Montana Department of Revenue

Certified Property Values and Mill Levies

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The “Certified Values” are total taxable property values determined by the Department of Revenue for each tax jurisdictions.

The department provides these values to the tax jurisdictions every year on the first Monday in August.

We provided certified values on Monday, August 6, 2018.

The full details of the report, including the certified values of every tax jurisdiction and the statewide totals can be can be found at Property.MT.gov.

The certified values are used to determine the mill levies for each tax district.

Calculating Levies and Property Tax

To calculate the number of mills in each jurisdiction and property tax due, follow the steps below.

Quick Information

Important Dates

2019 certified values will be available August 5, 2019.

Related Links

Step 1

Adjusted Property Tax Revenue (APTR)

The current year’s adjusted property tax revenue is equal to the jurisdiction’s previous year’s property tax revenue increased by half of the inflation from the previous three years:

\displaystyle \text{APTR} = \text{Previous Year's APTR} \times \left(1 + \left(\frac{\text{3 Years Inflation}}{2}\right)\right)

Step 2

Maximum Mills

Next find the jurisdiction’s maximum mills.

This is 1,000 times the jurisdiction’s Adjusted Property Tax Revenue (APTR) divided by its Certified Taxable Value minus its Newly Taxable Value (Rounded down to the third decimal):

\displaystyle \text{Maximum Mills} = 1,000 \times \left(\frac{\text{APTR}}{\text{Certified Taxable Value} - \text{Newly Taxable Value}}\right)

Step 3

Millage Rates

Find the Millage Rate. This is the total number of mills from all jurisdictions for your property divided by 1,000.

\displaystyle\text{Millage Rate} = \frac{\text{Total Mills}}{1,000}

Step 4

Property Tax

Finally, property owners multiply the Taxable Value by the Millage Rate to find their Property Tax.

\displaystyle\text{Property Tax} = \text{Taxable Value} \times \text{Millage Rate}

This is an estimate of general property taxes. Local governments may also assess special fees and assessments. Property owners should contact their County Treasurer for more information on special assessments or fees.

Example Levies and Property Tax

For this example, we will look at a property with a $2,793 Taxable Value, in one tax jurisdiction with:

  • Previous Year’s Property Tax Revenue: $1,000,000
  • Three Year Inflation: 2%
  • Current Year Certified Taxable Value: $2,000,000
  • Newly Taxable Value: $100,000

We will also assume a second tax jurisdiction with 304 mills.

Step 1

Adjusted Property Tax Revenue (APTR)

\displaystyle \text{APTR} = \$1,000,000 \times \left(1 + \left(\frac{0.02}{2}\right)\right)
\displaystyle \text{APTR} = \$1,000,000 \times 1.01
\displaystyle \text{APTR} = \$1,010,000

Adjusted Property Tax Revenue: $1,010,000

Step 2

Maximum Mills

\displaystyle \text{Maximum Mills} = 1,000 \times \left(\frac{\$1,010,000}{ (\$2,000,000 - \$100,000)}\right)
\displaystyle \text{Maximum Mills} = 1,000 \times \left(\frac{\$1,010,000}{\$1,900,000}\right)
\displaystyle \text{Maximum Mills} = 1,000 \times (0.531)
\displaystyle \text{Maximum Mills} = 531

Maximum Mills: 531

Step 3

Millage Rates

Find the Millage Rate. This is the total number of mills from all jurisdictions for the property divided by 1,000.

\displaystyle \text{Millage Rate} = \frac{531 + 304}{1,000}
\displaystyle \text{Millage Rate} = \frac{835}{1,000}
\displaystyle \text{Millage Rate} = 0.835

Millage Rate: 0.835

Step 4

Property Tax

\displaystyle \text{Property Tax} = \$2,793 \times 0.835
\displaystyle \text{Property Tax} = \$2,332.16

Property Tax: $2,333

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