And if that happens to be you, you’ll need to know the basics of how property taxes work: what you can expect to pay, when to pay, and how. Below is a guide to property taxes in Alameda County, from home and auto insurance comparison shopping app

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Property tax 101

Not a tax expert? Don’t sweat it, most people aren’t! If you’re a first-time payer of property taxes, here are the basics:

Property taxes finance public goods, works, and services like libraries, fire stations, law enforcement, and education

The exact rate of what you pay is determined by your local government, more specifically by a tax assessor, who looks at things like the local tax rate and market

Property taxes primarily apply to land, buildings, and homes

Property taxes are not a fixed thing—they can fluctuate based on your county’s budget and other external economic factors

The short answer? Your local government needs money, and property taxes are one way they collect it from those who have settled in a community.

MORE: How to get a hybrid or electric car tax credit

What is the property tax rate in Alameda County?

The average property tax rate in Alameda County sits at .77%, just a touch above the California statewide average of .74%, but comfortably under the national average of 1.07%.

You may be wondering—.77% of what, exactly? The percentage refers to the assessed value of your home. So, if your home is valued at $100,000 and your property tax is 1%, you would owe $1,000 in taxes.

In Alameda County, homeowners end up paying an average of $3,993 per year in property taxes.

How Alameda County property taxes are determined

Alameda County comprises 14 different cities, with some of the most desirable suburban properties in California’s Bay Area.

Property taxes in Alameda County are determined by the

Assessor's Office

, under California’s

Proposition 13

, which requires that property taxes do not exceed 1% of their full cash value and limits increases to 2% or at the same rate of inflation—whichever is lower.

The Assessor’s office works with the county auditor to calculate the exact tax rates, and then the Treasurer the actual bills and collects the tax money.

One of the perks of being near a tech industry hub, Alameda County even has a handy

app

you can use to estimate your exact property tax rate, available online and on the Apple and Android app stores.

What do Alameda County property taxes pay for?

Property taxes in Alameda County finance a wide array of public goods that benefit the community, like:

Museums

Transit systems

Public libraries

Public housing

Sewer systems

Public health

Public schools

Roads and highways

If you want to be kept up-to-date on all things property tax-related in Alameda County, the county Publican (a fancy word for tax collector) maintains a

blog

with important updates on where your tax dollars are going and news about the collection process.

How to pay property taxes in Alameda County

Property taxes in Alameda County are payable in two installments. The first installment must be paid between November 1 and December 10, and the second is due between February 1 and April 10. If any of these days happen to fall on a holiday or weekend, payments must be made the next business day.

There can be some expectations made for active military members and those who may have fallen behind on their property taxes in previous years. If that happens to be you, you can

apply

for a different payment schedule.

There are a couple of ways to pay:

Online

: via echeck or credit card, but credit card payments will incur a 2.5% fee.

By mail: Make your check payable to Treasurer-Tax Collector, Alameda County, and mail it to Alameda County Treasurer & Tax Collector, 1221 Oak Street, Room 131, Oakland, CA 94612

By phone: Call 510-272-6800 to pay by phone, but know that this will also add a 2.5% fee

In-person: Head on down to the 1221 Oak Street address from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. weekdays to pay in person via check, cashier’s check, or money order

How to save money on homeowners and car insurance in California

California is home to some of the priciest zip codes in the nation, making it more important for Californians to find savings when and where they can—like on their home and auto insurance policies.

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When are property taxes due in Alameda County?

Alameda County property taxes are due in two payment windows: November 1–December 10 and February 1–April 10.

Are property taxes in Alameda County high?

Property taxes in Alameda County typically shake out to $3,993 a year, which is right on par with what most other Californians pay.

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