reaches age 65, but the assessor should confirm how it will appear on your county record and future bill.
Can I still appeal my 2026 property value?
The normal deadline to apply to the county board of equalization was the third Monday in August, which was August 17 in 2026. If you filed on time, keep your hearing documents. If you missed the deadline, ask the county assessor or county clerk about correction options and what to do for the next assessment year.
What happens if I cannot pay by October 15?
Call your county collector before October 15, 2026. Arkansas allows current property taxes to be paid during the collection period, and some counties accept partial payments. Unpaid balances after the deadline can become delinquent and may receive a penalty. If the property is later certified to the Commissioner of State Lands, different redemption rules apply.
Do disabled veterans have a different exemption?
Possibly. Arkansas provides a separate homestead and personal-property tax exemption for veterans who meet specific VA disability rules, with related rules for some surviving spouses and minor dependent children. County collectors handle the exemption. Recent laws also changed documentation and ownership rules, so veterans should ask the collector to review their current record.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced under the GFS Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources. GFS is not affiliated with a government agency and is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Despite careful verification, errors may occur. Readers may email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, funding, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the responsible official program before acting.
Last updated: 20 September 2026 · Next review: 20 January 2027
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