Assessment Timeline

The property tax time line spans two years. The first year is used to establish the assessed values of property and levy millage rates. The second year is when the taxes will be collected and distributed to the cities, counties and school districts.

During the assessment year county assessors, clerks, equalization boards and judges are the people working to establish the assessed value. School boards and patrons, city councils and the county quorum courts set millage rates. The quorum court formally levies millage rates for cities, schools and county governments.

During the collection year county clerks, collectors, treasurers are the people working to collect and distribute the taxes to the cities, counties, and school districts.

Property taxes are collected each year, so it is readily obvious that each assessment year is also a collection year - the collection year for the previous assessment year.

Following is a snapshot of one year and deadlines and duties that are being performed each month. Note: Amendment 79, approved in the 2000 general election, added deadlines and duties for elected officials which are included.

RECURRING

Some tasks are repeated monthly. The county collector could be collecting delinquent taxes anytime during the year (A.C.A. 26-36-209). The county treasurer will be making monthly distribution of tax proceeds to the taxing units (A.C.A. 26-39-201). Also, the county treasurer will be receiving monthly reimbursements for the homestead property tax credit (Act 1544, 2001). These tasks are not shown in the monthly breakdowns.

JANUARY

Lien date. Property taxes constitute a lien on property and bind that property from the first Monday in January of the assessment year until the taxes are paid in the collection year. (A.C.A.26-34-101)

Valuation date. All property is assessed according to its value on January 1 of the assessment year. (A.C.A. 26-26-1201)

Property Owner.
Lists personal property with assessor. Through May 31. (A.C.A. 26-26-1408)
Registers homestead with assessor. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)

County Clerk
Extends previous year taxes - prepares tax book. Through 3rd Monday. (A.C.A. 26-28-103)

FEBRUARY

Property Owner.
Lists personal property with assessor. Through May 31. (A.C.A. 26-26-1408)
Registers homestead with assessor. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)

County Clerk
Extends previous year taxes - prepares tax book. Through 3rd Monday. (A.C.A. 26-28-103)
Delivers tax book to the collector by the third Monday. (A.C.A. 26-28-108)

MARCH

Property Owner.
Lists personal property with assessor. Through May 31. (A.C.A. 26-26-1408)
Registers homestead with assessor. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)
Pays previous year taxes. (A.C.A. 26-35-501)

Utilities & Carriers
Lists property with the Tax Division of the Public Service Commission by the 1st. (A.C.A. 26-26-1602)

Assessor
Appraises real property. Through July 1. (A.C.A. 26-26-1101)
Appraises personal property. Through July 1. (A.C.A. 26-26-1408)
Reports homestead registrants to collector. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)

County Collector
Previous year tax books open for collection on the first business day. Taxes become due & payable. (A.C.A. 26-36-201)
Mails tax bills by July 1 deadline. (A.C.A. 26-35-705)
First homestead tax credit report to DFA by the 31st. (Act 1544, 2001)

APRIL

Collector
Mails tax bills by July 1 deadline. (A.C.A. 26-35-705)
MAY

Property Owner.
Lists personal property with assessor. Deadline - May 31st without late assessment penalty (A.C.A. 26-26-1408)
Registers homestead with assessor. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)
Pays previous year taxes. (A.C.A. 26-35-501)

Collector
Mails tax bills by July 1 deadline. (A.C.A. 26-35-705)

JUNE

Property Owner.
Registers homestead with assessor. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)
Pays previous year taxes. (A.C.A. 26-35-501)

Collector
Mails tax bills by July 1 deadline. (A.C.A. 26-35-705)

JULY

Property Owner.
Registers homestead with assessor. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)
Pays previous year taxes. (A.C.A. 26-35-501)

Tax Division of the Public Service Commission
Report Assessment to counties by the 15th. (A.C.A. 26-26-1612)

