District of Columbia Property Tax Lookup, Payment and Rates Guide
A practical Washington, DC real property tax guide for homeowners, buyers, landlords and investors who need to search a tax bill, pay through MyTax.DC.gov, check Square-Suffix-Lot details, understand tax rates, apply for Homestead Deduction, review senior or disabled relief, appeal an assessment or search Recorder of Deeds records.
🔒 Official District of Columbia Property Tax Resources
How District of Columbia Property Tax Works
DC real property tax is handled mainly through the Office of Tax and Revenue. OTR manages real property assessments, tax bills, payments, relief programs and Recorder of Deeds land records.
Unlike many counties where the assessor, tax collector and recorder are separate elected offices, DC property owners often work through OTR and MyTax.DC.gov for several property-tax tasks. The important search key is often the property’s Square, Suffix and Lot, commonly called SSL.
| Need | Best Official Place | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Pay property tax | MyTax.DC.gov | Make real property payment by SSL or address. |
| Search property value | Real Property Tax Database Search | Find value, assessment roll and property information for DC parcels. |
| Check due dates | OTR payments and billing pages | Confirm March 31 and September 15 payment deadlines. |
| Apply Homestead or senior relief | MyTax.DC.gov / OTR relief page | Submit ASD-100 applications and related relief forms. |
| Search land records | Recorder of Deeds | View recorded document images and index information. |
How to Look Up DC Property Tax by Address or Square-Suffix-Lot
For payment account lookup, use MyTax.DC.gov. For property value, assessment roll and parcel details, use OTR’s Real Property Tax Database Search.
1
Start with MyTax.DC.gov for payment lookup
Best for real property payment and account balance
Open MyTax.DC.gov and select “Make a Real Property Payment” under the Real Property section. Search by Square, Suffix and Lot number or type the property address.
2
Use the OTR database for property value and assessment details
Best for parcel research and assessment roll information
The real property tax database gives online access to property value, assessment roll and other real property details for more than 200,000 DC parcels.
3
Confirm SSL, address and property class
DC rates depend on classification
Before paying or estimating taxes, confirm Square-Suffix-Lot, address, owner clue, assessment year, assessed value, property class and whether any homestead or senior/disabled relief is already applied.
4
Save SSL for future use
SSL is the cleanest DC property identifier
Address search can be messy in DC because of quadrant, unit, condo, abbreviation and street-name issues. Save the SSL from the official result and use it for future payment, relief and record tasks.
How to Pay DC Real Property Tax Online
DC real property taxes can be paid through MyTax.DC.gov by ACH/eCheck or credit card. ACH/eCheck payments are free on MyTax.DC.gov, while credit card payments have a processor convenience fee.
ACH/eCheck
OTR says ACH/eCheck payments are free of charge on MyTax.DC.gov.
Credit card
OTR accepts major cards, but the processor charges a non-refundable convenience fee.
1
Open MyTax.DC.gov and choose Real Property
No login is required for real property payment
On MyTax.DC.gov, under Real Property, click “Make a Real Property Payment.” Search by SSL or address and open the property result.
2
Select the right tax account and period
DC bills are semiannual
DC property owners receive real property tax bills twice a year. Confirm whether you are paying the first half or second half, and confirm the tax period before submitting payment.
3
Pay before same-day cutoff when needed
Payments before 5 pm EST are effective same day
OTR says online payments made before 5 pm EST are effective the same day they are authorized. Payments may not be scheduled for a later date.
4
Save the confirmation number
Your proof if payment posting is questioned
Save the submission confirmation number, SSL, address, tax account, payment amount, payment method and date. This is important for escrow, refinancing, sale, rental-property accounting and audit trail.
DC Real Property Tax Due Dates
District of Columbia real property tax bills are paid twice a year. The first half covers October 1 through March 31 and is due March 31. The second half covers April 1 through September 30 and is due September 15.
| Tax Half | Period Covered | Payment Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Half | October 1 – March 31 | March 31 |
| 2nd Half | April 1 – September 30 | September 15 |
District of Columbia Real Property Tax Rates and Calculator
DC real property is taxed based on classification. OTR explains that tax is computed by dividing assessed value by $100, then multiplying by the applicable rate for the property class.
| Class | Current Rate | Practical Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1A | $0.85 per $100 | Residential real property, including multifamily. |
| Class 1B | $0.85 per $100 first $2.558M; $1.00 per $100 above that | Residential property with no more than two dwelling units. |
| Class 2 | $1.65 / $1.77 / $1.89 per $100 tiers | Commercial and industrial property, including hotels and motels. |
| Class 3 | $5.00 per $100 | Vacant real property. |
| Class 4 | $10.00 per $100 | Blighted real property. |
Residential
Most owner-occupied homes fall into residential classes, but confirm classification on the official record.
