All property in Kentucky, unless exempted by law, is subject to taxation. This includes both real property and tangible personal property.
The amount of property taxes owed by a taxpayer each year depends on two things:
For information regarding tax rates, please see:
https://boonecountyky.org/departments/finance/tax_rates.php
For information regarding assessed value, please continue reading.
Quick Links
Property is Valued by the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA)
Where is the Tax Bill Mailed?
Exemptions
Appealing a PVA’s Assessment of Real Estate
Tax Collection Schedule
Delinquent Real Estate Taxes
Delinquent Tangible Property Taxes
911 Fee
Who to Contact
Real estate is assessed (valued) by the Boone County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) as of January 1st of each tax year. The Boone County PVA is required to value real estate at what the property would bring at a fair, voluntary sale, except for farmland, which is assessed at its agricultural value rather than market value. A PVA is required to physically inspect all property in the county at least once every four years.
In addition to real estate, other business property such as aircraft, business machinery, computers, equipment, furniture, supplies, and watercraft must be assessed and valued as of January 1st of each tax year, with a few exceptions. These are referred to as tangible personal property.
It is the responsibility of anyone owning or having an interest in tangible personal property to list that property with the Boone County PVA on a tangible personal property tax return between January 1st and May 15th. The return is to be mailed to the PVA in the county where the property is located. Returns filed by the due date are valued by the local PVA, and thetax bills resultingfrom these returns will be generated and mailed by the Boone County Sheriffin the fall.
The property tax bill will be sent to the person who owned the property on January 1st of the tax year.
A property owner who sells or transfers their property after January 1st should notify the Boone County PVA of the transfer in ownership, in which case the tax bill may be addressed “in care of” the new owner. Otherwise, the tax bill will be mailed to the individual who owned the property on January 1st.
Often when property is sold after the January 1st assessment date, a buyer and seller will agree to apportion the expected amount of property taxes between them. However, the responsibility for paying the current year’s tax bill remains with the January 1st owner – the seller. If the tax bill later becomes delinquent, a tax lien is placed upon the property owned by the subsequent purchaser; by law, a buyer is deemed to know that taxes are due on real estate. Therefore, a delinquent property tax bill is a personal debt of the responsible party (the January 1st owner), as well as a lien against the real property (owned by a subsequent purchaser).
Several types of property are exempt from property tax in Kentucky, including federally-owned property, state-owned property, county-owned property, city-owned property, property owned by schools, property owned by religious facilities, cemeteries, and property owned by public charities. Please contact the Boone County PVA for further information.
This exemption applies to any real estate owned and maintained as the permanent residence of a taxpayer who is 65 or older. If property is owned by a married couple, the property may qualify for the exemption so long as either spouse is at least 65. Only one exemption is allowed per household, even if both spouses are over the age of 65. This exemption may also apply to those who are totally disabled. For more information, please contact the Boone County PVA.
When a PVA increases a property’s assessment, a notice must be sent to the property owner informing them of the new assessment. The notice will also inform the property owner of the deadline to file an appeal. This period is known as the tax roll inspection period, which begins on the first Monday in May, runs Monday through Saturday for two weeks, and concludes on the third Monday in May.
If a property owner disagrees with the assessed value of their real estate or tangible property, they can meet with the PVA during the tax roll inspection period to discuss the new value. During the conference with the PVA, the property owner can explain why he/she believes the property’s assessment is too high, and the PVA will show what information was used to arrive at the new value. If an agreement can be reached during the conference, nothing further needs to be done, and the property owner’s property tax bill received in the fall will be based upon the agreed upon assessed value.
If no agreement is reached during the appeals process, the property owner may file an appeal to the local Board of Assessment Appeals. The property owner’s appeal must be filed.in the Boone County Clerk’s Office no later than the end of the day following the close of the tax roll inspection period. For example, if the tax roll inspection period runs from May 6th through May 20th, a taxpayer who has had a conference with the PVA has until May 21st to file an appeal in the Boone County Clerk’s Office. When filing an appeal, the taxpayer must provide his/her claim of value for the property in question.
The local Board of Assessment Appeals is a three-member board, appointed by the mayor of the largest city in the county, the Fiscal Court, and the County Judge Executive. All members are required to be knowledgeable of property values in the county. The Board is scheduled to meet one month after the close of the tax roll inspection period. The Boone County Clerk will notify the property owner of the specific date and time the appeal hearing has been scheduled.
At the appeal hearing, the property owner must provide information to support his/her claim of value for the property. If no information is provided, the Board is required to deny the appeal. The PVA must also present evidence to support the assessed value. The property owner will be notified by certified mail of the decision of the Board and will also receive information on how to appeal to the Kentucky Board of Tax Appealsif the property owner remains dissatisfied with the assessed value.
