What is the property tax rate in Jackson County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Jackson County, Mississippi is approximately 0.65%.

Jackson County Property Tax Calculator (2026) — Mississippi Property Tax Almanac

Property Tax in Jackson County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Pascagoula-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Jackson County — including Mississippi's constitutional 5-class property tax system (Class I owner-occupied residential at 10% AR), the Tier 2 Homestead Exemption (65+/disabled — first $12,500 AV / $125K FMV exempt from all ad valorem, post HB 1255 2026), and the FULL Disabled Veterans Exemption (100% service-connected, MS Code §27-33-67(2)). Plus a special 100% exemption for honorably discharged veterans 90 years or older.

Jackson County, home to Pascagoula and 145k Mississippians, operates under Mississippi\'s constitutional 5-class property tax system. Class I (single-family owner-occupied residential) is assessed at 10% of fair market value (Class II non-residential at 15%, Class III utility at 30%). Tax = AV × millage / 1,000. Combined millage includes county, municipal, school district, and special district levies. The Homestead Exemption operates in two tiers: Tier 1 (under-65) provides a tax credit up to $300/year; Tier 2 (65+ OR totally disabled) exempts the first $7,500 of AV (= $75,000 FMV) from ALL ad valorem. HB 1255 (2026) raises the Tier 2 exemption to $12,500 AV ($125K FMV) starting 2026 tax year. Effective rates run ~0.65-0.81% statewide median.

How the bill is built

Mississippi property tax follows a 4-step calculation. Step 1: True Value. The Jackson County Mississippi Tax Assessor determines true value annually. Step 2: Apply Class I 10% AR. AV = FMV × 10%. So a $200K home has AV = $20K. Step 3: Apply homestead exemption tier. Tier 1 (under-65): tax credit up to $300/year against the bill. Tier 2 (65+ or disabled): first $7,500-$12,500 AV exempt from all ad valorem. Step 4: Apply tax rate. Tax = (AV − Tier 2 exemption) × millage / 1,000, then subtract Tier 1 credit if applicable. Jackson County\'s combined millage is ~120 mills (= ~1.20% gross, ~0.65% effective post-homestead).

Mississippi\'s constitutional 5-class property tax system distinguishes Class I (owner-occupied residential at 10% AR) from Class II (rental + agricultural + non-utility business at 15% AR). The 10% AR is the structural reason Mississippi has among the lowest US effective property tax rates. Investment property pays 50% more in assessment than owner-occupied — meaningful for rental property analysis. Class III public service utility is at 30%, Class IV motor vehicles at 30%, Class V railroads/airlines at varying rates.

HB 1255 (2026) substantially expanded the Tier 2 senior/disabled homestead exemption — from the historic $7,500 AV ($75,000 FMV) to $12,500 AV ($125,000 FMV) starting 2026 tax year. For homes with FMV at or below $125,000 (the majority of Mississippi homestead properties — Mississippi median home value is around $160K), the Tier 2 exemption produces effectively full property tax exemption for qualifying seniors and totally disabled owners. At typical Mississippi millage of 125 mills, the new $12,500 exemption saves ~$1,560/year (vs ~$940/year under the old $7,500 figure).

Mississippi provides a FULL property tax exemption for 100% service-connected disabled veterans (MS Code §27-33-67(2), since 2015) on the homestead (single-family owner-occupied home + up to 160 acres). Surviving unremarried spouses retain. Bonus: Honorably discharged veterans 90 years or older by January 1 of the tax year are also eligible for full exemption (independent of disability rating). Apply with County Tax Assessor between January 1 and April 1.

2026 Jackson County rate breakdown (consolidated millage per $1,000 of AV (Class I 10% AR × FMV), Pascagoula district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Combined county + municipal + school + special districts (~120 mills × 10% Class I AR = ~0.65% effective post Homestead)	120.0000
Combined total	120.0000

As of April 26, 2026 · From Jackson County Mississippi Tax Assessor.

Note: Jackson County (MS) is **the eastern Mississippi Gulf Coast county** — sitting east of Harrison County (Gulfport-Biloxi). Anchored by Pascagoula (~21K, the seat — home to the Ingalls Shipbuilding facility, Mississippi's largest single private employer), Ocean Springs (~18K — affluent Gulf Coast arts community across Biloxi Bay from Biloxi), Moss Point, and Gautier. The county is home to the **Ingalls Shipbuilding** facility (operated by Huntington Ingalls Industries, ~11,500 employees — the largest shipbuilding company in Mississippi, builds US Navy destroyers, amphibious transport docks, and Coast Guard cutters). Major employment includes Ingalls, Chevron Pascagoula Refinery (Mississippi's largest oil refinery), and substantial Gulf Coast tourism.

