State of CA Property Taxes: Pay, Lookup & Calculate Online
California property tax is county-based, so the right place to pay depends on where the property is located. Use the county tax collector for bills and payments, the county assessor for value and exemptions, and the county appeals board route if you disagree with assessed value. This guide gives the statewide rules, deadlines, calculator, and official task links in one scan-first page.
What you probably need to do first
California property tax is local. The state publishes rules and forms, but your county handles the actual bill, payment, value record, refunds, delinquencies and most exemptions.
Fast action board
- 1Need to pay? Go to your county tax collector, not a statewide payment page. Use BOE’s county contact list if you do not know the official county site.
- 2Need assessed value or parcel details? Use the county assessor. The assessor handles values, ownership records, exemptions and exclusions.
- 3Need tax rate or bill math? Check the county auditor-controller or tax bill detail. Rates can include school, city, bonds and direct assessments.
- 4Need to dispute value? Start with the assessor, then file an assessment appeal with the county clerk/appeals board if needed.
- 5New owner confused by extra bills? Supplemental tax bills can arrive after a purchase or new construction and are separate from the annual bill.
Official task links
Assessor values
Ownership, parcel record, assessed value, exemptions, exclusions.
Auditor computes
Tax rate, bill math, levies, bonds and local charges.
Tax collector bills
Mails bills, collects payments, handles current and delinquent taxes.
You save proof
Receipt, APN, tax year, installment, payment date and confirmation.
How to look up California property tax by county
There is no single California statewide property-tax lookup for all county bills. Start with the county where the property is located.
1
Find the official county office
Use BOE’s official 58-county contact listing.
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Open the BOE county contacts page. Choose your county, then use the Tax Collector for bills/payments or the Assessor for value/exemption questions.
2
Search by APN first
Assessor’s Parcel Number is usually the cleanest search.
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Use the APN from your tax bill, deed, escrow paperwork, county assessor record or property profile. If you search by address, remove apartment details, punctuation and extra words if the portal shows no result.
3
Confirm county, tax year and installment
California counties can show annual, supplemental and delinquent bills separately.
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Before paying, confirm county, APN, situs address, owner/taxpayer, tax year, installment, amount due, penalties, special assessments, exemptions and payment status.
4
Use the right office if something looks wrong
Payment and value problems go to different county offices.
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If assessed value, ownership, exemption or exclusion looks wrong, contact the county assessor. If payment, delinquency, refund, duplicate bill or tax bill copy is the issue, contact the county tax collector.
| Search / Question | Best Office | What To Have Ready |
|---|---|---|
| Pay current tax bill | County Tax Collector | APN, tax year, installment, bill number, payment method |
| Get bill copy or receipt | County Tax Collector | APN, owner name, property address, payment date |
| Assessed value looks high | County Assessor | Recent sales, condition issues, photos, assessment notice |
| Tax rate / bill calculation | County Auditor-Controller | Tax rate area, parcel, bill detail, special assessments |
| Assessment appeal | County Clerk / Appeals Board | BOE-305-AH or county appeal form, evidence, deadline |
How to pay California property taxes online
California counties collect property taxes locally. Online payment options, e-check fees, card fees, partial payments and postmark rules vary by county.
Online payment
Use the official county tax collector portal. Confirm APN, year, installment and payment fee before submitting.
Mail payment
Use the remittance coupon and county address on the bill. Keep postmark proof and check image.
Mortgage escrow
Your lender may pay from impound/escrow. Verify county posting before assuming it was paid.
1
Open your county tax collector page
Use county source first, not a sponsored bill-pay page.
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Use the BOE county contacts list to reach your county tax collector. Search the tax collector site for property tax payment, secured tax bill, tax bill lookup or pay property tax.
2
Choose the right bill type
Annual secured, supplemental and unsecured bills are different.
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Annual secured bills are the normal real estate property tax bills. Supplemental bills are issued after ownership changes or new construction. Unsecured bills can apply to personal property, business property or other non-secured items.
3
Pay the correct installment
First and second installments have different due/delinquent dates.
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First installment: due November 1, delinquent after December 10. Second installment: due February 1, delinquent after April 10. Some counties allow both installments to be paid together.
4
Save payment proof immediately
Important for escrow, sale, refinance and late-payment disputes.
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Save confirmation number, receipt, APN, tax year, installment, amount, payment date, payment method and processing fee. Re-check county posting later if the deadline is close.
