2007 STANDARD AD VALOREM TAX INFORMATION
All property - real estate and personal property (except that which is exempt by the Constitution and Laws of Alabama) - is subject to ad valorem taxation and must be listed with the Tax Commissioner, 102 Depot Street, Columbiana, AL 35051, as of October 1.

ASSESSMENTS- When you purchase or acquire property in Shelby County, you file your assessment with the Tax Commissioner on or before December 31 for any property you have purchased or acquired during the previous fiscal year (September 30 to October 1).  You must show proof of interest in property, such as a deed or other documentation of ownership before being allowed to transfer property.

In Shelby County, it is not necessary to reassess real property every year, unless there is some change either in ownership, mailing address, or description of property, or a physical change in the improvements or to the land.  Such changes must be reported by the property owner to the Tax Commissioner by December 31.

However, personal property must be assessed annually. Assessments must be made to the Tax Commissioner between October 1 and December 31.  A delinquent penalty of $5.00 must be added to each assessment return made after December 31.  After the third Monday in January, an additional penalty of 10% is added.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION - is allowed the owner-occupant and is claimed at the time of assessment.
A. Any owner-occupant under 65 years of age is allowed homestead exemption on state taxes not to exceed $4,000 and on county taxes not to exceed $2,000 assessed value, both excluding all school and municipal taxes.
B. Homestead "Special" - If you are 65 years of age or older, or permanently and totally disabled, and your income is less than $12,000, tax credit is given for all the State tax.  The County tax credit is based on the first $5,000 of assessed value.  You must claim this exemption; proof of age, income, or disability is required.
C. Any owner-occupant over 65 years of age or totally disabled, having a net annual taxable income of $7,500 or less, is exempt from taxes on the principal residence.  You must claim this exemption; proof of age, income, or disability is required. Special exemptions (B and C above) must be filed annually with the Property Tax Commissioner.

YOU NEED THREE FACTORS TO DETERMINE YOUR TAX
FIRST: Assessment rate or ration (fractional amount of market value).
Class III - Single family; owner-occupied homes or condominiums; and farm and timber properties.
Assessment rate 10%
Class II- All other properties not included in I and III (includes apartments, commercial and industrial properties, duplexes, triplexes and quadriplexes).
Assessment Rate 20%
Class I - Public Utilities Assessment Rate 30%.

SECOND: You need the taxation rate in your area.  Taxation rates are computed in "mills" (tenth part of a cent), but are sometimes quoted in dollars per hundreds or thousands.  See Collection Millage Rate Chart.

THIRD: If you are entitled to tax credit for homestead exemption, it is deducted from your gross tax as shown in the following example: A single-family home in the city of Pelham and a home outside any municipality within Shelby County are shown.