Wayne County residents tend to pay higher property tax rates than others in Michigan, so the average homeowner can expect to pay around $2,506 a year in taxes.

Written by Jim Alexander

Reviewed by Melanie Reiff

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

Table of Contents

Property tax 101
What is the property tax rate in Wayne County?
How to pay property taxes in Wayne County
How to save money on homeowners and car insurance in Michigan
FAQs

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As compared to the Michigan state average property tax rate of 1.62%, residents of Wayne County can expect to pay more. Wayne County’s property tax rate is 2.07%, meaning an annual property tax bill of $2,506.

Your annual property tax bill is influenced by many different factors. The value of your home, the needs of your local government, and the separate taxing zones you live in can all change your property tax bill. That means that there is a wide variety of rates and amounts that residents of Wayne County can expect to pay.

So if you live in Wayne County or want to move to the area, it’s important to know how property taxes work and how they may affect you. Here to help is home and

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Property tax 101

Simply put, property taxes are created by the state and local government based on where your home is.

The taxes that you pay go towards the budget for these governments, which use the revenue to pay for public services and employees. Property tax is one of the most common taxes because your tax dollars tend to go right back into your community.

If you feel ambitious and want to know the exact letter of the law when it comes to property taxes in the state, look at the

Michigan General Property Tax Act.

MORE: Is car insurance tax deductible?

What is the property tax rate in Wayne County?

Wayne County homeowners pay on average 2.07% in property taxes, which, paired with the median home price in the county, means a tax bill of around $2,506 a year. This is higher than the Michigan state average of 1.62%.

Tax rates vary throughout the county, however. That means two people with similarly priced homes may have different tax bills depending upon their location. Wayne County has a

property search website

, which allows homeowners to find out exactly how much in property tax they will pay.

How Wayne County property taxes are determined

Calculating your property tax, thankfully, is easy! Property tax bills are determined by multiplying the taxable value of your home by your local tax rate. So if your home’s taxable value is $200,000 and your local tax rate is 1%, then you would multiply 200,000 by .01 (which is 1%) which gives you an annual property tax bill of $2,000.

Michigan also has some unique protections not available in other states.

Proposal A

, passed in 1994, means that the taxable value of your home is only 50% of its true cash value. So if your home could be sold on the market for $400,000, the property taxes calculation will only consider your home to be worth $200,000.

In other words, that means your bill is cut in half. This can also make Michigan property tax rates seem deceiving. Most other states use the true market value of homes to calculate property tax, so a 2% property tax rate in Michigan means a 1% property tax rate in most other states.

Proposal A also means that the value of your home cannot go up by more than 5% each year. So even if you remodel your home or build a new addition (like a pool or deck), the taxable price of your home cannot skyrocket. Remember, the higher the value of your home, the more taxes you pay.

However, this protection stops once the home is sold as the state will reassess the house at its sale price. So if you plan to buy a home in Wayne County, you may end up with a larger bill than the previous owner.

What do Wayne County property taxes pay for?

Property taxes are one of the main sources of revenue for state and local governments. That means the taxes you pay go towards funding things like:

Public schools and community college

Police, Fire, and EMS departments

Garbage and waste disposal

Road safety and maintenance

Sewage, water, and power services

Libraries and communities buildings

Parks and recreation space

Government employee’s salaries

MORE: How to deduct a car accident from your taxes

How to pay property taxes in Wayne County

Wayne County residents have several periods they can choose to pay their taxes. The first is to pay in full, which would be due on August 31. Homeowners can also choose to pay in installments, in which case they must pay at least half of their bill by August 1, and the second half by January 15.

Regardless of what method you choose, there are several ways to make your payment:

Online: The best option for those who want to pay quickly and from the comfort of their own home, the county offers an

online portal

to pay your tax bill. Note that credit card payments will incur an additional fee.

In-person: You must

make an appointment

to pay in-person. The office is located at: International Center, 400 Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226.

By mail: Payments can be made by check payable to Wayne County Treasurer. The address is: Wayne County Treasurer, P.O. Box 554889, Detroit, MI 48232-5555. Be sure to include the payment barcode on your tax bill.

Through your mortgage: Speak with your lender to see if they offer the ability to pay your property tax bill as part of your monthly mortgage.

MORE: A road trip to the most haunted places in Michigan

How to save money on homeowners and car insurance in Michigan

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FAQs

When are property taxes due in Wayne County?

Property taxes are due on August 31 if you want to pay in full. Otherwise, half of your tax bill is due on August 1 and the second half by January 15.

Are property taxes high in Wayne County?

Yes, Wayne County residents can expect to pay more on average than others in Michigan. But rates vary across the county, so not every resident can expect to have the same property tax bills.

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