What is the property tax rate in Lauderdale County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Lauderdale County, Mississippi is approximately 0.78%.

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

Property Tax in Lauderdale County, 2026

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

Lauderdale County, home to Meridian and 73k 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 Lauderdale 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. Lauderdale County\'s combined millage is ~150 mills (= ~1.50% gross, ~0.78% 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 Lauderdale County rate breakdown (consolidated millage per $1,000 of AV (Class I 10% AR × FMV), Meridian district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Combined county + municipal + school + special districts (~150 mills × 10% Class I AR = ~0.78% effective post Homestead)	150.0000
Combined total	150.0000

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

Note: Lauderdale County is **the eastern-Mississippi commercial center on the Alabama border** — anchored by Meridian (~36K, the seat) at the intersection of I-20 and I-59. Meridian was historically a major railroad junction and one of Mississippi's most-prosperous cities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (peaked at ~50K in 1960). Anchored by Meridian and Marion. The city is home to **Naval Air Station Meridian** (the only US Navy training facility for jet pilots — students transition from prop trainers to T-45 Goshawk jets here before earning their wings of gold). Major employment includes NAS Meridian, substantial healthcare (Anderson Regional Health System), Peavey Electronics (the celebrated guitar amplifier manufacturer, founded 1965 in Meridian), and the historic Meridian Naval Auxiliary Air Station.

Note: Lauderdale County effective property tax rates run approximately **0.78%** — moderate by Mississippi standards. Combined county + municipal + school district + special district millage is ~150 mills (× 10% Class I AR = ~1.50% gross, reduced by Mississippi's Homestead Exemption to ~0.78% effective). Median home values around $130K (very low) combined with the moderate effective rate produce median annual bills around $1,014 — exceptionally low for a US urban county.

Note: For relocation buyers: Lauderdale County offers **the affordable eastern-Mississippi** option — substantial NAS Meridian military employment, very low cost of living, the celebrated 1922 Riley Center (the historic Meridian opera house, restored in 2006 as a regional performing arts venue), and direct I-20 access to Birmingham (~120 miles east) and Jackson (~95 miles west). The trade-off: persistent population decline (Meridian peaked at ~50K in 1960, down to ~36K in 2024), aging downtown infrastructure, limited high-skill commercial sector outside NAS Meridian and healthcare.

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 Lauderdale County

Lauderdale County contains 2 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Meridian 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 Lauderdale County is subject to Lauderdale County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Meridian County seat	city	36,000
Marion	town	1,700

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

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

Weird fact

Meridian is the birthplace of **Jimmie Rodgers** (1897-1933) — known as "the Father of Country Music," whose 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings (alongside the Carter Family) launched commercial country music. Rodgers' celebrated yodeling style and the songs "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)" (1927), "Waiting for a Train" (1929), and "Mule Skinner Blues" (1930) established the country music genre. Rodgers died of tuberculosis in 1933 at age 35. The **Jimmie Rodgers Museum** (in Highland Park, Meridian) preserves his legacy, and the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival (annual, May) is among the most-celebrated country music heritage events. Meridian is also home to **Peavey Electronics** — founded by Hartley Peavey in 1965 and headquartered in Meridian, Peavey is among the most-respected American guitar amplifier and audio equipment manufacturers.

Hometown hero

Jimmie Rodgers

James Charles "Jimmie" Rodgers (1897-1933) — "The Singing Brakeman" and "the Father of Country Music," the first inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1961) — was born in Meridian, Lauderdale County, MS on September 8, 1897. Rodgers worked as a railroad brakeman on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad before tuberculosis forced him into music as a less-physically-demanding career. His celebrated 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings (made in Bristol, TN by Ralph Peer for the Victor Talking Machine Company) launched commercial country music. Rodgers' yodeling style ("Blue Yodel No. 1 / T for Texas" 1927 sold ~1 million copies — extraordinary for the early commercial recording era), narrative ballads, and railroad-themed songs established the country music genre. Rodgers died of tuberculosis at age 35 in 1933 — just 6 years after his recording debut. His grave in Meridian's Oak Grove Cemetery is among the most-visited country music heritage sites. Other notable Lauderdale County figures include **Hartley Peavey** (born 1941 in Meridian — founder of Peavey Electronics 1965).

Biggest annual event

Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival + NAS Meridian Air Show

The **Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival** (annual, late May at multiple Meridian venues, since 1953) is **one of the oldest country music festivals in the United States** — drawing 25,000+ attendees with traditional country music programming. NAS Meridian hosts an irregular **Naval Air Station Meridian Air Show** (every 2-3 years) that draws substantial regional military-family attendance with US Navy demonstration teams. The historic 1922 **Riley Center** (the restored Meridian opera house) hosts substantial regional performing arts events.

Property Tax in Lauderdale County, 2026