California property tax due dates that matter
These statewide dates are the ones most homeowners search for. County sites may add local posting, office-hour, online cutoff and holiday rules.
| Date | What It Means | Action |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Lien date for taxable property. | Ownership, occupancy, exemptions and value status often tie to this date. |
| January 2 | First day to file homeowners’ or disabled veterans’ exemption claim. | File with county assessor if newly eligible. |
| February 1 | Second installment secured taxes due. | Pay by April 10 to avoid delinquency. |
| February 15 | Timely deadline for homeowners’ or disabled veterans’ exemption claim. | File by this date for full current-year exemption. |
| April 10 | Second installment delinquent after 5 p.m. or close of business. | Pay earlier; online and mail timing matters. |
| July 2 | Regular assessment appeal filing period begins. | Prepare appeal evidence if value is wrong. |
| August 31 | Unsecured roll taxes delinquent after deadline. | Business/personal property taxpayers should not ignore this. |
| September 15 or November 30 | Regular assessment appeal deadline depending on county notice rules. | Confirm your county appeal deadline. |
| November 1 | First installment secured taxes due. | Pay first installment or both installments if your county allows. |
| December 10 | First installment delinquent after 5 p.m. or close of business. | Pay before cutoff; save proof. |
California property tax calculator: quick estimate
This estimate helps users understand the bill. The county bill is final because bonds, special assessments, direct charges, parcel fees, exemptions and supplemental assessments can change the amount.
Estimate annual CA property tax
Simple planning formula: assessed value × general rate + local bonds/assessments − exemptions.
Prop 13 base rule
General property tax is commonly estimated at 1% of taxable value, plus voter-approved bonded indebtedness and local charges.
Assessment growth cap
In most cases, the assessed value increase is limited to 2% per year unless there is a change in ownership or new construction.
Not the same as purchase price forever
Buying, inheriting, transferring, building or adding improvements can create reassessment or supplemental bills.
Supplemental bills can surprise buyers
They are separate from regular annual bills and may arrive after escrow closes.
California property tax exemptions, credits and relief users ask about
Use the county assessor for most exemption claims. The state publishes rules and forms, but counties administer local assessment and exemption records.
Homeowners’ Exemption
Reduces taxable value by $7,000 for a qualifying owner-occupied principal residence. File BOE-266 with the county assessor.
Disabled Veterans’ Exemption
Can provide larger relief for qualifying disabled veterans or unmarried surviving spouses. Eligibility must be confirmed through official rules and county filing.
Property Tax Postponement
State Controller program may help eligible seniors, blind or disabled homeowners postpone current-year property taxes. Application timing matters.
Prop 19 base-year transfer
Some eligible homeowners age 55+, severely disabled or disaster victims may transfer base-year value to a replacement primary residence.
Disaster relief
Owners affected by fire or other disasters may have property-tax relief routes. Start with county assessor and BOE disaster guidance.
Business property statement
Business personal property may require annual filing with the county assessor. Missing required statements can create penalties.
1
Check if you already have the Homeowners’ Exemption
Do this before assuming your tax bill is fully optimized.
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Look at your county tax bill or assessor record. If the exemption is missing and this is your principal residence, use the BOE Homeowners’ Exemption page and file with your county assessor.
2
File by February 15 for full current-year benefit
First-time claimants can file after becoming eligible.
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BOE says a first-time claimant may file anytime after the property or claimant becomes eligible, but no later than February 15 to receive the full exemption for that year.
3
Tell the assessor if you are no longer eligible
Do not keep an exemption after the property stops qualifying.
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If title changes, the home is no longer your principal residence, or the property becomes ineligible, notify the assessor. BOE says December 10 is the last day to terminate the Homeowners’ Exemption without penalty.
California supplemental property tax bills: why new owners get extra bills
A supplemental bill is one of the biggest California buyer surprises. It is not a duplicate of the regular annual secured tax bill.
What triggers it?
Change in ownership or completed new construction can trigger reassessment and a supplemental bill.
What period does it cover?
BOE explains the proration generally runs from the first day of the month after the event through the end of the fiscal year.
Why escrow may not cover it
Supplemental bills can be mailed after closing. Do not assume your lender, title company or seller paid it.
What to do
Compare purchase date, old assessed value, new assessed value, fiscal year and any escrow credits. Call the county tax collector for payment timing.
