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    A.R.S. § 42-11103

    Property Pledged to Pay Off Government Bonds Is Tax-Exempt

    Verified May 17, 2026 • 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session

    A.R.S. § 42-11103 exempts property that has been pledged or set aside to pay government bonded indebtedness. The exemption follows the same procedural rules as the broader government property exemption.

    Title 42, PROPERTY TAX

    azleg.gov

    Scope note: RJP Estate Planning is not a law firm; legal services are provided by the licensed Arizona attorneys we partner with. RJP helps Arizona families with living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and probate avoidance. Property tax matters are outside the scope of RJP’s services, and this page explains Arizona law for educational purposes only.

    What This Statute Says

    A.R.S. § 42-11103 exempts property that has been pledged or set aside to pay government bonded indebtedness. The exemption follows the same procedural rules as the broader government property exemption.

    A. Public debts as evidenced by the bonds of this state, counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions are exempt from taxation.

    A.R.S. § 42-11103

    When a city or county issues bonds, it sometimes pledges specific revenue-producing property to back the debt. This statute keeps that property exempt for the duration of the pledge, so the bond holders' security is not eroded by tax liens.

    For private estate planning, the statute is rarely a direct concern. It matters when a decedent's estate includes claims against a municipal project or interests in bond-financed infrastructure.

    When This Statute Comes Into Play

    This statute typically becomes relevant in three situations. A property owner is reviewing an annual tax bill. An estate is being administered and the personal representative has to address ongoing property tax obligations. Or a charitable or nonprofit organization is claiming or maintaining an exemption. The statute is part of a larger framework in chapter 11 of title 42 and operates alongside the related sections cross-linked below.

    What This Means for Arizona Families

    Most families never think about Arizona property tax statutes until they are sitting at a closing table on an inherited home, reviewing an unexpected tax bill, or trying to claim an exemption for a surviving spouse. When that moment arrives, the rules in chapter 11 of title 42 are the framework you are working inside.

    If you are holding real property in a revocable living trust, the trust structure does not by itself remove the property from the tax rolls. The exemption has to come from a specific statute. Our FAQ on what to do with property you inherit in Arizona covers the immediate practical questions, and our FAQ on probate timelines covers how a contested or stalled administration can affect tax filings and exemptions.

    If you are administering an estate, the personal representative has a duty to keep property taxes current, to claim available exemptions where appropriate, and to maintain documentation in case the assessor reviews a claim later. Calendar the February exemption filing window each year for any property where a widow, widower, or disability exemption applies. Once the deadline passes, the saving for that year is usually lost.

    42-11103. Exemption for government bonded indebtedness A. Public debts as evidenced by the bonds of this state, counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions are exempt from taxation. B. Article 4 of this chapter does not apply to the exemption from taxation for public debts that are evidenced by bonds.

    This page provides general legal information about Arizona statutes and is not legal advice. For guidance on how this law applies to your situation, speak with a qualified attorney.

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