Note: Jackson County (MS) effective property tax rates run approximately **0.65% — moderate by Mississippi standards**. Combined county + municipal + school district + special district millage is ~120 mills (× 10% Class I AR = ~1.20% gross, reduced by Mississippi's Homestead Exemption to ~0.65% effective). Median home values around $175K (low) combined with the moderate effective rate produce median annual bills around $1,138.

Note: For relocation buyers: Jackson County (MS) offers **the affordable Mississippi Gulf Coast eastern** option — substantial Ingalls Shipbuilding employment, the celebrated Ocean Springs arts community (Walter Anderson Museum of Art is a major regional cultural destination), Pascagoula Refinery employment, and Gulf Coast climate. The trade-off: substantial hurricane risk (Hurricane Katrina 2005 caused major Pascagoula-Ocean Springs damage), aging Pascagoula infrastructure.

Deductions and exemptions for 2026

Mississippi homeowner property tax relief is concentrated in three mechanisms: (1) the constitutional Class I 10% AR for owner-occupied residential, (2) the Tier 1 / Tier 2 Homestead Exemption system (Tier 1 = $300 tax credit for under-65; Tier 2 = first $12,500 AV exempt for 65+/disabled, post HB 1255 2026), and (3) the FULL Disabled Veteran Exemption for 100% service-connected disabled vets (since 2015) plus a 100% exemption for veterans 90+ years old.

Constitutional Class I 10% Assessment Ratio

Mississippi\'s constitutional 5-class property tax system: Class I (single-family owner-occupied residential) = 10% AR. Class II (residential rental + agricultural + non-utility business) = 15% AR. Class III (public service utility) = 30%. Class IV (motor vehicles) = 30%. Class V (railroads/airlines) = varies. The 10% Class I AR is the structural reason for Mississippi\'s low effective property tax rates. AV = FMV × 10%. So a $200K home has Class I AV = $20K.

Tier 1 + Tier 2 Homestead Exemption

Tier 1 (under-65 standard): Tax credit up to $300/year (sliding scale per MS Code §27-33-67) applied to the tax bill. Tier 2 (65+ OR totally disabled): First $7,500 of AV (= $75,000 FMV) exempt from ALL ad valorem — and HB 1255 (2026) raises this to $12,500 AV ($125K FMV) starting 2026 tax year. For homes with FMV at or below $125K (the majority of Mississippi homestead properties), Tier 2 produces effectively full property tax exemption. Apply with County Tax Assessor between January 1 and April 1. Annual recertification required for Tier 2 (income/disability documentation).

FULL Disabled Veteran Exemption (100% service-connected) + 90+ Vet Exemption

Mississippi provides a FULL property tax exemption from all ad valorem on the homestead for veterans with 100% service-connected total disability and honorable discharge (since 2015, MS Code §27-33-67(2)). Bonus: Honorably discharged veterans 90 years or older by January 1 of the tax year are also eligible for full exemption (independent of disability rating). Surviving unremarried spouses retain. Apply with County Tax Assessor between January 1 and April 1.

Appealing your assessment

Mississippi property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: County Tax Assessor. File written objection during the open inspection period (typically July-August each year — varies by county). Level 2: County Board of Supervisors. If unresolved, appeal to the Board of Supervisors during the August equalization meeting. The Board holds quasi-judicial hearings. Level 3: Mississippi Circuit Court. Board decisions can be appealed to Circuit Court within 10 days. Most Mississippi appeals are resolved at Level 1 or Level 2.

Cities and towns in Jackson County

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

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Pascagoula County seat	city	21,000
Ocean Springs	city	18,000
Gautier	city	18,000
Moss Point	city	13,000

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Pascagoula tax district. Other cities in Jackson 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 Jackson County Mississippi Tax Assessor before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Mississippi property taxes due?

Mississippi property taxes are due on February 1 of the year following the assessment (taxes assessed in 2025 are due February 1, 2026). Late payments after February 1 accrue interest plus penalty. Most Mississippi homeowners pay through escrow via mortgage servicer.

