KY

Kenton County, Kentucky
Property Tax Guide

Covington and Independence office locations, payment deadlines, the 2% November discount, exemptions, and what to do if you've missed the deadline — all locally verified for Kenton County.

✓ Verified May 2025 ✓ Two Sheriff payment locations ✓ Covington Courthouse details

Quick Facts — Kenton County Property Tax

County Tax Rate ~$0.1053 per $100 assessed value
State Tax Rate $0.122 per $100 (included in your bill)
Combined Rate (est.) ~$0.95–$1.15 per $100 (varies by school district)
Assessment Basis 100% of fair cash value (full market value)
Bill Mailed Late September / early October
Payment Window October 1 – December 31
Early Pay Discount 2% off if paid by November 1
Late Penalty 10% added after January 1; additional fees follow
Who Collects Kenton County Sheriff's Office — two locations
Who Assesses Kenton County PVA — Covington Courthouse
⚠ Kenton County local quirk: Kenton County's Sheriff's Office operates TWO separate tax payment locations — Covington (Courthouse) and Independence (5272 Madison Pike). Both accept payments with the same hours and methods. Choose whichever is closer to you.

Office Locations & Hours

Kenton County PVA Office

Assessments, Exemptions, Appeals

Address:

303 Court St, Room 210
Covington, KY 41011

Phone: (859) 292-1856

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Walk-in: Yes, accepted

Parking: Street parking on Court St; Fifth Third Center Garage nearby on Pike St

Building access notes

  • Inside the Kenton County Courthouse — historic building in downtown Covington
  • Security screening required at entrance — allow extra time
  • Room 210 is on the second floor; elevator available
  • Assessment appeal window: January 1 – March 1 each year
  • Homestead and disabled veteran exemption applications accepted year-round

The PVA does NOT handle payments. For tax bill payments, go to the Sheriff's Office at Room 102 (same building) or Independence location.

Kenton County Sheriff — Covington Location

Tax Payments (Location 1 of 2)

Address:

303 Court St, Room 102
Covington, KY 41011

Phone: (859) 292-1800

Tax Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Tax Season: October 1 – December 31 only

Payment methods — Covington

  • Cash, personal check, money order
  • Credit/debit card (convenience fee applies)
  • Drop box at courthouse entrance (check/money order only — no cash)
  • Note: courthouse security screening at entrance — budget extra time

Kenton County Sheriff — Independence Location

Tax Payments (Location 2 of 2) — Suburban Option

Address:

5272 Madison Pike
Independence, KY 41051

Phone: (859) 292-1800 (same line)

Tax Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Tax Season: October 1 – December 31 only

Why use Independence?

  • Closer for residents of Independence, Taylor Mill, Villa Hills, and southern Kenton County
  • Free parking lot — no courthouse security screening
  • Same payment methods as Covington
  • Both locations accept payment for any Kenton County property regardless of where in the county it's located

How to Pay Your Kenton County Property Tax

1

Receive or look up your bill

Bills are mailed in late September or early October. If you haven't received one by mid-October, call (859) 292-1800. You can also search for your property on the Kenton County PVA website using your address or parcel number to get your assessed value and estimate your bill amount.

2

Lock in the 2% discount by November 1

Pay by November 1 and Kenton County takes 2% off your total. On a $2,800 bill, that's $56 back — free money for paying a few weeks early. The online portal and in-person windows both honor the discount automatically before the deadline.

3

Pick your payment method

Online (eCheck — free): Visit the Kenton County Sheriff's website, select "Pay Property Taxes," enter your parcel number. Bank account payment is free; card payments carry a fee.

In person: Covington (Room 102, Courthouse — plan for security) or Independence (5272 Madison Pike — free parking, no screening). Both open Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:00 PM during tax season.

By mail: Check or money order to "Kenton County Sheriff," either office address. Postmark by December 31 counts.

4

Confirm and save your receipt

Online payments generate a confirmation number — screenshot it. In-person payments produce a paper receipt. If your mortgage servicer pays from escrow, verify on your annual escrow statement that it was actually paid before December 31.

