What is the property tax rate in Craighead County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Craighead County, Arkansas is approximately 0.65%.

Craighead County Property Tax Calculator (2026) — Arkansas Property Tax Almanac

Property Tax in Craighead County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Jonesboro-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Craighead County — including Arkansas's constitutional 20% real-property assessment ratio, Amendment 79's $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit (effective 2026, post Act 330 of 2025 — applied directly to bill, wipes out tax bills below $600), the senior AV freeze for owners 65+/disabled (frozen at AV when first qualified), the 5% annual AV cap for homestead, and the FULL Disabled Veterans Exemption (100% service-connected). Note: Arkansas pays property taxes ONE YEAR BEHIND.

Craighead County, home to Jonesboro and 115k Arkansans, operates under Arkansas\'s constitutional 20% property tax system. Real property is assessed at 20% of fair market value (Arkansas Constitution Article 16 §15). Tax = AV × millage / 1,000. Amendment 79 (2000) provides three powerful homestead protections: (1) the universal $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit (effective 2026, post Act 330 of 2025); (2) a 5% annual cap on AV increases for homestead (10% for non-homestead); and (3) an AV freeze for owners 65+ or disabled. Effective rates run ~0.55-0.65% statewide median — among the lowest in the United States. Note: Arkansas pays property taxes ONE YEAR BEHIND — your 2026 assessment is billed in March/April 2027 with payment due October 15, 2027.

How the bill is built

Arkansas property tax follows a 4-step calculation. Step 1: Fair Market Value. The Craighead County Arkansas Assessor determines FMV annually. Step 2: Apply 20% AR. AV = FMV × 20%. So a $200K home has AV = $40K. Step 3: Apply tax rate. Tax = AV × millage / 1,000. Craighead County\'s combined millage is ~65 mills (= ~1.30% gross before homestead). Step 4: Apply $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit. Subtract up to $600 from the bill (no refund of unused credit). For homes producing tax bills under $600, the credit fully wipes out the property tax liability. Effective rate post-credit is ~0.65%.

Arkansas\'s $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit was raised from $500 to $600 by Act 330 of 2025 — effective with 2026 tax bills (which are billed in 2027 due to Arkansas\'s one-year-behind payment cycle). The credit is applied directly to the bill, not as an AV reduction. If your tax bill is below $600, no tax is due — but no refund of remaining credit either. The credit is universal (no age or income restrictions) but limited to one homestead per taxpayer per calendar year. Apply with the County Assessor.

Amendment 79\'s 5% AV cap for homestead is structurally important. Even if FMV rises 15-20% per year (as has happened in fast-growing Northwest Arkansas — Benton/Washington counties), taxable AV can only increase 5% per year for homestead properties. The cap RESETS at sale — new buyers face a "Welcome Stranger" pop-up provision where AV is reset to current market value. This creates substantial AV disparities between long-term residents and recent buyers in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, and other appreciating Arkansas markets. Non-homestead properties (rentals, commercial, vacant) are capped at 10% per year.

Arkansas provides a FULL property tax exemption on the homestead for 100% service-connected disabled veterans (Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption Act). The exemption also extends to veterans who have lost or lost the use of one or more limbs, or who are totally blind in one or both eyes from service-connected causes. Surviving unremarried spouses retain. Apply with County Assessor + County Collector with VA disability rating decision. Combined with Arkansas\'s already-low effective rates, qualifying disabled vets pay $0 on the homestead.

2026 Craighead County rate breakdown (consolidated millage per $1,000 of AV (20% AR × FMV), Jonesboro district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Combined county + municipal + school + special districts (~65 mills × 20% AR = ~0.65% effective, post $600 Homestead Credit)	65.0000
Combined total	65.0000

As of April 26, 2026 · From Craighead County Arkansas Assessor.

Note: Craighead County is **home to Arkansas State University** — Jonesboro (~80K, the seat) hosts the A-State campus (~14,000 students) and the A-State Red Wolves athletics program (Sun Belt Conference). The county is the cultural-economic anchor of northeastern Arkansas. Anchored by Jonesboro, Brookland, Bay, Caraway, and Lake City. Jonesboro sits in the Mississippi Delta region of northeastern Arkansas, ~70 miles northwest of Memphis and ~125 miles northeast of Little Rock. Major employment includes A-State, substantial healthcare (St. Bernards Medical Center, NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital), Frito-Lay (a major Jonesboro production plant), and Nestlé USA (a major Jonesboro production plant). Craighead County has experienced ~15%+ population growth since 2010.

Note: Craighead County effective property tax rates run approximately **0.65%** — moderate by Arkansas standards. Combined county + municipal + school district + special district millage is ~65 mills (× 20% AR = ~1.30% gross, reduced by Arkansas's $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit to ~0.65% effective). Median home values around $175K combined with the moderate effective rate produce median annual bills around $1,138.