Commercial
Commercial and industrial property uses Class 2 tiered rates based on assessed value.
Vacant / blighted
Vacant and blighted classifications carry much higher rates and should be checked quickly.
DC Property Tax Tips That Save Money, Time and Stress
These practical checks help Washington, DC property owners avoid missed deductions, wrong SSL payments, late penalties, assessment surprises and land-record mistakes.
Save your SSL
Square-Suffix-Lot is the cleanest DC property identifier. Keep it with your mortgage, insurance and tax files.
Use eCheck for free payment
OTR says ACH/eCheck payments are free on MyTax.DC.gov. Credit card payments carry a processor fee.
Check Homestead after closing
New buyers should not assume the seller’s benefit continues. Apply through MyTax.DC.gov if eligible.
Watch March 31 and September 15
DC bills are semiannual. Missing one half can create penalty, interest and tax-sale risk.
Vacant classification is expensive
Class 3 and 4 rates are much higher. Resolve DOB classification issues quickly if a property is wrongly marked vacant or blighted.
Use Recorder for deeds
Tax search is not a title search. Use Recorder of Deeds records for documents, liens and deed research.
DC Homestead Deduction, Assessment Cap, Senior and Disabled Tax Relief
DC offers several real property tax relief programs, credits and deductions. The biggest starting point for many owner-occupants is the Homestead Deduction. For TY 2026, OTR says the Homestead Deduction reduces assessed value by $91,950 before computing yearly tax liability.
Homestead Deduction
For qualifying owner-occupied principal residences with no more than five dwelling units including the owner’s unit.
Assessment cap
OTR explains that the assessment cap limits taxable assessment increase and appears as a credit on the bill.
Senior / disabled relief
Eligible senior or disabled owners may qualify for additional tax relief and senior assessment cap credit.
1
Apply through MyTax.DC.gov
No login required for the Homestead/Senior application path
OTR instructs eligible owners to apply online at MyTax.DC.gov. Under Real Property, choose View More Options, then submit the Homestead Deduction application including Senior Citizen/Disabled Tax Relief where applicable.
2
Understand half-year filing impact
Timing affects when benefit appears
If a properly completed and approved application is filed from October 1 to March 31, the property can receive the Homestead Deduction for the full tax year. If filed from April 1 to September 30, it can receive one-half of the benefit on the second-half bill.
3
Cancel benefit if no longer eligible
Avoid future penalties or adjustment problems
OTR form guidance says cancellation is due within 30 days of ineligibility for the deduction or tax relief. This matters if you move, rent the property, change domicile or ownership changes.
How to Appeal DC Real Property Assessment or Relief Decision
DC property owners may need different appeal paths depending on the issue: proposed assessed value, Homestead Deduction denial, senior/disabled relief denial, or other OTR decision.
Assessment too high
Use comparable sales, income/expense support for eligible commercial property, condition evidence and market proof.
Relief denied
OTR forms page lists online appeals for Homestead and Senior/Disabled Citizen Tax Relief denials.
Classification issue
Vacant or blighted classification questions may involve the DC Department of Buildings.
1
Read the notice or decision letter first
Appeal deadline depends on the notice type
Do not appeal blindly. Read the assessment notice, denial letter or classification notice and identify the exact issue, deadline, form and supporting documents needed.
2
Use MyTax.DC.gov for available online appeals
Homestead and senior/disabled appeals can be filed online
OTR’s forms page says Homestead Deduction and Senior/Disabled Citizen Tax Relief benefit appeal submissions are due within 45 days of the decision letter date issued by OTR.
3
Build evidence before submitting
Evidence beats general complaint
For value appeals, gather comparable sales, appraisals, income/expense data where relevant, property-condition photos, repair estimates and incorrect property-detail screenshots. For relief appeals, gather proof of domicile, occupancy, income, age or disability where required.
