Find Madison Parish Property Tax Records

Madison Parish property tax records are kept by the Assessor's Office in Tallulah, a small rural parish in northeast Louisiana along the Mississippi River. The office manages about 5,000 parcels that include real estate, business personal property, and oil and gas holdings. Whether you need to check your assessed value, look up a parcel, or find tax roll data, Madison Parish property tax records can be accessed through the assessor or the sheriff's office, which serves as the tax collector for the parish.

Madison Parish Assessor's Office

The Madison Parish Assessor's Office is the main source for property tax records in the parish. Jimmy P. Higginbotham serves as the assessor. His office handles the discovery, listing, and valuation of all property in Madison Parish for ad valorem tax purposes. This covers real estate, business movable property, and oil and gas property and equipment. The office sits in the parish courthouse on North Cedar Street in Tallulah.

Staff at the assessor's office can help you find property tax records, check assessed values, and answer questions about your tax bill. Walk-ins are welcome during regular hours. You can also call to ask about a specific parcel or get help with the homestead exemption. The office keeps records on roughly 5,000 parcels across Madison Parish.

The Madison Parish Assessor page on the parish website shows the assessor's role and contact details for property tax record inquiries.

This page lists the office address, phone number, and a summary of the assessor's duties in Madison Parish.

Note: Madison Parish has limited online property search tools, so calling the office is often the fastest way to get tax record details.

How to Search Madison Parish Tax Records

Searching for property tax records in Madison Parish works best through direct contact with the assessor's office. Unlike larger parishes that have full online portals, Madison Parish has a more limited web presence. You can still get all the same information. It just takes a phone call or a visit. The staff can pull up any parcel by owner name, address, or parcel number. Bring your ID if you go in person, and have whatever details you can about the property you want to look up.

The Louisiana Assessors' Association website also lists contact details for the Madison Parish Assessor and other parish offices across the state. This can be a good starting point if you need to search tax records in more than one parish.

You can also try the NETR Online portal for Madison Parish for links to available property records and tax data. Third-party sites like this often pull from public sources and can help you find basic parcel data without visiting the courthouse.

Madison Parish Tax Collection

The Madison Parish Sheriff's Office acts as the ex-officio tax collector. Sheriff Steven R. Rushing oversees tax collection for the parish. Once the assessor sets values and the tax roll is certified, the sheriff's office sends out tax bills and collects payments. Property taxes in Madison Parish are due by December 31 each year. If taxes go unpaid, the property can be put up for tax sale.

To pay your property taxes or check your balance, call the sheriff's office at (318) 574-8300. There is no state property tax in Louisiana. All property taxes are levied at the local level by the parish and by special taxing districts such as school boards, fire districts, and levee boards. Madison Parish millage rates vary depending on which taxing districts cover your property.

Note: Late payments may result in interest and penalties, so check your due date well before the end of the year.

Property Tax Assessments in Madison Parish

Every property in Madison Parish gets assessed based on its fair market value. Under La. R.S. 47:2321, fair market value is the price a willing buyer and a willing seller would agree on under normal conditions. The assessor does not set the tax rate. The assessor sets the value. Tax rates come from the various millage levies approved by voters and taxing bodies in Madison Parish.

Assessment ratios in Louisiana are set by the state constitution. Land and residential improvements are assessed at 10% of fair market value, per La. Const. Art. VII §18. Commercial property is assessed at 15%. So a home worth $100,000 in Madison Parish would have an assessed value of $10,000. The tax you owe depends on multiplying that assessed value by the combined millage rate for your area.

All property in Louisiana must be reappraised at least every four years under La. R.S. 47:2331. The Louisiana Tax Commission sets the cycle for each parish. Between reappraisals, the assessor can still adjust values if a property changes, such as through new construction or damage. The assessment date each year is January 1, as required by La. R.S. 47:1951.

Madison Parish Homestead Exemption

If you own and live in your home in Madison Parish, you likely qualify for the homestead exemption. Under La. R.S. 47:1703, the exemption removes $7,500 from your assessed value. That equals $75,000 of market value. For many homes in Madison Parish, this exemption can wipe out most or all of the taxable value.

To apply, visit the assessor's office at the courthouse in Tallulah. You will need proof of ownership and proof that the property is your primary home. The exemption must be filed in person. It does not renew automatically if you buy a new home or move. Seniors aged 65 and older may also qualify for a special assessment level freeze under La. R.S. 47:1703, which locks in the assessed value so it does not go up in future years. Income limits apply for this freeze.

Appealing Your Madison Parish Assessment

If you think your property is assessed too high, you have the right to appeal. The process starts at the assessor's office. Under La. R.S. 47:1992, the parish Board of Review hears appeals during a 15-day window after the assessment rolls are made public. You fill out an appeal form and present your case to the board.

If the Board of Review does not rule in your favor, you can take your appeal to the Louisiana Tax Commission. You have 10 business days after the board's written decision to file with the commission. The commission holds hearings and issues a final ruling. After that, you can seek judicial review within 30 days if you still disagree. The process has strict deadlines, so act fast.

Historical Tax Records for Madison Parish

Older property tax records for Madison Parish may be available through the Louisiana State Land Office document database. This system holds tax adjudication records from 1880 to 1973. You can search by parish, tax year, and other details. Document images can be downloaded in .tif format at no charge.

For records from 1974 to the present, you need to go through the Madison Parish Assessor's Office or the Clerk of Court at 100 N. Cedar Street in Tallulah. The clerk's phone number is (318) 574-2585. These offices maintain the current and recent tax rolls, assessment lists, and property transfer records that tie into the property tax system.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Madison Parish. If you own property near the parish line, check your parcel's location to make sure you contact the right assessor's office for tax records.