Madison County Property Tax: Rates & Appeals (2026)

Direct answer: Madison County’s 2026 residential assessment appeal deadline was April 30, 2026. Appeals had to be filed in writing with the Madison County Board of Equalization (BOE); the county’s 2026 notice gives the mailing address as Madison County Board of Equalization, Tax Assessor’s Office, Madison County Courthouse, 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801.

As of September 4, 2026, that 2026 deadline has passed. If you missed it, your practical next steps are to check exemptions before December 31, fix obvious record errors with the Tax Assessor, and watch for the next valuation notice in March or April 2027.

How assessments work in Madison County

Madison County reappraises property every year. The county’s Tax Assessor FAQ says Alabama required Madison County to reappraise all property as of October 1, 2004, and annually after that. The assessor’s page also says ownership and status are based on October 1 of each year, and the Appraisal Department reviews subdivisions, land and improvements, measures/list improvements, and calculates values using Alabama Department of Revenue guidelines.

For a typical owner-occupied house, Alabama treats the property as Class III, assessed at 10% of appraised value. Your tax bill is basically: appraised value × 10% × local millage rate − exemptions. A mill is $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Madison County’s 2026 appeal cycle was triggered by the county’s required valuation publication. The first notice was dated March 25, 2026. The second notice was dated April 1, 2026, stating that 2026 appraised valuations had been fixed and filed in the Tax Assessor’s office and that written protests had to be filed by April 30, 2026. The county’s general rule is that taxpayers have 30 days from the date of the second advertisement to appeal; new values are usually set in March or April.

One 2026-specific wrinkle: Alabama’s 7% cap can limit the annual increase in taxable assessed value for eligible Class II and Class III real property. It does not stop the assessor from setting market value, and it does not eliminate BOE appeals. It can explain why a successful market-value reduction may not reduce the bill dollar-for-dollar if there is a gap between true assessed value and capped taxable assessed value. The cap can also be lost or reset after events such as a change in ownership, new improvements, a classification change, or inclusion in a tax increment district.

Whether you should appeal

Appeal if you can show Madison County’s market value is too high as of the valuation year—not just that the tax bill is annoying. Good evidence includes recent comparable sales in your subdivision or neighborhood, a recent arm’s-length purchase below the county value, photos and contractor estimates for condition problems, or errors in the county record such as square footage, finished basement, acreage, pool, garage, or quality grade.

Start with the county’s online property record search. Compare your property card to the house you actually own. Then look up nearby sales of similar age, size, condition and location. A Madison city-limits comp is not always a clean comp for a rural or unincorporated parcel, and a new build in Clift Farm or Town Madison may not prove value for an older home in southeast Huntsville.

There are no official Madison County BOE success rates or median assessment-reduction statistics published on the county assessor pages I found. Do not assume an appeal is “automatic money.” The BOE deals with valuation, not tax rates, school funding, escrow shortages, insurance increases, or whether you can afford the bill.

A quick savings example using actual Madison County millage: a Huntsville home in Madison County generally combines 6.5 state mills, 11.0 county mills, 5.5 Huntsville school-district mills, and 35.0 Huntsville municipal mills, for about 58.0 mills. If the county values your owner-occupied home at $420,000 and you prove $390,000, the $30,000 reduction becomes $3,000 of assessed value at the 10% Class III rate. At 58.0 mills, estimated annual savings are $174 before any cap/exemption interaction. In the City of Madison, the same $30,000 reduction is worth about $208.50 at roughly 69.5 total mills; in an unincorporated county school district with outside-city fire protection on improvements, it may be closer to $109.50 at about 36.5 mills.

Step-by-step how to file

1. Confirm the year and deadline. For 2026, the deadline was April 30, 2026. For future years, do not use last year’s date; Madison County’s rule depends on the second published notice.

2. Pull your property record. Use Madison County’s appraisal/assessment record search and save or print the property card. Check parcel number, owner name, property address, legal description, land size, building area, year built, additions, outbuildings, and exemption status.