Note: For relocation buyers: Craighead County offers **the celebrated A-State university + agricultural-processing northeastern Arkansas** option — substantial A-State-anchored economy, Frito-Lay and Nestlé manufacturing employment, the celebrated A-State Red Wolves athletic identity, and reasonable Memphis commute (~80 min). The trade-off: limited high-skill commercial sector outside A-State and food manufacturing, persistent New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake risk (the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes — among the largest US earthquakes in recorded history — were centered in the Mississippi Delta region; modern seismologists estimate a 7-10% chance of a major repeat earthquake in the next 50 years).

Deductions and exemptions for 2026

Arkansas homeowner property tax relief is concentrated in three Amendment 79 mechanisms (passed by voters in 2000): (1) the universal $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit (effective 2026, post Act 330 of 2025), (2) the 5% annual AV cap for homestead (10% for non-homestead), and (3) the AV freeze for owners 65+ or disabled. Plus the FULL Disabled Veteran Exemption for 100% service-connected disabled vets.

$600 Homestead Property Tax Credit (Amendment 79 — universal)

The Homestead Property Tax Credit was established at $300 per homestead in 2000, raised to $350, then $375, then $425, then $500, and most recently to $600 effective 2026 (Act 330 of 2025). The credit is applied directly to the property tax bill — if your bill is below $600, no tax is due (but no refund of remaining credit). The credit is universal — no age, income, or other qualification beyond homestead status. Limit one homestead per taxpayer per calendar year. Apply with County Assessor.

5% / 10% Annual AV Cap (Amendment 79)

For homestead properties: taxable AV cannot increase more than 5% per year, regardless of how much FMV rises. For non-homestead (commercial, agricultural, vacant): 10% per year cap. Cap resets at sale (the new owner restarts with full FMV-based AV — the "Welcome Stranger" pop-up provision). Caps do NOT apply to newly-constructed property or substantial improvements. The cap has produced significant AV disparities in fast-growing markets like Northwest Arkansas (Benton/Washington counties), where long-term residents pay far less than recent buyers for identical homes.

Senior/Disabled AV Freeze (Amendment 79)

Owners 65+ or permanently disabled (any age) can apply for a true AV freeze — the AV is frozen at the level when first qualified. Note: the freeze does NOT cap millage rate increases (so tax bills can still rise if local taxing entities raise rates). The freeze does NOT transfer to new owners at sale. Combined with the universal $600 Homestead Credit, this provides among the most-favorable senior property tax structures in the central United States.

FULL Disabled Veteran Exemption (100% service-connected)

Arkansas provides a FULL property tax exemption on the homestead for veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled, OR who have lost/lost the use of one or more limbs, OR who are totally blind in one or both eyes from service-connected causes (Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption Act). Surviving unremarried spouses retain. Apply with County Assessor and County Collector.

Appealing your assessment

Arkansas property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: County Equalization Board. File written appeal by the third Monday in August each year. The Board holds informal hearings. Level 2: County Court. If unresolved, appeal to County Court within 30 days. Level 3: Arkansas Circuit Court. County Court decisions can be appealed to Circuit Court. Most Arkansas appeals are resolved at Level 1. Note: Arkansas pays property taxes ONE YEAR BEHIND — your 2026 assessment is billed in March/April 2027 with payment due October 15, 2027.

Cities and towns in Craighead County

Craighead County contains 5 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Jonesboro to the smallest village. Search volume for property tax is often city-specific, so here is the complete list — with population from the 2020 US Census, rounded to the nearest 100.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Craighead County is subject to Craighead County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Jonesboro County seat	city	80,000
Brookland	city	4,000
Lake City	city	2,200
Bay	city	2,000
Caraway	city	1,200

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Jonesboro tax district. Other cities in Craighead County may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Craighead County Arkansas Assessor before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Arkansas property taxes due?

Arkansas pays property taxes one year behind — your 2026 assessment will be billed in March/April 2027 with payment due October 15, 2027. Most Arkansas counties accept payments starting the first business day in March each year. Late payments after October 15 accrue penalty plus interest. Most homeowners pay through escrow via mortgage servicer.

What is Amendment 79?

Amendment 79 to the Arkansas State Constitution (passed by voters in 2000) provides three powerful homestead protections: (1) the universal $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit (effective 2026, raised from $500 by Act 330 of 2025) — applied directly to the bill; (2) a 5% annual cap on AV increases for homestead (10% for non-homestead) — caps year-over-year value-driven increases (resets at sale); (3) an AV freeze for owners 65+ or disabled — frozen at AV when first qualified.

How does the $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit work?

