No matter where you live, property tax is a necessary—though often unwelcome—part of homeownership. Tax rates can vary depending on which area of the county you live in, and it may be difficult to understand all the ins and outs of how property tax works.

That’s why home and

auto insurance

comparison app

Jerry

has compiled everything you need to know about property tax in Kings County. Read on to learn about the basics of property tax, who sets the tax rates, what your taxes pay for, and everything else you may need to know:

Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds

No spam · No long forms · No fees

Find insurance savings

Property taxes 101

Taxes, as Benjamin Franklin once stated, are one of life’s certainties. Most local governments impose a property tax on homes, buildings, and land that is used to pay for the public services the government provides.

If you’ve never paid property taxes before, here’s how it works:

Each government hires a local tax assessor who assigns a fair market value to homes in the area.

The government then determines its annual budget for the year to cover the costs of the public services it provides—for example, police and fire departments, schools, and road maintenance.

To help pay for the budget, the local government determines a property tax rate for the area.

The assessed value of your home multiplied by the property tax rate equals your annual property tax.

It is important to note that the property tax rate can vary year to year due to market conditions and the needs of the local budget. Each community within Kings County also has different needs and priorities, so you may pay a different property tax rate than other homeowners in the county.

MORE: Is car insurance tax deductible?

What is the property tax rate in Kings County?

The average annual property tax rate of Kings County is 0.61%, which is lower than the California state average of 0.74%. This means that the typical homeowner can expect to pay around $1,353 in property taxes each year.

Click here

if you want to see a more detailed breakdown of tax rates in Kings County.

How Kings County property taxes are determined

There are multiple factors that determine the tax rate in Kings County.

First are the budgetary needs of the local government—if they need additional funds to build a new school, for example, they may decide to raise property taxes to help pay for it.

Also important is the total value of the property in each taxing district, as determined by the tax assessor. The property tax rate may fluctuate if the number of homes in the area changes.

If you live in a special district—for example, a fire-prone district—you may have a higher tax rate than others to pay for things like a dedicated forest fire-fighting department.

All these factors are considered by the county auditor, who determines the tax rate for each district.

What do Kings County property taxes pay for?

The property taxes you pay go towards the public services that your local government provides to its citizens. This includes:

K-12 schools and some community higher education

Police department

Fire and EMS departments

Public spaces like libraries and parks

Health and safety services

Road and transportation maintenance

Water and sewer systems

Public housing

The best way to learn more about how your community spends its money is to attend public meetings of your local, county, and state governments.

MORE:

Car loans in California 2022

How to pay property taxes in Kings County

Kings County mails secured tax bills on or about November 1st of each year. Property taxes are due on a bi-annual basis on April 10th and December 10th.

If you do not receive your tax bill in the mail by November 10th, contact the County Tax Collector’s Office at (559) 852-2479. You still must pay your property tax even if you do not receive your bill.

Taxpayers in King County have ways to conveniently pay their property tax bill. The options are:

Online

: You can use an e-check, direct deposit, or a credit or debit card to pay through an online portal—just be aware that card payments will be subject to a convenience fee.

By phone: Call the tax collector’s office at (877) 729-7246—once again, there may be fees depending upon your source of payment.

By mail: Make your check payable to the Kings County Tax Collector and send it to: Tax Collector, 1400 W Lacey Blvd., Hanford, CA 93230.

Third-party: If you wish to pay your property tax bill in monthly installments, visit

Easy Smart Pay

to view your options.

MORE:

California electric vehicle incentives

How to save money on homeowners and car insurance in California

If you want to save money on car insurance, the

Jerry

app is a good place to start. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry can even help you cancel your old policy.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.

This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.

“Insurance companies originally charged me $189 while driving my BMW 300 miles per year. Thanks to
Jerry
, I only pay $56! I’m so happy.” —Ray T.

How do I get my California property tax statement?

Your property tax statement will be mailed to you on or around November 1, just before your first property tax payment is due. Be sure to reach out to your tax office if you do not receive your bill.

Are property taxes high in Kings County

Property taxes in Kings County average about $1,353 a year, which is well below the state average in California.

Save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto insurance

Bundle your home and auto insurance with Jerry and save!

Try Jerry