What is the property tax rate in Shawnee County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Shawnee County, Kansas is approximately 1.55%.

Shawnee County Property Tax Calculator (2026) — Kansas Property Tax Almanac

Property Tax in Shawnee County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Topeka-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Shawnee County — including Kansas's constitutionally-fixed 11.5% residential assessment ratio (Art. 11, §1), the 20-mill Statewide School Levy with a $20,000 exemption, SAFESR refund for low-income seniors 65+, and the partial Disabled Veteran Refund (SVR — Kansas does NOT provide a full vet exemption).

Shawnee County, home to Topeka and 180k Kansans, operates under Kansas's constitutionally-fixed property tax system. Residential property is assessed at 11.5% of fair market value (Kansas Constitution Art. 11, §1; commercial is 25%). Tax = AV × Mill Levy / 1,000. The state imposes a 20-mill Statewide School Levy, but the first $20,000 of appraised value is EXEMPT from this state portion (~$46/year reduction for all owners). Kansas does NOT have a senior property tax freeze.

How the bill is built

Kansas property tax follows a 3-step calculation. Step 1: Fair Market Value. The Shawnee County Kansas Appraiser's Office determines FMV every year (Kansas reappraises annually, unlike Missouri's biennial cycle). Step 2: Apply 11.5% residential assessment ratio. AV = FMV × 11.5%. Commercial uses 25%; agricultural uses 30% of use value. Step 3: Apply mill levy. Tax = AV × mill levy / 1,000. Shawnee County's combined consolidated mill levy is ~135 mills (× 11.5% residential AR = ~1.55% effective rate against market value).

The $20,000 Statewide School Levy exemption is automatic — for ALL owners, not just seniors. Kansas\'s 20-mill Statewide School Levy is reduced by an exemption of the first $20,000 of appraised value. At 11.5% AR × 20 mills, this saves every Kansas homeowner approximately $46/year automatically. No application required. Senior protection beyond this is limited to the SAFESR refund (75% of paid tax for 65+ with income below $23,700) and the Homestead Refund (up to $700 for 55+ or disabled with income below $42,000) — both income-tested.

Kansas does NOT provide a full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans — among only a handful of states without this benefit (similar to Missouri and Massachusetts). Instead, the Kansas Disabled Veteran Property Tax Refund (SVR) provides a refundable credit: 50% of property tax paid for 50%+ service-connected disability, or 75% for 70%+ disability. Income-tested at ~$60,000 household income. File Form K-40SVR with state income tax return by April 15. Disabled veterans should compare with neighboring Missouri\'s MO-PTC ($1,100 max) or move further afield to states with full exemptions (MD, VA, IA, WI, MI, NJ, PA, SC).

Reappraisals occur annually — providing real-time market reflection but also volatility. Unlike Missouri\'s odd-year cycle or Maryland\'s triennial cycle, Kansas reappraises real property every year. Property owners can appeal to the County Board of Equalization within 30 days of receiving the change of value notice (typically March). Comparable sales evidence is the most-effective basis for appeal. Subsequent appeals to the State Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) require formal evidence and hearing.

2026 Shawnee County rate breakdown (consolidated mill levy per $1,000 of AV (11.5% of FMV), Topeka district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Combined consolidated mill levy (~135 mills × 11.5% AR = ~1.55% effective)	135.0000
Combined total	135.0000

As of April 26, 2026 · From Shawnee County Kansas Appraiser's Office.

Note: Shawnee County is **home to Topeka** — the capital of Kansas (~125K, the seat) and the political/governmental center of the state. The Kansas Statehouse (1866-1903 construction, an extraordinary mid-19th-century French Renaissance building with copper dome) sits at the heart of downtown Topeka. Topeka is also home to Washburn University (~6,500 students), the Kansas Historical Society, and major BNSF railroad operations. Topeka was the site of the landmark 1954 US Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka — which struck down racial segregation in US public schools.

Note: Shawnee County effective property tax rates run approximately **1.55% — among the higher in Kansas**, reflecting the higher per-capita government services typical of state capitals (the substantial state-employee population doesn't pay county property tax on government property). Combined consolidated mill levy is ~135 mills. Median home values around $170K combined with the high rate produce median annual bills around $2,635 — affordable in absolute terms despite the high effective rate.