DC Property Records, Deeds, Liens and Recorder of Deeds Search
Tax records, assessment records and land records are different. A tax record shows payment and tax status. An assessment record shows value and classification. A Recorder of Deeds record shows official land and property documents.
Tax / assessment record
Useful for property value, assessed value, tax class, SSL, payment status and relief credits.
Recorded document
Useful for deeds, liens, mortgages, releases, covenants, easements and other land records.
1
Use Recorder of Deeds for land records
Official repository for DC land and property records
The Recorder of Deeds is part of OTR and keeps official records about land and property in Washington, DC. It also collects taxes and fees when property-related documents are filed.
2
Search online document images where available
Images and index information are available online
Recorder of Deeds document-image resources let users view document images and index information online from August 1921 to today. The public records link may route to a private system managed outside the DC government website.
DC Office of Tax and Revenue Address, Phone and Map
Most DC real property tax work routes through OTR, MyTax.DC.gov and Recorder of Deeds. Check official pages before visiting because many payments and applications can be completed online.
DC Office of Tax and Revenue
1101 4th Street SW, Suite 270 West, Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 727-4TAX (4829). TTY: 711.
Office of Tax and Revenue
Use for real property tax bills, payment, assessment, relief programs, forms, tax sale and general tax support.
Recorder of Deeds
Use for official land records, recorded document images, document services, transfer/recordation questions and land-record searches.
DC Homeowner and Buyer Property Tax Checklist
Use this checklist before paying, buying, refinancing, applying for Homestead Deduction, appealing, checking escrow or reviewing recorded documents.
| Check | Why It Matters | Official Place |
|---|---|---|
| SSL | Best identifier for DC property tax and land-record research. | MyTax.DC.gov / OTR database |
| Assessed value | Used to calculate real property tax before credits and deductions. | Real Property Tax Database |
| Property class | Tax rates differ between residential, commercial, vacant and blighted property. | OTR rate page / property record |
| Homestead status | Can reduce taxable assessed value and trigger cap credit eligibility. | MyTax.DC.gov / OTR relief page |
| Due date | DC bills are due March 31 and September 15 unless delayed bill rules apply. | OTR due date page |
| Recorded documents | Needed for deed, lien, mortgage and title-related research. | Recorder of Deeds |
Official District of Columbia Property Tax Links to Save
Use these official DC resources for property tax lookup, online payment, rates, due dates, relief applications, forms, appeals and land records.
Payment and billing
Records and tax sale
District of Columbia Property Tax Lookup, Pay and Rates FAQ
Quick answers for the most common Washington, DC real property tax searches.
Where do I pay DC property tax online?▾
Use MyTax.DC.gov. Under Real Property, choose Make a Real Property Payment, then search by Square, Suffix and Lot or by property address.
How do I look up DC property tax by address?▾
Use MyTax.DC.gov for payment lookup or OTR’s Real Property Tax Database Search for property value, assessment roll and parcel details. Address or SSL search may be available depending on the tool.
When are DC property taxes due?▾
DC real property tax bills are due twice a year. The first half is due March 31 and the second half is due September 15, unless delayed bill rules apply.
What is the DC residential property tax rate?▾
Current Class 1A residential real property is taxed at $0.85 per $100 of assessed value. Class 1B residential property with no more than two dwelling units uses a tiered rate.
How do I calculate DC property tax?▾
Divide assessed value by 100, then multiply by the applicable rate for the property class. Then account for Homestead Deduction, senior/disabled relief, trash credits and other credits where applicable.
What is the DC Homestead Deduction for TY 2026?▾
For tax year 2026, OTR says the Homestead Deduction reduces assessed value by $91,950 before computing yearly tax liability, if the property qualifies.
Where do I file DC Homestead Deduction?▾
Apply online at MyTax.DC.gov. Under Real Property, choose View More Options and submit the Homestead Deduction application, including senior or disabled relief where applicable.
Where do I search DC deeds and liens?▾
Use the DC Recorder of Deeds resources. The Recorder of Deeds keeps official records about land and property in Washington, DC, including document images and index information.
Is PropertyTaxUSA.org an official DC government website?▾
No. PropertyTaxUSA.org is an independent informational guide. Always use official DC Office of Tax and Revenue, MyTax.DC.gov and Recorder of Deeds resources for payments, relief applications, appeals and records.