Each taxing district within a county must adopt its tax rate for the year (districts include the fiscal court, cities, libraries, and fire protection districts, to name a few). Tax bills are then printed and sent to the Boone County Sheriff for mailing between mid-September and the beginning of October.
The following is a summary of a tax collection schedule after bills are mailed to taxpayers:
Taxes are due and payable with a 2% discount
Tax bills are due and payable at face value
Unpaid tax bills become delinquent and are paid with a 5% penalty
Unpaid tax bills are delinquent and paid with a 10% penalty and 10% sheriff’s add-on fee
Tax bills are transferred to the Boone County Clerk from Boone County Sheriff; additional penalties, fees, and interest at 1% per month are added to the total amount due
On April 15th, all tax bills which have not been paid are transferred from the Boone County Sheriff to the Boone County Clerk’s Office. Each bill is then known as a Certificate of Delinquency and is a lien against the property in question. Interest begins to accrue on the total due at the rate of 1% per month. A 10% county clerk fee and a 20% county attorney fee are also added to the total due.
The Boone County Attorney is required to send a notice by May 15th to delinquent taxpayers and, if necessary, another notice is sent by June 15th. Delinquent taxpayers may be able to enter into installment payment plans with the Boone County Attorney at that time.
Beginning in mid-July through the end of October, the Boone County Clerk offers the remaining unpaid tax bills to registered third party purchasers. The date and time of sale, along with a listing of each Certificate of Delinquency, is advertised in the local newspaper at least 30 days before the tax sale. The Certificates of Delinquency are also listed on the Boone County Clerk’s website at least 30 days before the sale.
If a Certificate of Delinquency is sold to a third-party purchaser, the property owner must then work with that third party to arrange to pay the delinquent tax bill. Substantial additional fees will be applied to the total due to the third-party purchaser, but a taxpayer may be able to contact the third party about an installment payment plan. If the tax bill remains unpaid, the third party may foreclose on the property.
If a Certificate of Delinquency is not sold to a third-party purchaser, the County may pursue collection actions against the taxpayer.
After April 15th, all tax bills which have not been paid are transferred from the Boone County Sheriff to the Boone County Clerk’s Office. Interest begins to accrue on the total due at the rate of 1% per month. A 10% county clerk fee and a 20% county attorney fee are also added to the total due. The Boone County Attorney is required to send a notice by May 15th to delinquent taxpayers and, if necessary, another notice is sent by June 15th. Delinquent taxpayers may be able to enter into installment payment plans with the Boone County Attorney at that time. If the tax bill remains delinquent, the Boone County Attorney’s Office may pursue collection actions against the taxpayer.
Kentucky law allows a county to levy a special fee to fund 911 emergency services, which Boone County has done. However, 911 Service Fees do not constitute liens upon real property. This fee is listed separately on a taxpayer’s county tax bill and is not subject to the 2% discount for early payment. Late payment penalties are also not added to it.
Please note that if real property taxes are paid after January 1st, when tax bills become delinquent, payment will not satisfy the 911 fee. The 911 fee will remain delinquent until paid by the taxpayer.
For information concerning the 911 Dwelling Unit Service Fee, please visit: https://boonecountyky.org/transparency/public_safety_communications_funding/index.php.
For questions concerning assessment of a 911 fee, please contact the Boone County PVA at (859) 334-2181 or by email to 911fee@boonecountyky.org. See also https://boonecountyky.org/transparency/public_safety_communications_funding/index.php for more information.
To pay a delinquent 911 fee, please contact the Boone County Fiscal Court, Finance Department, at (859) 334-2145.
For questions about an assessment of your property, or to apply for a homestead or disability exemption, please contact the Boone County PVA at (859) 334-2181. See also www.boonepva.ky.gov for more information.
For questions about a property tax bill or payment, please contact the Boone County Sheriff’s Department at (859) 334-2175. See also https://www.boonecountytax.com/taxes#/ for more information.
For questions about a delinquent property tax bill, please contact the Boone County Clerk’s Office at (859) 334-3624. See also https://boone.countyclerk.us/ for more information.
For questions concerning assessment of a 911 fee, please contact the Boone County PVA at (859) 334-2181 or by email to 911fee@boonecountyky.org. See also https://boonecountyky.org/transparency/public_safety_communications_funding/index.php for more information.
To pay a delinquent 911 fee, please contact the Boone County Fiscal Court, Finance Department, at (859) 334-2145.
For general information about the property tax process, please visit https://revenue.ky.gov/Property/Pages/default.aspx.