Kenton County Exemptions

Homestead Exemption (65+ and Disabled Homeowners)

Reduces your assessed value by $46,350 if you are 65+ as of January 1, or totally disabled, and the property is your primary residence.

Example: Home assessed at $280,000 → taxed on $233,650. At a $1.05 combined rate, saves approximately $488 per year.

To apply at the Kenton County PVA:

  1. Visit 303 Court St, Room 210, Covington — Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
  2. Bring government-issued photo ID confirming your age (or disability documentation)
  3. Complete the one-page application on-site — it takes about 10 minutes
  4. Exemption is permanent once approved — no annual renewal required

100% Disabled Veteran Exemption

Veterans with a 100% service-connected VA disability rating are fully exempt from Kentucky property tax on their primary residence. Apply at the Kenton County PVA with your VA disability rating letter. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans may also qualify — confirm eligibility directly with the PVA.

Missed the Deadline? Delinquent Taxes in Kenton County

January 1
10% penalty automatically added. Sheriff's Office stops accepting property tax payments. Payments mailed to the Sheriff after this date will be returned.
January – March
Unpaid taxes transfer to the Kenton County Clerk's Office (303 Court St, Room 102). A Certificate of Delinquency is issued with an additional 10% clerk's fee on top of the penalty.
Spring
Certificates of Delinquency may be purchased by third-party investors who then collect with up to 18% annual interest. You must pay the investor, not the county, once a certificate is sold.
Years 2+
Property becomes eligible for an in rem tax sale. The county can obtain a judgment and the property can ultimately be sold. Contact the County Clerk immediately if you are more than one year behind.

Kenton County Clerk (delinquent taxes): 303 Court St, Room 103, Covington KY 41011 — (859) 292-1856

Kenton County Property Tax FAQ

I live in Erlanger. Do I pay a separate Erlanger city property tax?

Yes. The City of Erlanger levies its own separate property tax billed independently from Kenton County. Erlanger's rate is approximately $0.33 per $100 of assessed value. You'll receive separate bills — one from the Kenton County Sheriff for county/state taxes, and one from the City of Erlanger for city taxes. Contact the City of Erlanger Finance Department at (859) 727-2525 for city tax questions. Other Kenton County cities (Covington, Florence, Independence, etc.) similarly levy their own city taxes.

Which payment location is better — Covington or Independence?

It entirely depends on where you live. If you're in Covington, Edgewood, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright, or Villa Hills, Covington's courthouse is probably more convenient — but budget extra time for the security screening at the courthouse entrance. If you're in Independence, Taylor Mill, Crescent Springs, or the southern parts of Kenton County, the Independence location at 5272 Madison Pike has free parking and no security screening. Both locations process payments identically and accept the same methods.

The Kenton County PVA reassessed my home significantly higher. What can I do?

You can appeal between January 1 and March 1. First, try an informal conference with the PVA assessor — many assessments are adjusted at this stage without a formal hearing. Bring documentation: a recent appraisal (ideally within 12 months), printed comparable sales from your neighborhood (use Zillow, Redfin, or the county's own sales data), or documentation of condition issues that would reduce market value. If the informal conference doesn't resolve it, you can escalate to a formal Kenton County Board of Assessment Appeals hearing. No attorney is required, but a tax consultant can help for higher-value properties.

Can I pay my Kenton County property tax with a personal check?

Yes — personal checks are accepted at both in-person locations and by mail. Make the check payable to "Kenton County Sheriff." For mailed payments, use the address of either office location and ensure your envelope is postmarked by December 31 (for face-value payment) or November 1 (for the 2% discount). If paying close to the deadline, consider certified mail so you have proof of the postmark date.

I just turned 65. When can I apply for the homestead exemption?

You can apply at the Kenton County PVA as soon as you turn 65 — there is no specific application deadline, but apply before December 31 to have it reflected on the following year's assessment. The exemption applies for the tax year in which you turn 65, so if you turn 65 in July 2025, you're eligible for the 2025 tax year (billed in fall 2025). Bring a government-issued ID that shows your birthdate to the PVA at 303 Court St, Room 210.