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Updated 2025 Tax Year

Meagher County
Property Tax Guide

Everything you need to know about property taxes in Meagher County, MT. Rates, due dates, exemptions, and how it affects your monthly payment.

10 Official Sources
8 min read
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Quick Facts
Tax Rate
1.5-2.5% of assessed value (varies by taxing districts serving your property)
Exemptions
4+ Available
Section 1

How Property Tax Works

Meagher County, Montana operates under the state's property tax system where taxes are collected to fund essential local services including schools, county operations, fire protection, and various special districts. Property taxes in Meagher County are assessed annually based on market value, with Montana's base assessment rate of approximately 1% of market value for residential properties. The effective tax rates in Meagher County typically range from 1.5% to 2.5% of assessed value, though this varies significantly based on your specific location within the county.

Your actual property tax rate depends on which special taxing districts serve your property, such as school districts, fire districts, conservation districts, and other local improvement districts. Properties in different areas of Meagher County may have substantially different tax rates even with similar assessed values due to these varying district boundaries and their individual levy requirements.

Section 2

What Makes Up Your Tax Bill

ComponentEstimated RateDescription
County General Fund0.8-1.2%Basic county services and operations
School Districts0.6-1.0%Local school funding and operations
Fire Districts0.1-0.3%Fire protection services
Conservation Districts0.05-0.1%Natural resource conservation
Special AssessmentsVariesInfrastructure improvements, bonds
Total Estimated Range1.5-2.5%Combined rate varies by location

Note: Specific rates for FY 2025-2026 levy year are set by individual districts and may vary from these estimates. Your actual rate depends on which special taxing districts serve your property location. Contact the Meagher County Assessor's office for precise rates applicable to your specific address.

Section 3

When Are Property Taxes Due?

For the 2025/2026 tax year in Meagher County, property taxes are due in two installments:

Pro tip: If you pay through mortgage escrow, your lender splits these payments across your monthly mortgage. If you pay directly, set calendar reminders to avoid late penalties.
Section 4

Supplemental Tax Bills

Supplemental taxes in Meagher County are additional property tax assessments that occur when there are mid-year changes to property ownership or improvements. The most common triggers include purchasing a home (change in ownership), completing new construction, or making substantial improvements that increase the property's assessed value. When these events occur, the county assessor recalculates the property taxes based on the new assessed value, and you receive a supplemental tax bill for the remaining portion of the tax year.

For example, if you purchase a home in Meagher County in September that was previously assessed at a lower value, and the new assessment reflects current market value, you would receive a supplemental bill covering October through June (the remainder of the tax year). The supplemental tax is calculated by taking the difference between the old and new assessed values, multiplying by the applicable tax rate, and prorating for the remaining months in the tax year.

Example Calculation

Example 1: $300,000 Home

  • Market Value: $300,000
  • Assessed Value (≈1%): $3,000
  • Homestead Credit (if applied): -$500
  • Net Taxable Value: $2,500
  • Annual Tax (2.0% rate): $50
  • Monthly Escrow: $4.17

Example 2: $600,000 Home

  • Market Value: $600,000
  • Assessed Value (≈1%): $6,000
  • Homestead Credit (if applied): -$500
  • Net Taxable Value: $5,500
  • Annual Tax (2.0% rate): $110
  • Monthly Escrow: $9.17

Example 3: $1,000,000 Home

  • Market Value: $1,000,000
  • Assessed Value (≈1%): $10,000
  • Homestead Credit (if applied): -$500
  • Net Taxable Value: $9,500
  • Annual Tax (2.0% rate): $190
  • Monthly Escrow: $15.83

Note: Tax credits require annual application and are not automatically applied. Actual rates vary by special district location.

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Section 5

Escrow & Property Taxes

Most mortgage lenders in Meagher County require borrowers to establish an escrow account for property tax payments, particularly when the loan-to-value ratio exceeds 80%. Your lender collects monthly property tax payments along with your mortgage payment and holds these funds in escrow until taxes are due. The lender typically pays your property taxes directly to Meagher County on your behalf, usually covering both the July 1st first installment and November 1st second installment.

Lenders are required to conduct annual escrow analyses to ensure adequate funds are collected. If property taxes increase due to reassessment or rate changes, your monthly escrow payment will be adjusted accordingly. You'll receive an escrow disclosure statement showing the analysis and any changes to your monthly payment. It's important to review your annual property tax statements even when using escrow to verify accuracy and ensure your lender has paid the correct amounts on time.

How HonestCasa Helps
  • Understand whether your escrow is set correctly
  • See how rising taxes will change your monthly payment
  • Plan ahead instead of being surprised by "shortage" letters
Section 6

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When are property taxes due in Meagher County for the current fiscal year? A: Property taxes are payable in two installments: the first installment is due July 1st and the second installment is due November 1st. These dates apply to the current tax year.

Q: What tax credits are available and do I need to apply for them? A: Montana offers various tax credits including the Homestead Credit for primary residences. Most credits require annual application and are not automatically applied. Contact the Meagher County Assessor's office for available credits and application requirements.

Q: How does the Homestead Credit work? A: The Homestead Credit caps assessment increases on your primary residence, typically limiting annual growth to a certain percentage. You must file an application with the county assessor to receive this credit - it is not automatic and must be renewed.

Q: When are properties reassessed in Meagher County? A: Montana conducts property reassessments every few years. You'll receive a notice of any assessment changes and have the right to appeal if you believe the assessment is incorrect. Appeal deadlines are strictly enforced.

Q: What are the penalties for late property tax payments? A: Late payments incur penalties and interest charges. First installment payments made after July 1st and second installment payments made after November 1st are subject to penalty fees that increase over time.

Q: Can I pay my property taxes online? A: Check with the Meagher County Treasurer's office for available online payment options. Many Montana counties offer online payment systems for property taxes.

Q: Why did my property taxes increase if I didn't make any improvements? A: Property tax increases can result from market value reassessment, increased levy rates by local taxing districts, or new special assessments for infrastructure improvements.

Q: How do special district taxes affect my bill? A: Your property tax includes levies from multiple entities serving your area, such as school districts, fire districts, and conservation districts. Properties in different locations within Meagher County may have different combinations of these districts, resulting in varying total tax rates.

Verified Sources

Backed by 10 Official Government Sources

Every fact in this guide is sourced from official county, state, and federal documents.

01
County
Annual Property Tax Changes by Countyrevenuefiles.mt.gov
02
Tax Doc
Property Taxesgov.mt.gov
03
County
2025 Median Property Value Changes by Countyrevenue.mt.gov
04
County
Meagher County FSA Officefsa.usda.gov
05
Tax Doc
Introduction to Property Taxrevenue.mt.gov
06
Tax Doc
Montana Property Tax Report - July 30, 2024gov.mt.gov
07
Montanairs.gov
08
HB 390 Homestead Exemptionarchive.legmt.gov
09
Property Assessment Divisionsvc.mt.gov
10
1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 816archive.legmt.gov
All sources verified as of 2025 Tax Year

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