Property tax in Alaska: rates, exemptions and appeals

Who sets the tax, and on what value?

The statutes give the power to levy property tax to municipalities: a unified municipality or a borough, and in some cases a city (AS 29.45.010). An assessor then values each parcel.

By law the assessor values property at “full and true value as of January 1 of the assessment year,” meaning the price it would bring in an open-market sale between a willing buyer and seller (AS 29.45.110). The tax is the taxable value times the mill rate. One mill is $1 per $1,000. A municipality may not levy an ad valorem tax above 3% of assessed value in a year (AS 29.45.090).

For tax year 2026, Anchorage’s Property Appraisal Division kept records on about 98,000 parcels of real property. Its 2026 valuation report shows average single-family assessed values rose 3.5% (condos 5.8%) before new construction.

What is the rate in Anchorage?

Anchorage adds up the service areas that apply to your address, plus the school district. The Treasury’s 2025 mill rate table, the latest adopted table I could read, shows:

Your tax bill shows your district. The Anchorage 2026 budget book lists a preliminary 9.40 municipal figure for district 1, but it says final 2026 rates would go to the Assembly in April 2026. I did not find the final 2026 table, so the figures here are for the 2025 tax year. See our Anchorage page.

What exemptions cut the bill?

The $150,000 senior and disabled-veteran exemption comes from state law (AS 29.45.030(e)). The residential exemption is optional and local; state law caps such an exemption at $75,000 of assessed value (AS 29.45.050(a)). Anchorage requires an application by March 15. Exemptions do not transfer when you buy a new home: you must apply again. I did not read how Anchorage combines the senior and residential exemptions, so ask Property Appraisal at 907-343-6770.

A worked example in Anchorage

This is an example, not a bill. Assume a home assessed at $400,000 in tax district 1, using 2025 rates.

How do I appeal an assessment?

Anchorage mails notices by January 15. You have 30 days from the mailing date to file a written appeal and pay a refundable deposit: $30 for values up to $99,999, $100 for $100,000 to $499,999, $200 for $500,000 to $1,999,999, and $1,000 above that. You can appeal the value, not the tax amount or the mill rate. You must send evidence within 45 days of the mailing, and you carry the burden of proof (AS 29.45.210). The Board of Equalization decides unresolved appeals. The board may not raise your assessment unless you ask. Anchorage says about 75% of appeals end when the owner signs a withdrawal form at a recommended value.

When is the tax due?

Anchorage allows a 7-calendar-day grace period before a penalty. Delinquent tax is enforced by annual foreclosure (AS 29.45.320), with at least a one-year redemption period (AS 29.45.400). For buying costs, see closing costs in Alaska.