3. Build a short evidence packet. Include your parcel number, property address, your requested value, and why. Attach a comp grid, closing statement or appraisal if useful, photos of defects, repair estimates, and screenshots of the county record if you are correcting facts.

4. Write the protest. Madison County does not publish a required residential appeal form for real-property value protests on its appeal page. The official instruction is a written protest of value. Title it something like: “2026 Written Protest of Appraised Value — Madison County Board of Equalization.” Include your name, mailing address, phone, email, parcel number/PPIN if available, property address, current county value, requested value, and evidence list.

5. File with the BOE. The 2026 valuation notice says the written protest must be mailed to: Madison County Board of Equalization, Tax Assessor’s Office, Madison County Courthouse, 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801. The county appeal-process page also identifies the BOE at the Madison County Service Center, 2nd Floor, 1918 Memorial Parkway NW, Huntsville, AL 35801. Because the 2026 notice uses the courthouse mailing address while the office’s public contact page lists the Service Center, use the notice address for mailed protests and call the BOE/Appraisal line at 256-532-3736 before hand-delivering anything.

Portal/email/in-person: I found no official Madison County online portal for filing a residential BOE value appeal and no official statement that email filing is accepted. The Tax Assessor’s contact email is taxassess@madisoncountyal.gov, but the 2026 notice says protests must be filed in writing and mailed. No county appeal filing fee is published for a BOE protest.

What happens after

After you file, Madison County says you will be contacted by a county appraiser to review the valuation. This is your chance to resolve obvious errors before a formal hearing—be ready with the same evidence you would show the board.

If you are still not satisfied after the appraiser review, the county sets a hearing for you to meet formally with the Madison County Board of Equalization. The board’s listed members on the assessor page are Charles Swafford, Chairman; John Richard; Leigh Stephens; and Cliff Mann, Secretary. At the hearing, focus on market value: “Here are three comparable sales,” “the county record says 2,700 square feet but the appraisal says 2,430,” or “this condition problem existed before the valuation date.”

The county does not publish a fixed number of days for BOE decisions. It says that following the hearing, you will be notified of the BOE’s decision. If you want to appeal further, Madison County says appeals may be made to Circuit Court within 30 days from the adjournment of the BOE. To preserve that right, taxes must be paid by December 31 or a bond filed in Circuit Court in double the amount of taxes due.

Local tips

Check exemptions even if you do not appeal. Madison County homestead is not automatic. You generally must own and occupy the single-family residence as your primary residence on October 1, and the deadline to apply is December 31. For under-65 homeowners, Madison County describes the regular homestead as placing the property in the 10% class and saving about $48 per year in most cases.

If you are 65 or older, totally and permanently disabled, blind, or have low income, ask the Tax Assessor about H-2, H-3, or H-4 treatment. Madison County says age-65 homeowners get at least the state-portion exemption; additional county/school exemptions may depend on income. Permanently and totally disabled homeowners may qualify for an exemption regardless of income or age, but proof is required.

If you bought recently, do not rely on the seller’s tax bill. Alabama’s cap guidance says a change in ownership can reset taxable assessed value to true assessed value for the next tax year, subject to exceptions such as certain family transfers.

Finally, keep appeal and payment separate. Winning a value appeal changes the value side of the formula. It does not change Huntsville, Madison, Triana, school, county, fire, or state millage rates—and it does not excuse paying by December 31 if you plan to preserve court rights.

Madison County Property Tax Rate

Latest official ALDOR table located: MADISON - OCTOBER 2025. Millage is district-specific and is levied per $1,000 of assessed value; Class III owner-occupied residential property is assessed at 10% of appraised value. Components shown for Madison County are: state 6.5 mills; county 11.0 mills for all property, or 14.0 mills for improvements outside cities because of the 3.0-mill fire-protection levy; schools 16.0 mills in District 1-County or 5.5 mills in Huntsville/Madison/Triana districts; municipal additions: Huntsville 35.0, Madison 46.5, New Hope 7.0, Gurley 7.0, Triana 38.5, Owens Cross Roads 7.0. Common combined totals therefore include: outside-city improvements in the county school district 36.5 mills; Huntsville 58.0 mills; City of Madison 69.5 mills; Triana 61.5 mills; New Hope/Gurley/Owens Cross Roads 40.5 mills.

