Phoenix property taxes explained: LPV, the 5% cap, and the November 2 deadline
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The first half of the 2026 property tax bill in Maricopa County is due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, and some paper bills reached mailboxes late this year. The Maricopa County Treasurer's Office told AZFamily on September 30 that late changes to levies and rates, plus problems rolling out a new computer system, delayed the mailing. If you own a home in Phoenix, or you are about to buy one, this is a good moment to understand how that bill is actually built, because it works very differently from what most people expect.
What the rules say
- Two values on every parcel: Full Cash Value is the Assessor's market estimate. Limited Property Value is what taxes are usually based on, and it can rise up to 5% a year but never above Full Cash Value (Maricopa County Assessor, Understanding LPV)
- Residential assessment ratio: Class three property is assessed at 10% of its full cash value or limited valuation, as applicable (A.R.S. 42-15003)
- Due dates: Half due October 1 and delinquent after November 1 at 5:00 p.m.; the other half due March 1 and delinquent after May 1 at 5:00 p.m.; weekend deadlines move to the next business day (A.R.S. 42-18052)
- Late interest: 16% per year simple, with any part of a month counted as a full month (A.R.S. 42-18053)
- Primary residence credit: State aid reduces primary property taxes on owner occupied homes, capped at $600 per parcel (A.R.S. 15-972)
- City of Phoenix rates: Proposed primary rate $1.2652 and secondary rate $0.7745 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal 2026-27 (City of Phoenix Truth in Taxation notice, May 29, 2026)
How a Phoenix tax bill is built
Start with Limited Property Value. Under the Assessor's standard method, called Rule A, last year's LPV can grow by up to 5%. The Assessor's own example takes an LPV of $100,000 to $105,000 the next year, even if the market moved more. Multiply LPV by the 10% residential assessment ratio to get assessed value. Then each taxing district on your parcel, such as the county, the city, the school district, and the community college district, applies its rate per $100 of assessed value.
Here is a simple illustration using only the City of Phoenix portion. A home with an LPV of $400,000 has an assessed value of $40,000. At the proposed city rates, that is about $506.08 in city primary tax and $309.80 in city secondary tax, or $815.88 in total for the city line. The full bill is larger because school, county, and other districts add their own rates. These figures were calculated by Arizona Luxury Partners and are not a quote for any specific home.
The bill lags the market
The timing surprises people. The Assessor's appeal handout explains that the 2026 tax bills issued this fall rest on a January 1, 2025 valuation date, using market conditions from mid 2023 to mid 2024. So the bill you pay now reflects values from well before today's market.
Three myths we hear from buyers
Myth 1: Taxes reset to the purchase price
Not under Rule A. The Assessor lists the triggers for recalculating LPV under Rule B: new construction, demolition, splits or lot combinations, a change in use, or loss of certain special valuation programs. A sale is not on that list. Rule B can push LPV up or down, so a buyer planning a major addition should expect the math to change.
Myth 2: My market value jumped, so my taxes will jump just as much
LPV growth is capped at 5% a year under Rule A. Your total bill can still rise faster or slower than that, because each district's rate can change from year to year. The City of Phoenix's proposed secondary rate for fiscal 2026-27, for example, is $0.7745 per $100, down from $0.8141 the year before.
Myth 3: Primary residence status is automatic
The Assessor lists a sale or transfer of ownership as a reason a legal class may change. Primary residence is Legal Class 3.1, and a home qualifies only if you or a qualified family member live there more than 7 months of the year. A vacation home is Class 4.1 and a rental is Class 4.2. Only owner occupied homes get the state aid credit.
What to do now
- Pay online if the paper bill is late. The Treasurer's Office says bills can be viewed and paid on its website right away.
- Mark both deadlines. November 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. for the first half, and May 3, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. for the second half, since May 1, 2027 falls on a Saturday.
- Consider paying the full year by December 31. Arizona law says no interest is collected when the full year's tax is paid on or before December 31 of the tax year.
- Check your legal class after you buy. Look up your parcel on the Assessor's site. If it does not show your primary residence class, file a Request for Residential Legal Class Change with a driver's license or voter registration that shows the address.
- Watch your mailbox in early 2027. Notices of Value go out between January 1 and March 1, and you have 60 days from the mailing date to appeal Full Cash Value or legal class.
- Avoid this mistake: Do not assume your lender pays the bill. If your loan has an escrow account, confirm with your servicer that the payment went out. If you own the home free and clear, the bill is yours to pay, and paying even one day late adds a full month of interest.