What to do if your California property tax bill looks too high
Do not start by arguing with the tax collector. First identify whether the issue is value, tax rate, exemption, supplemental reassessment, escrow or payment posting.
| Problem | Call First | What To Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Assessed value too high | County Assessor | Comparable sales, condition issues, photos, value notice, APN |
| Market value dropped | County Assessor / appeal board | Evidence that January 1 market value is below factored base-year value |
| Exemption missing | County Assessor | Residency proof, ownership, exemption form, claim deadline |
| Payment not posted | County Tax Collector | Receipt, confirmation, check image, payment date, APN |
| Mortgage escrow problem | Mortgage servicer + Tax Collector | Escrow statement, servicer disbursement, county balance |
| Supplemental bill confusion | County Tax Collector / Assessor | Closing date, deed, escrow statement, new assessed value |
1
Ask the assessor for an informal review first
Some errors can be fixed before formal appeal.
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Use the county assessor contact from the BOE county contacts list. Provide APN, property address, notice year and the specific reason value appears wrong.
2
File appeal before the county deadline
Deadlines are commonly September 15 or November 30.
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BOE explains the regular appeal period starts July 2 and ends September 15 in counties that provide assessed-value notices by August 1; otherwise it may run through November 30. Confirm your county deadline.
3
Do not miss the tax payment deadline
Appeal and payment are separate tracks.
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An assessment appeal does not automatically stop tax collection. Ask the county whether you must pay by the deadline and later receive refund/adjustment if the appeal succeeds.
Find your California county property tax office
Use the map to orient yourself, then use BOE’s official county contact listing to get the correct assessor or tax collector. California has 58 counties, and payment links are county-specific.
California county tax collector map
Search by county name plus “tax collector property tax” or use the official BOE contact directory below. Verify the URL before entering bank or card details.
Official California property tax resources
Use these links when you are ready to perform an official action or confirm state/county rules.
California property tax FAQs
Short answers for homeowners, buyers, landlords, heirs, escrow users and anyone trying to pay or understand a California property tax bill.
QWhere do I pay California property taxes?▾
Pay through the county tax collector where the property is located. California does not have one statewide property tax payment portal for every county.
QHow do I find my California property tax bill?▾
Use your county tax collector’s bill lookup. Search by APN first, then property address or owner name if needed. Confirm the tax year and installment before paying.
QWhat are the California property tax due dates?▾
First secured installment is due November 1 and delinquent after December 10. Second installment is due February 1 and delinquent after April 10.
QWhat is the California property tax rate?▾
Prop 13 generally limits the base rate to 1% of taxable value, plus voter-approved bonded indebtedness and local direct assessments or charges.
QHow do I estimate my California property tax?▾
Start with assessed value × 1%, then add voter-approved bonds, direct assessments, special charges and fees. Subtract eligible exemptions where applicable. The county bill is final.
QWho do I call if my assessed value is wrong?▾
Call the county assessor. The assessor handles value, ownership, exemptions and exclusions. The tax collector handles payment and delinquency questions.
QWhat is the Homeowners’ Exemption?▾
It is a $7,000 reduction in taxable value for a qualifying owner-occupied principal residence. File with the county assessor, preferably by February 15 for the full current-year benefit.
QWhy did I get a supplemental tax bill?▾
Supplemental bills can be issued after a change in ownership or completed new construction. They are separate from the regular annual secured bill.
QCan I appeal my California property assessment?▾
Yes. File with the county clerk of the board or assessment appeals board. Regular appeal filing generally starts July 2 and ends September 15 or November 30, depending on county notice rules.
QIs PropertyTaxUSA.org official?▾
No. PropertyTaxUSA.org is an independent guide. Always verify payment links, bills, deadlines, exemptions, penalties and appeal rules with official county and California government sources.
Bottom line
For State of CA property taxes, think: county assessor → auditor-controller → tax collector. The assessor handles value and exemptions, the auditor computes the tax, and the tax collector bills and collects payment. Use official county portals for payment, BOE/California pages for statewide rules, and watch December 10 and April 10 carefully.
Independent guide notice: PropertyTaxUSA.org is not a California county tax collector, county assessor, BOE, Tax Service Center, State Controller, payment processor or legal adviser. Official government sources control balances, due dates, penalties, exemptions, appeals and payment status.