Note: For relocation buyers: Shawnee County offers **the state-capital Kansas** option — stable government employment, low cost of living, easy access to Lake Perry and Clinton Lake recreation, and the celebrated Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. The trade-off: limited commercial sector outside government, healthcare, and BNSF railroad; minimal commercial flight options (Topeka Regional Airport is mostly cargo). Strong retiree relocation demand from higher-cost states.

Deductions and exemptions for 2026

Kansas homeowner property tax relief is concentrated in three mechanisms: (1) the constitutional 11.5% residential assessment ratio (applied automatically), (2) the $20,000 Statewide School Levy exemption (applied automatically), and (3) the income-tested SAFESR Refund for low-income seniors 65+ and the Homestead Refund for 55+ or disabled. Notably, Kansas does NOT provide a full disabled-veteran exemption — only the partial SVR refund.

The 11.5% Residential Assessment Ratio (constitutional)

Kansas Constitution Art. 11, §1 fixes residential property at 11.5% of fair market value — applied automatically with no application. Commercial uses 25%; agricultural uses 30% of use value. The constitutional ratio means a $300K market-value home has only $34,500 assessed value (compared to states with 100% AR where the same home would have $300K AV against the rate).

$20,000 Statewide School Levy Exemption (automatic)

Kansas\'s 20-mill Statewide School Levy applies to most Kansas property — but the first $20,000 of appraised value is exempt from this state portion. At 11.5% AR × 20 mills, this saves every Kansas homeowner approximately $46/year automatically. No application required. This applies to ALL homeowners — not just seniors.

SAFESR Refund + Homestead Refund (income-tested)

Kansas does NOT have a senior property tax freeze (no SB 190 equivalent). Senior protection is limited to two income-tested refund programs: SAFESR (Property Tax Relief for Low-Income Seniors) refunds 75% of property taxes paid for owners 65+ with household income below ~$23,700 (2026, indexed). The Kansas Homestead Refund provides a partial rebate up to ~$700/year for owners 55+ or disabled with household income below ~$42,000. File Form K-40H (Homestead Refund) or Form K-40SVR (SAFESR) with Kansas Department of Revenue by April 15.

Disabled Veteran Refund (SVR — partial only)

Kansas\'s SVR refund provides 50% of property tax paid for 50%+ service-connected disability, or 75% for 70%+ disability. Income-tested at ~$60,000 household income. Surviving spouses retain. File Form K-40SVR. NOT a full exemption — meaningful disadvantage vs neighboring Missouri\'s MO-PTC ($1,100) or eastern states with full vet exemptions.

Appealing your assessment

Kansas property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: County Board of Equalization. File a written appeal within 30 days of receiving the change of value notice (mailed late February to early March each year, since Kansas reappraises annually). The CBOE holds informal hearings — present comparable sales, recent appraisals, or condition documentation. Level 2: State Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA). If denied, appeal to the BOTA within 30 days of the CBOE decision. BOTA holds formal evidentiary hearings (small-claims division for residential properties under $3M). Level 3: Court of Appeals. BOTA decisions can be appealed on legal grounds. Most Kansas appeals are resolved at Level 1.

Cities and towns in Shawnee County

Shawnee County contains 4 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Topeka 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 Shawnee County is subject to Shawnee County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Topeka County seat	city	125,100
Silver Lake	city	1,500
Auburn	city	1,200
Rossville	city	1,100

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Topeka tax district. Other cities in Shawnee 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 Shawnee County Kansas Appraiser's Office before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Kansas property taxes due?

Kansas property taxes are due in two installments: December 20 (first half) and May 10 (second half). Bills are typically mailed in November. Late payments accrue interest plus penalty. Most Kansas homeowners pay through escrow via mortgage servicer. Some counties offer optional installment plans — contact your county treasurer for current options.

Why does Kansas not have a senior property tax freeze?

Kansas does not have a senior property tax freeze (no SB 190 equivalent like Missouri). The Kansas Legislature has considered similar legislation multiple times in recent years but has not passed a senior freeze. Senior protection is limited to two income-tested refund programs: SAFESR (Property Tax Relief for Low-Income Seniors) refunds 75% of property taxes paid for owners 65+ with household income below ~$23,700 (2026, indexed), and the Kansas Homestead Refund provides a partial rebate up to ~$700/year for owners 55+ or disabled with household income below ~$42,000. Both refunds are filed with Kansas Department of Revenue (Form K-40H or K-40SVR) by April 15.

