Mill Rate

The mill rate is the amount of tax payable per dollar of the assessed value of a property. The mill rate is based on "mills." It is a figure that represents the amount per $1,000 of the assessed value of property, which is used to calculate the amount of property tax.

Mill rate is also known as the millage rate. The term "millage" is derived from a Latin word "millesimum" meaning "thousandth," with 1 mill being equal to 1/1,000th of a currency unit. As used in relation to property tax, 1 mill is equal to $1 in property tax, which is levied per every $1,000 of a property's determined taxable value.

You can find the millage rate for an individual property on the property deed itself or by calling your municipal tax office.  

The mill rate for your property is determined by who or what is taxing you. That means that different mill rates are charged by different agencies including the township/city, the county, school boards and/or emergency services districts. These are all combined to help calculate your final property tax bill. 

For example, once a budget is passed by your local government, known revenues are subtracted, which leaves the deficit to be raised through property taxes. This amount is divided by the value of all property in the town, which is then multiplied by 1,000. This figure represents the tax rate or the mill rate. 

Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed, taxable property value by the mill rate, and then dividing that sum by 1,000. The calculation formula is rendered as follows:

                       Property tax levied on property = (mill rate x taxable property value) ÷ 1,000

For example, if the mill rate is 7 and a taxpayer's personal residence has a taxable value of $150,000, then, using the calculation formula, the homeowner's property tax bill for his residence is $1,050. So that means that for every $1,000 of assessed value, $7 is owed in property taxes. 

Property taxes are critical to funding the operations of municipal and other local government entities. Not all states levy income taxes, but all states do levy property taxes. Property owners are commonly assessed property taxes by more than one government entity, such as a municipality and a county. Government entities set mill rates based on the total value of property within the entity's jurisdiction, to provide the necessary tax revenue to cover projected expenses in their annual budgets, including things such as infrastructure, police and emergency services, and public schools. For this reason, and also because of fluctuating real estate values, a tax assessor typically updates the taxable value of property on an annual basis. Mill rates frequently vary between different types of property, such as residential, commercial or industrial properties.

Property tax is an "ad valorem" tax, which means it is based on value. The assessed tax value of property is calculated using local real estate data, and is usually a percentage of a property's fair market value, determined by multiplying the property's market value or appraisal value by an assessment ratio established by the local taxing authority. However, it is possible for the assessed tax value to be either higher or lower than a property's actual market value. If a property owner believes that his property has been assessed at an unreasonably high value, he can request a reassessment.

Some states have a homestead provision that exempts a specified dollar amount of a property's market value from assessment for property taxes. For example, in a state with a $50,000 homestead provision, only $150,000 of a $200,000 home would be subject to property taxes.