The Homestead Property Tax Credit is applied directly to your tax bill — up to $600 (effective 2026). If your bill is below $600, no tax is due (but no refund of remaining credit). The credit is universal — no age, income, or other restrictions beyond homestead status. Limit one homestead per taxpayer per calendar year. Apply with the County Assessor. Originally $300 in 2000, raised in steps to $350, $375, $425, $500, and most recently $600 by Act 330 of 2025.

How does the 5% annual AV cap work?

For homestead properties: taxable AV cannot increase more than 5% per year, regardless of how much FMV rises. For non-homestead (commercial, agricultural, vacant): 10% per year cap. The cap RESETS at sale — the new owner restarts with full FMV-based AV (the "Welcome Stranger" pop-up provision). Caps do NOT apply to newly-constructed property or substantial improvements. The cap has produced significant AV disparities in fast-growing markets like Northwest Arkansas (Benton/Washington counties), where long-term residents pay far less than recent buyers for identical homes.

How does the senior AV freeze work?

Owners 65+ or permanently disabled (any age) can apply for a true AV freeze — the AV is frozen at the level when first qualified. Note: the freeze does NOT cap millage rate increases — so tax bills can still rise if local taxing entities (county, school district, city) raise rates. The freeze does NOT transfer to new owners at sale. Combined with the universal $600 Homestead Credit, this provides among the most-favorable senior property tax structures in the central United States. Apply with County Assessor.

How does the Disabled Veteran exemption work in Arkansas?

Arkansas provides a FULL property tax exemption on the homestead for veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled, OR who have lost/lost the use of one or more limbs, OR who are totally blind in one or both eyes from service-connected causes (Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption Act). Surviving unremarried spouses retain. Combined with Arkansas\'s already-low effective rates (~0.55-0.65%), qualifying disabled vets pay $0 on the homestead. Apply with County Assessor and County Collector with VA disability rating decision.

How do I appeal my Arkansas assessment?

Arkansas property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: County Equalization Board. File written appeal by the third Monday in August each year. Level 2: County Court. If unresolved, within 30 days. Level 3: Arkansas Circuit Court. County Court decisions can be appealed to Circuit Court. Most Arkansas appeals are resolved at Level 1.

About Craighead County

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

Northeastern Arkansas (including Craighead County) sits within the **New Madrid Seismic Zone** — among the most-seismically-active intraplate regions in the central United States. The historic **New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812** (a sequence of three magnitude 7.5-7.9 earthquakes centered just north of present-day Caruthersville, MO, ~75 miles east of Jonesboro) were among the most-powerful earthquakes in recorded US history — felt as far as Boston (where church bells rang), produced the temporary upward flow of the Mississippi River, and created Reelfoot Lake (in adjacent Tennessee). Modern seismologists at the US Geological Survey estimate a **7-10% probability of a magnitude 7.0+ earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone within the next 50 years** — making it among the highest US earthquake-risk regions outside California and Alaska. Jonesboro and the Craighead County school districts conduct annual earthquake-preparedness drills, and Arkansas state building codes for the New Madrid region require seismic-resistant construction.

Hometown hero

Johnny Cash (regional connection)

**Johnny Cash** (1932-2003) — the celebrated American country/folk/rockabilly legend, "the Man in Black," winner of 13 Grammy Awards, member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Songwriters Hall of Fame — was born in **Kingsland, Cleveland County, AR** (~70 miles south of Pulaski County, not in Craighead) but grew up in **Dyess, Mississippi County, AR** (~50 miles east of Jonesboro). The Cash family moved to Dyess in 1935 as part of the New Deal Resettlement Administration. Cash's 1969 song **"Five Feet High and Rising"** and the 2005 biographical film **Walk the Line** depict his Arkansas Delta childhood — the family's farm flooded in the 1937 Arkansas River flood. The Johnny Cash Boyhood Home (in Dyess, restored 2014) is preserved as a National Historic Landmark. Cash had substantial Jonesboro and Craighead County connections through his Arkansas State University and Memphis touring career. **Other notable Craighead County figures** include **Asa Hutchinson** (46th Governor of Arkansas 2015-2023, born 1950 in Bentonville, AR but with Jonesboro political base), and **Justin Moore** (the country music star, born 1984 in Poyen, AR — Saline County, but with substantial Jonesboro performance history).

Biggest annual event

NEA District Fair + A-State football season

The **NEA District Fair** (annual, mid-September at the Northeast Arkansas District Fairgrounds in Jonesboro, since 1949) is **the largest agricultural fair in northeastern Arkansas** — drawing 75,000+ attendees with traditional fair programming, livestock competitions, and the celebrated NEA Fair Rodeo. A-State Red Wolves football home games at Centennial Bank Stadium (capacity 30,964) draw 25,000+ attendees per game. The historic Crowley's Ridge State Park (in adjacent Greene County) and the Craighead County Forest are major regional outdoor recreation destinations.

Property Tax in Craighead County, 2026