How does the SAFESR refund work?

SAFESR is a refundable claim filed with Kansas Department of Revenue (NOT with the county). Eligibility: age 65+ as of December 31 of the tax year; primary residence in Kansas; household income below ~$23,700 (2026 limit, indexed annually); have paid property taxes on the home. Mechanism: SAFESR refunds 75% of the property taxes paid on the primary residence. Filing: Form K-40SVR, due April 15 (with extension available). The refund is paid as a check from Kansas Department of Revenue, typically within 90 days of filing.

Why doesn\'t Kansas have a full disabled veterans property tax exemption?

Kansas does NOT provide a full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans — among only a handful of states without this benefit (Missouri and Massachusetts are similar). Kansas\'s primary veteran property tax relief is the Disabled Veteran Refund (SVR): 50% of property tax paid for 50%+ service-connected disability, or 75% for 70%+ disability. Income-tested at ~$60,000 household income. File Form K-40SVR with state income tax return by April 15. Disabled veterans seeking a full exemption may want to compare neighboring Missouri (MO-PTC up to $1,100), or eastern states with full vet exemptions (MD, VA, IA, WI, MI, NJ, PA — and SC for 100% P&T).

How does the $20,000 Statewide School Levy exemption work?

The Kansas Statewide School Levy is 20 mills, applied to most Kansas property to fund public schools. However, the first $20,000 of appraised value of every Kansas home is EXEMPT from this 20-mill state portion. At 11.5% AR × 20 mills, this saves every Kansas homeowner approximately $46/year automatically. No application required — it appears as a deduction on your bill. This is universal (not senior-specific) and applies to ALL primary residences. The local mill levy (county, city, school district, special districts) still applies to the full assessed value.

How do I appeal my Kansas assessment?

Kansas property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: County Board of Equalization (CBOE). File a written appeal within 30 days of receiving the change of value notice (mailed late February to early March each year — Kansas reappraises annually). The CBOE holds informal hearings — present comparable sales, recent appraisals, or condition documentation. Level 2: State Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA). If denied, appeal to BOTA within 30 days of the CBOE decision. BOTA holds formal evidentiary hearings (small-claims division for residential properties under $3M). Level 3: Kansas Court of Appeals. BOTA decisions can be appealed on legal grounds. Most Kansas appeals are resolved at Level 1.

About Shawnee County

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

Weird fact

Topeka was the site of **Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka** — the landmark 1954 US Supreme Court case in which the Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in US public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The lead plaintiff, Oliver Brown, was a Topeka welder whose daughter Linda was forced to attend a segregated school 21 blocks from her home rather than the white school 7 blocks away. The Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park (Monroe Elementary, the formerly all-Black school Linda attended) is preserved on the National Park system and is a major civil rights heritage destination.

Hometown hero

Charles Curtis

The 31st Vice President of the United States (1929-1933, under Herbert Hoover) — born 1860 in North Topeka, Kansas (Shawnee County) — was the first person of significant Native American ancestry (one-quarter Kaw / Osage / Potawatomi) to reach the position of VP. Curtis was raised on the Kaw Reservation through age 8, then in Topeka by his maternal grandparents. He served as US Senator from Kansas (1907-1929) before being selected as Hoover's running mate. Curtis remains the only Native American to serve as US VP. The Charles Curtis House (1101 Topeka Boulevard) is preserved as a museum.

Biggest annual event

Kansas State Fair (in Hutchinson) + Topeka State Fair

While the Kansas State Fair is held in Hutchinson (Reno County, see below), the Mid-America Fair in Topeka (annual, mid-September at the Kansas Expocentre, since 1969) is **one of the largest community festivals in northeast Kansas** — drawing 100,000+ attendees with the Kansas Equestrian Festival, demolition derbies, country music concerts, and traditional Midwest fair attractions. The Brown v. Board of Education Anniversary commemorations (annual, May 17) draw national attention to Topeka's civil rights heritage with educational programming, panel discussions, and federal officials.

Property Tax in Shawnee County, 2026