What is the property tax rate in Washington County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Washington County, Arkansas is approximately 0.55%.

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

Property Tax in Washington County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Fayetteville-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Washington 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.

Washington County, home to Fayetteville and 250k 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 Washington 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. Washington County\'s combined millage is ~55 mills (= ~1.10% 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 ~0.55%.

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

Taxing entity	Rate
Combined county + municipal + school + special districts (~55 mills × 20% AR = ~0.55% effective, post $600 Homestead Credit)	55.0000
Combined total	55.0000

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

Note: Washington County (AR) is **home to the University of Arkansas** — Fayetteville (~95K, the seat) hosts the UA campus (~31,000 students — the flagship of the Arkansas state university system) and the Arkansas Razorbacks athletics program (SEC Conference, 11 NCAA championships including basketball 1994). UA is one of the most-prestigious universities in the southeastern United States. The county is the second-most-populous in Northwest Arkansas after adjacent Benton County (Walmart). Anchored by Fayetteville, the Washington County portion of Springdale (which straddles the Benton-Washington line — Tyson Foods world headquarters is in Springdale), Johnson, Farmington, Prairie Grove, and Tontitown (the celebrated Italian-heritage community founded 1898). Major employment includes UA, Tyson Foods (~5,000 corporate HQ employees in Springdale), substantial healthcare (Washington Regional Medical Center, Northwest Health), and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (in adjacent Lowell, Benton County).

Note: Washington County (AR) effective property tax rates run approximately **0.55% — among the lower in Arkansas**. Combined county + municipal + school district + special district millage is ~55 mills (× 20% AR = ~1.10% gross, reduced by Arkansas's $600 Homestead Property Tax Credit to ~0.55% effective). Median home values around $290K combined with the very low effective rate produce median annual bills around $1,595.

Note: For relocation buyers: Washington County (AR) offers **the premier UA university + Tyson Foods Northwest Arkansas** option — substantial UA-anchored economy, the iconic Razorbacks cultural identity ("Woo Pig Sooie!"), the celebrated Tyson Foods corporate headquarters, exceptional cultural amenities (Walton Arts Center, the Fayetteville Square downtown district, the celebrated Northwest Arkansas Naturals minor league baseball), strong public schools, and reasonable Bentonville commute (~30 min via I-49). The trade-off: aggressive housing price appreciation since 2018 (similar to Benton County), substantial UA student-driven seasonal population variation, aggressive game-day traffic during football season.

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 Washington County

Washington County contains 6 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Fayetteville 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 Washington County is subject to Washington County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Fayetteville County seat	city	95,000
Springdale Split	city	90,000
Farmington	city	7,800
Prairie Grove	city	7,700
Tontitown	city	5,800
Johnson	city	4,000

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Fayetteville tax district. Other cities in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County

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

Weird fact

The University of Arkansas' celebrated **"Calling the Hogs"** chant — "Woo, Pig, Sooie! Razorbacks!" — is **among the most-iconic college sports cheers in American history**. The chant developed in the 1920s among UA football fans (the "Hog Call" was a deliberately-corny imitation of farmers calling pigs to feed) and has been continuously used at Razorbacks athletic events since. The chant's call-and-response format involves the cheerleaders calling "Woo!" and the crowd responding "Pig, Sooie!" three times, then "Razorbacks!" The chant is the cultural defining feature of Razorbacks fandom — performed at football, basketball, and baseball games, plus at presidential inaugurations of UA-connected politicians (Bill Clinton famously called the Hogs at his 1993 inaugural). Razorback Stadium (capacity 76,212, in Fayetteville) is **among the loudest college football stadiums in the United States** when "Calling the Hogs" reaches peak volume.

Hometown hero

Bill + Hillary Clinton (UA Law School)

Both **Bill Clinton** (42nd President of the United States, 1993-2001) and **Hillary Rodham Clinton** (US Senator from New York 2001-2009, US Secretary of State 2009-2013, Democratic presidential nominee 2016) **taught law at the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville** in the 1970s. Bill Clinton (then a 27-year-old Yale Law graduate) joined the UA Law faculty in 1973 — Hillary Rodham followed in 1974. They were married in Fayetteville on October 11, 1975 (in their Fayetteville house at 930 W. Clinton Drive — now preserved as the **Clinton House Museum**). Bill served as Arkansas Attorney General (1977-1979) and Governor (1979-1981, 1983-1992) before his 1992 presidential election. Hillary practiced law at Little Rock's Rose Law Firm. Other notable UA/Washington County figures include **Frank Broyles** (1924-2017 — the celebrated UA football coach 1958-1976, athletic director 1973-2007, the most-influential figure in Razorbacks athletic history), and **NBA legend Joe Johnson** (born 1981 in Little Rock but attended UA 1999-2001 — 7-time NBA All-Star).

Biggest annual event

Razorbacks football season + Bikes, Blues & BBQ

Razorbacks football home games at Razorback Stadium (capacity 76,212, in Fayetteville) draw 76,000+ attendees per game with the celebrated "Calling the Hogs" tradition. The annual **Bikes, Blues & BBQ** (annual, late September in downtown Fayetteville, since 2000) is **one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the southeastern United States** — drawing 400,000+ attendees over 4 days. The Walmart Shareholders Meeting (in Bud Walton Arena on the UA campus) draws 14,000+ Walmart shareholders.

Property Tax in Washington County, 2026