Columbus 2026 property tax bills went out Sept. 1; the balance is due Dec. 1. City rate 15.15 mills in most districts, schools 23.075. 706-225-4211.
Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Muscogee County Tax Commissioner, the Muscogee County Board of Assessors, the Columbus Consolidated Government’s finance notices and the Muscogee County School District.
Muscogee County’s 2026 property tax bills were mailed Sept. 1, and the final balance is due Dec. 1, 2026, according to the Tax Commissioner’s billing update. Pay online with the parcel number on your bill, or in person at 3111 Citizens Way. Questions about the bill: 706-225-4211.
Columbus and Muscogee County are one consolidated government, so a single bill carries both the city-county levy and the school levy.
Who to call
- Your bill, payments, delinquent taxes: Tax Commissioner’s property tax office, 706-225-4211, taxcommissioner@columbusga.org; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 3111 Citizens Way
- Your assessed value, appeals, homestead questions: Board of Assessors, 706-225-4398; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
- Look up a parcel: property tax records search
- City budget and millage questions: Finance Department, 706-225-4087
The 2026 rates
Georgia rates are set in mills: one mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value, and homes are assessed at 40% of fair market value. Columbus taxes property by urban service district, and each district has its own rate. From the city’s 2026 tax digest and five-year history of levy and the school district’s 2026 tax digest and levy history:
| Levy | 2025 rate | 2026 rate (advertised) |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, Urban Service Districts 1, 5, 6 and 7 | 15.15 mills | 15.15 mills |
| Columbus, Urban Service District 2 | 9.17 mills | 9.17 mills |
| Columbus, Urban Service District 4 | 8.27 mills | 8.27 mills |
| Muscogee County School District | 23.075 mills | 23.075 mills |
Both the city and the school board kept their rates flat but advertised a tax increase, because property values grew. State law requires that notice unless a government cuts its rate enough to offset reassessments. The city scheduled its readings for June 9 and June 16, 2026, and the school board its vote for June 29.
The city figures are net rates after rollbacks. The gross city rate in Districts 1, 5, 6 and 7 is 32.58 mills, less a 17.43-mill rollback.
The city rate since 2021
The net city rate in the main districts has fallen from 17.18 mills in 2021 to 15.15. Over the same years the net digest grew from $4.42 billion to an estimated $5.76 billion, so the city collects more even at a lower rate: $87.3 million is the 2026 estimate, up 2.98% from 2025.
Due dates through the year
From the Tax Commissioner’s important dates:
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| April 1 | Homestead exemption deadline; business personal property returns due |
| May | Annual Notice of Assessment mailed; 45 days to appeal |
| June and July | Millage rates set after public hearings |
| Sept. 1, 2026 | 2026 bills mailed |
| Dec. 1, 2026 | Final balance due |
The office’s standing calendar also describes a 40% installment in October and the remaining 60% in December. For 2026, its billing notice asks owners to start early and pay in parts, with the full balance due Dec. 1.
Homestead exemptions
Apply by April 1 of the year you want the exemption, according to the homestead exemptions page. Bring a copy of the recorded deed and a Georgia driver’s license showing the address. Your voter registration and vehicle registration must also be in Muscogee County. Once granted, the exemption renews itself until you move or the ownership changes.
The main types, from the types of homestead page:
- Standard: cuts $13,500 from the assessed value and freezes the assessment for the maintenance and operations part of the city and school rates.
- Elderly (65 and older): an income-tested exemption of $21,500 off the assessed value, which also applies to bond debt. Federal and state tax returns are required.
- 100% disabled veterans: up to $121,812 (2025 figure), with a VA benefits letter.
- Surviving spouses of service members killed in conflict, and of firefighters or peace officers killed in the line of duty.
- Tax deferral: owners 62 and older with household income of $15,000 or less can defer some or all of the tax until the property changes hands.
2026 relief grant. Georgia’s one-time Homeowner Tax Relief Grant cuts the taxable value of a homesteaded home by $18,000. It is already on the 2026 bill. The office warns that a lower bill this year may leave mortgage escrow accounts short later; it suggests calling your lender.
How to appeal
Every taxable property gets an Annual Notice of Assessment from the Board of Assessors each May. You have 45 days from the notice date to appeal the value. You can also file for a homestead exemption in place of an appeal during that window. The 2026 appeal window has closed; the next notices go out in May 2027. Call the Board of Assessors at 706-225-4398 with questions.
What this means for you
- The full 2026 bill is due Dec. 1. Paying online needs the parcel number.
- Rates did not change, but your bill can still rise if your assessed value did.
- Homestead applications for 2027 are due April 1, 2027.
- Watch for your assessment notice in May 2027; the appeal clock is 45 days.
Related: Columbus home prices, moving to Columbus and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
When are Muscogee County property taxes due in 2026?
The Muscogee County Tax Commissioner mailed 2026 bills on Sept. 1, and the final balance is due Dec. 1, 2026. The office encourages paying in parts before then.
What is the millage rate in Columbus, Georgia?
The Columbus Consolidated Government advertised a 2026 net rate of 15.15 mills for Urban Service Districts 1, 5, 6 and 7, unchanged from 2025. The Muscogee County School District advertised 23.075 mills, also unchanged.
How do I appeal my property assessment in Muscogee County?
File an appeal with the Muscogee County Board of Assessors within 45 days of the date on your Annual Notice of Assessment, which is mailed each May. Call 706-225-4398.
When is the homestead exemption deadline in Muscogee County?
April 1 for the year you want the exemption. Bring your recorded deed and a Georgia driver’s license showing the address; your vehicle and voter registration must also be in Muscogee County.
What is the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant on my 2026 bill?
A one-time state credit that cuts the taxable value of a homesteaded home by $18,000. It is already on the 2026 bill, and no action is needed.
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