Source: https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-Millage-Rates.pdf

When Are Property Taxes Due in Madison County?

Real and business personal property taxes are due October 1; December 31 is the last day to pay in person or have a mailed payment postmarked; taxes are delinquent January 1 and payments after December 31 are charged fees and interest.

This is not the same as the assessment appeal deadline above. The appeal deadline is your window to contest your assessed value; the payment due date is when the resulting tax bill must be paid. Missing one does not affect the other, but missing either has real consequences — one forfeits your right to appeal for the year, the other can trigger penalties and interest.

Source: https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-collector/important-dates

Property Tax Exemptions in Madison County

• Regular Homestead Exemption (H-1) — Owner of a single-family residence who occupies it as the owner’s primary residence on October 1 of the tax year; H-1 is for taxpayers under age 65 who are not disabled.. $4,000 of assessed value for state taxes and $2,000 of assessed value for county taxes; Madison County also describes the homestead as placing the property in the 10% tax class and, in most cases, producing about $48 per year in savings. Yes, must be claimed; exemptions are not automatic. Apply by December 31. (Source: https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-assessor/homestead-exemptions)
• Homestead Exemption for age 65+ with state AGI under $12,000, or retired due permanent and total disability (H-2) — Taxpayers age 65 or older with annual adjusted gross income under $12,000 as reflected on the most recent Alabama income tax return or other acceptable evidence, or taxpayers retired due to permanent and total disability regardless of age.. Exempt from all state property-tax portion and $5,000 of assessed value on county ad valorem taxes, including school district ad valorem taxes. Yes; proof of age/income or disability must be submitted to the Tax Assessor. Apply by December 31. (Source: https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-assessor/homestead-exemptions)
• Principal Residence / Homestead Exemption for age 65+ with federal taxable income of $12,000 or less (H-3 age 65+) — Taxpayers age 65 or older with net taxable income of $12,000 or less on the combined taxpayer-and-spouse federal income tax return.. Exempt from all ad valorem taxes on the principal residence. Yes; proof of age and income must be submitted to the Tax Assessor. Apply by December 31. (Source: https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-assessor/homestead-exemptions)
• Principal Residence / Homestead Exemption for permanent and total disability (H-3 disabled) — Taxpayer is permanently and totally disabled; there is no income limitation.. Exempt from all ad valorem taxes on the principal residence. Yes; proof of disability must be submitted, such as a Social Security award letter, VA benefits verification letter, or physician PT-PA forms. Apply by December 31. (Source: https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-assessor/homestead-exemptions)
• Homestead Exemption for age 65+ with Alabama income over $12,000 (H-4) — Taxpayer age 65 or older with income greater than $12,000 on the most recent Alabama income tax return.. Exempt from all state ad valorem taxes and receives the regular homestead exemption of $2,000 on county taxes. Yes; proof of age and income must be submitted to the Tax Assessor. Apply by December 31. (Source: https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/departments/tax-assessor/homestead-exemptions)
• Blind Homestead Exemption — Alabama residents with a homestead who are blind, regardless of age.. State homestead exemption has no assessed-value limit; county homestead exemption is not more than $5,000 of assessed value and county school tax is not collected, as listed by ALDOR. Yes; ALDOR says to apply through the local county office. Apply by December 31. (Source: https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/homestead-exemptions/)

How to Look Up Your Property Record in Madison County

You can look up your property's official record at https://madisonproperty.countygovservices.com/Property/Property/Search. Madison County’s official online property search for appraisal and assessment records lets users search by tax year and by name, PIN, company, parcel, account, subdivision, or address; the records are the appraised valuations filed in the Tax Assessor’s office.