What is the Mississippi homestead exemption?

Mississippi\'s Homestead Exemption operates in two tiers. Tier 1 (under-65 standard): tax credit up to $300/year (sliding scale per MS Code §27-33-67) applied to the tax bill. Tier 2 (65+ OR totally disabled): first $7,500 of AV (= $75,000 FMV) exempt from ALL ad valorem. HB 1255 (2026) raises Tier 2 to $12,500 AV ($125K FMV) starting 2026. For homes with FMV at or below $125K (the majority of Mississippi homestead properties), Tier 2 produces effectively full property tax exemption. Apply with County Tax Assessor between January 1 and April 1.

How does the Disabled Veteran exemption work in Mississippi?

Mississippi provides a FULL property tax exemption from all ad valorem on the homestead for veterans with 100% service-connected total disability and honorable discharge (since 2015, MS Code §27-33-67(2)). The exemption applies to the single-family owner-occupied home + up to 160 acres. Bonus: Honorably discharged veterans 90 years or older by January 1 of the tax year are also eligible for full exemption (independent of disability rating). Surviving unremarried spouses retain. Apply with County Tax Assessor between January 1 and April 1.

What is the 5-class property tax system?

Mississippi\'s constitutional 5-class property tax system: Class I (single-family owner-occupied residential) = 10% AR. Class II (residential rental + agricultural + non-utility business) = 15% AR. Class III (public service utility) = 30%. Class IV (motor vehicles) = 30%. Class V (railroads/airlines) = varies. The 10% Class I AR is the structural reason for Mississippi\'s low effective property tax rates. Investment property pays 50% more in assessment than owner-occupied — meaningful for rental property analysis.

How do I appeal my Mississippi assessment?

Mississippi property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: County Tax Assessor. File written objection during the open inspection period (typically July-August each year). Level 2: County Board of Supervisors. Appeal to the Board of Supervisors during the August equalization meeting. Level 3: Mississippi Circuit Court. Within 10 days of Board decision. Most appeals are resolved at Level 1 or Level 2.

About Jackson County

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

Weird fact

Pascagoula is home to the **Ingalls Shipbuilding** facility — among the largest US Navy shipbuilders and a major builder of US Coast Guard vessels. Ingalls (operated by Huntington Ingalls Industries since 2011) employs ~11,500 people and is **the largest single private employer in Mississippi**. The shipyard has built every Wasp-class amphibious assault ship for the US Navy (LHD-1 through LHD-8), every San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock (LPD-17 through LPD-29), every Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (DDG-51 through ongoing — Ingalls and Bath Iron Works each build approximately half), and the new America-class amphibious assault ships. The Ingalls launching ceremonies for new US Navy ships are major cultural events that draw US Navy and political dignitaries from around the country. **Pascagoula** is also the birthplace of **Jimmy Buffett** (1946-2023) — the celebrated Margaritaville singer-songwriter.

Hometown hero

Jimmy Buffett

The American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett (1946-2023) — known for "Margaritaville" (1977), "Cheeseburger in Paradise" (1978), "Come Monday" (1974), and the founding of the Margaritaville beach-themed restaurant/resort empire — was **born in Pascagoula, Jackson County, MS** on December 25, 1946. Buffett's family moved to Mobile, AL (Mobile County) when he was an infant. Buffett's celebrated Gulf Coast Pascagoula heritage informed much of his music — many of his songs reference the Gulf Coast lifestyle, fishing, and waterfront culture. Buffett's career produced 8 gold albums and 9 platinum albums; he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023 (just before his death). Other Jackson County (MS) figures include **Walter Anderson** (1903-1965 — the celebrated Mississippi watercolor artist whose works depict Gulf Coast wildlife and the Horn Island wilderness; the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs preserves his legacy).

Biggest annual event

Walter Anderson Museum + Pascagoula River Audubon Center

The **Walter Anderson Museum of Art** (in Ocean Springs, since 1991) is **the largest single-artist museum in Mississippi** — housing 1,000+ works by the Mississippi watercolor master. The annual **Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival** (annual, first weekend of November in Ocean Springs, since 1979) draws 150,000+ attendees with 400+ juried artists — among the largest arts festivals on the Gulf Coast. The Pascagoula River Audubon Center hosts substantial regional birdwatching events.

Property Tax in Jackson County, 2026