- Before you buy, look at the parcel, not the listing. The seller's current bill reflects the seller's class and values. Ask your escrow officer how taxes will be prorated at closing and your lender how they set up the escrow account.
The honest caveats
The Phoenix rates above are the proposed rates in the City's May 29, 2026 notice; your bill shows the rates that actually apply to your parcel. The City of Phoenix rate covers only homes inside city limits, and every parcel sits in a different mix of school and special districts, so two homes with the same LPV can owe different amounts. Our $400,000 example covers only the city line and is an illustration, not an estimate for your home. Homes with new construction, splits, or a change in use follow Rule B and can behave differently. Tax rules can change with new legislation, so check your parcel with the Assessor and Treasurer and talk with a tax professional about your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first half of 2026 Maricopa County property tax due?
Arizona law makes the first half due October 1 and delinquent after 5:00 p.m. on November 1. Because November 1, 2026 is a Sunday, the deadline moves to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026. Bills can be viewed and paid on the Maricopa County Treasurer's website even if the paper bill has not arrived.
Do Arizona property taxes reset to the purchase price when a home sells?
Not under the standard method. The Maricopa County Assessor lists recalculation triggers such as new construction, demolition, splits or combinations, a change in use, or loss of certain special valuation programs, and a sale is not on that list. Most homes keep growing their Limited Property Value by up to 5% a year until it reaches Full Cash Value.
What is the difference between LPV and FCV in Arizona?
Full Cash Value is the Assessor's estimate of market value. Limited Property Value is the value taxes are usually based on, and under the standard method it can rise by up to 5% a year but never above Full Cash Value. Only Full Cash Value and legal class can be appealed.
How do I get the primary residence rate on a home I just bought?
Primary residence is Legal Class 3.1, and a home qualifies when you or a qualified family member lives there more than 7 months of the year. The Assessor accepts a Request for Residential Legal Class Change with proof such as a driver's license or voter registration showing the property address. Changes approved before July 1 apply to the current and next tax year, and later approvals apply to the next tax year.
Can I appeal my Maricopa County property value?
Yes, you can appeal Full Cash Value and legal classification, but not Limited Property Value. The Assessor mails Notices of Value between January 1 and March 1, and the appeal deadline is 60 days after the notice is mailed. Ask a tax professional whether an appeal makes sense for your home.
The bottom line
A Phoenix property tax bill is built from a capped Limited Property Value, a 10% residential ratio, and the rates of every district on your parcel, and it reflects values from more than a year ago. A sale does not reset the value under the standard method, but your primary residence class does need attention. Pay the first half by 5:00 p.m. on November 2, 2026, check your legal class, and watch for your Notice of Value early next year.
Read more: Desert Ridge in North Phoenix: homes, prices, and what the master plan includes · Moving to Paradise Valley from out of state: taxes, one-acre lots, and town services
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Sources
- AZFamily, "Maricopa County property tax bills are delayed: Here's when payments are due," September 30, 2026. Link
- Maricopa County Assessor, Understanding Limited Property Value (LPV), accessed October 25, 2026. Link
- Maricopa County Assessor, Legal Class Frequently Asked Questions, accessed October 25, 2026. Link
- Maricopa County Assessor, Appeal Process Informational Handout (FOR-143 V1), accessed October 25, 2026. Link
- Arizona Revised Statutes 42-15003, Assessed valuation of class three property. Link
- Arizona Revised Statutes 42-18052, Due dates and times; delinquency. Link
- Arizona Revised Statutes 42-18053, Interest on delinquent taxes. Link
- Arizona Revised Statutes 15-972, Additional state aid for education. Link
- City of Phoenix, Truth in Taxation Hearing Notice of Tax Increase, fiscal year 2026-27, May 29, 2026. Link
- City of Phoenix tax example calculated by Arizona Luxury Partners: LPV $400,000 × 10% assessment ratio = $40,000 assessed value; × $1.2652 per $100 = $506.08 primary; × $0.7745 per $100 = $309.80 secondary; total $815.88.
- Weekday of November 1, 2026 (Sunday) and May 1, 2027 (Saturday) checked by Arizona Luxury Partners.
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. This article is for general information only and is not financial, lending, legal, or tax advice. Arizona Luxury Partners | Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties, 21020 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Brokerage License LC629808000. Equal Housing Opportunity.