2026 Asheville bills use 2021 values: county 61.54 cents and city 50.78 cents per $100. Pay without interest through Jan. 5, 2027. Tax office: 828-250-4910.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Updated each year when the new rates are set. Facts on this page come from the Buncombe County Tax Department, the county’s tax lookup site and the City of Asheville.
The Buncombe County Tax Department values property and collects taxes for the county, the city of Asheville and the other towns in the county, so an Asheville owner gets one bill. The 2026 bill is unusual: a state law put the county’s 2026 reappraisal on hold, so this year’s bills are figured on the 2021 values, at higher rates.
Who to call
- Bills, payments and payment plans: Tax Collections, 828-250-4910
- Pay by phone: 828-656-5636 (toll-free, automated)
- Your value and appeals: Real Estate Assessment, 828-250-4940
- Senior, disability and veteran relief: Exemptions, 828-250-4915
- Look up or pay a bill: Buncombe County Tax Lookup
Why 2026 bills use 2021 values
Buncombe County reappraised every property for Jan. 1, 2026. Then the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 889, which Gov. Josh Stein signed June 19. On its tax lookup site, the county says the 2026 reappraisal “was recently placed in a moratorium until Jan. 1, 2027” and that “your current real estate property tax bill will reflect the 2021 reappraisal value.”
The county and city had already adopted budgets built on the higher 2026 values. To raise the same money from the lower 2021 values, the Board of Commissioners raised the county rate on July 14, and Asheville City Council raised the city rate on July 15. The city says its new rate, applied to 2021 values, “will generate the same amount of revenue” as its original budget, and that the effect on each owner “will vary based on their property values.”
The 2026-27 rates
Rates are set per $100 of assessed value. From the city’s July 15 announcement and the commissioners’ July 14 vote, as reported by Enlace Latino NC:
| Rate | As adopted in June | As amended in July |
|---|---|---|
| Buncombe County | 43.2 cents | 61.54 cents |
| City of Asheville | 37.69 cents | 50.78 cents |
| Asheville City Schools supplement | 8.64 cents | 11.75 cents |
Inside Asheville, the county and city rates add up to $1.1232 per $100. A home that also sits in the Asheville City Schools district adds the 11.75-cent supplement, for $1.2407. Some Asheville addresses are in the Buncombe County Schools district instead and do not pay the supplement; your bill shows which rates apply.
On a home with a 2021 assessed value of $300,000 in both the city and the city schools district, that is about $3,722 a year: $300,000 divided by 100, times $1.2407.
How the rates changed
When the bill is due
From the county’s Tax Collections page:
- Bills are due Sept. 1, with a four-month grace period. Interest is added after Jan. 5, so for the 2026 bill the real deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027.
- The owner on Jan. 1 is billed for the whole year. The county does not prorate; buyers and sellers split the bill at closing. Unpaid taxes stay a lien on the property.
- Unpaid real estate taxes are advertised each spring, a required step toward tax foreclosure.
How to pay
- Online: my.buncombecounty.org.
- Phone: 828-656-5636.
- Mail: with the coupon and envelope that came with your bill.
- Drop box: 35 Woodfin St. or the front door of the tax department at 182 College St.
E-checks carry no fee. The card processor charges $3.95 for a debit payment and 2.35% for a credit card; the county keeps none of it. Two prepayment plans spread the bill over the year; call 828-250-4910 to enroll.
Vehicle taxes are paid with your registration renewal through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles under the state’s Tag and Tax Together system, not to the county.
How to appeal
The county says on its tax lookup site that an appeal of a 2026 reappraisal value is still valid, and owners who filed one will get a notice in the mail in early 2027. You do not need to file again.
For other appeals, the county’s property value appeals page lays out four steps:
- Informal appeal, online through the tax appeal request site or by calling 828-250-4940. Informal appeals for the current year can be filed from Jan. 1 until the Board of Equalization and Review adjourns, usually the end of April.
- Formal appeal, within 30 days of the informal result, heard by the Board of Equalization and Review if you and the appraiser do not agree.
- N.C. Property Tax Commission, within 30 days of the board’s decision.
- The state courts.
The owner has to prove the value is wrong. The size of the bill and the ability to pay are not grounds for an appeal. Comparable sales, a recent appraisal, a sales contract or photos of the property’s condition are.
Tax relief
North Carolina offers an elderly or disabled exclusion, a disabled veteran exclusion and a circuit breaker deferment for qualifying homeowners. The county’s Exemptions office, 828-250-4915, takes applications, and the forms are in the county’s tax documents and forms.
What this means for you
- Your 2026 bill uses your 2021 value, at higher rates. Pay it by Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027.
- Filed an appeal of your 2026 value? It stands; watch the mail in early 2027.
- The county says the moratorium runs until Jan. 1, 2027. Check this page when the 2027 rates are set.
More: Asheville home prices and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Asheville for 2026?
For the 2026-27 bill, a property inside Asheville pays the Buncombe County rate of 61.54 cents and the city rate of 50.78 cents per $100 of assessed value, $1.1232 in all. Inside the Asheville City Schools district, a supplemental 11.75 cents is added.
Why is my Buncombe County tax bill based on 2021 values?
State Senate Bill 889, signed June 19, 2026, put Buncombe County’s 2026 reappraisal on hold until Jan. 1, 2027. Bills for 2026 use the 2021 values, and the county and city raised their rates to collect the revenue in their adopted budgets.
When are Buncombe County property taxes due?
Bills are due Sept. 1, with a grace period to Jan. 5 before interest is added. For the 2026 bill, the last day without interest is Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027.
Do I need to appeal my 2026 reappraisal value again?
No. The county says an appeal of a 2026 reappraisal value is still valid, and owners who filed one will get a notice in the mail in early 2027.
How do I appeal my property value in Buncombe County?
File an informal appeal online or by calling Real Estate Assessment at 828-250-4940. If you disagree with the result, you have 30 days to file a formal appeal, which can go to the Board of Equalization and Review.
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