Assessor
Appraises real property. Deadline July 1. (A.C.A. 26-26-1101)
Appraises personal property. Deadline July 1. (A.C.A. 26-26-1408)
Notify property owners of value increases no later than 10 business days after the 1st. (A.C.A. 26-23-203).
Files reappraisal plan with Assessment Coordination Department by the 1st every 3 or 5 years as appropriate. (A.C.A. 26-26-1905)
Reports homestead registrants to collector. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)

County Collector
Mails tax bills by the 1st. (A.C.A. 26-35-705)
Second homestead tax credit report to DFA by the 15th. (Act 1544, 2001)

AUGUST

Property Owner.
Registers homestead with assessor. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)
Pays previous year taxes. (A.C.A. 26-35-501)
Petitions for equalization board hearing by the 3rd Monday. (Act 1567, 2001)

Assessor
Attends equalization board hearings. (A.C.A. 26-27-313)
Reports homestead registrants to collector. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)
Reports total assessment to Assessment Coordination Department on August 1. (A.C.A. 26-26-304)

County Clerk
Assumes control of the assessment roll on August 1. The assessor must file the assessment reports with clerk by the 3rd Monday. (A.C.A. 26-26-716)
Equalization board secretary. Ongoing. (A.C.A. 26-27-307)

Equalization Board
Review overall assessment equalization. (A.C.A. 26-27-315)
Hear property owner appeals. (A.C.A. 26-27-317 & Act 1567,2001)

SEPTEMBER

Property Owner.
Registers homestead with assessor. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)
Pays previous year taxes. (A.C.A. 26-35-501)

Assessor
Attends equalization board hearings. (A.C.A. 26-27-313)
Reports homestead registrants to collector. Through October 31. (Act 1544, 2001)

County Clerk
Equalization board secretary. Ongoing (A.C.A. 26-27-307)

Equalization Board
Review overall assessment equalization. (A.C.A. 26-27-315)
Hear property owner appeals. (A.C.A. 26-27-317 & Act 1567,2001)

School Districts
Elections on the 3rd Tuesday. (A.C.A. 6-14-102)

OCTOBER

Property Owner.
Registers homestead with assessor. Deadline is the 31st. (Act 1544, 2001)
Pays previous year taxes. Deadline is the 10th. (A.C.A. 26-35-501)
Petitions for county court hearing on or before the 2nd Monday. (A.C.A. 26-27-318)

Assessor
Attends equalization board hearings. (A.C.A. 26-27-313)
Reports homestead registrants to collector. Ongoing. (Act 1544, 2001)

County Clerk
Equalization board secretary. Ongoing (A.C.A. 26-27-307)

Equalization Board
Review overall assessment equalization. (A.C.A. 26-27-315)
Hear property owner appeals. A.C.A. 26-27-317 & Act 1567,2001)
Adjourn regular session on the 1st. (A.C.A. 26-27-309)

NOVEMBER

County Clerk
Equalization board secretary during special session. (A.C.A. 26-27-307)
Report "Final Abstract of the Tax Books" to the state by 2nd Monday in November. (A.C.A. 26-27-321)
Begins extending taxes after the quorum court levy - prepares tax book. (A.C.A.26-28-103)

Equalization Board
Special session may extend until the 3rd Monday in November. (A.C.A. 26-27-311)

County Judge
Sits as county court to hear appeals from equalization board decisions. (A.C.A. 26-27-318)

City Council
Sets general millage rate before the quorum court levies. (Article 12, § 4 Arkansas Constitution & A.C.A. 26-73-202)

Quorum Court
Levies millage rates for all taxing entities in its November meeting. (A.C.A. 14-14-904)

County Collector
Third homestead tax credit report to DFA by the 15th. (Act 1544, 2001)

DECEMBER

County Clerk
Continues extending taxes and preparing tax book. (A.C.A. 26-28-103)

County Collector
Delivers delinquent personal and real lists to legal newspaper for publication. (A.C.A. 26-36-203 & 26-37-107)
Final settlement on 31st. A.C.A. 26-39-201)