Pierce County Property Tax
Pierce County property taxes have an average rate of 1.02% of a home’s assessed value, which is a little higher than Washington’s state average.
Written by Melanie Mergen
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
With an average tax rate of 1.02%, Pierce County, Washington, property owners pay an average of $2,759 a year in property taxes. That’s a little higher than the state average rate of 0.92%.
As nice as it would be to avoid them, property taxes are one of homeownership’s inevitable expenses. They do important work, though: they fund many of the essential services a community relies on, including public schools, libraries, roads, and first responders.
Still, trying to understand property taxes can be confusing, especially since they vary so much from place to place and from one year to the next.
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Property tax 101
If you’re unfamiliar with property taxes, here’s what to know about them: essentially, they’re collected by local governments to support essential area services and fund special projects.
How much you’ll owe in property taxes will depend on several different factors, including where you live, your home’s market value, and your local established tax rate. How much you’ll owe each year for property taxes will often fluctuate due to changes in market conditions and changes to your district’s tax rates.
MORE: Is car insurance tax deductible?
What is the property tax rate in Pierce County?
Pierce County’s average tax rate is about 1.02% of a home’s assessed value, which is a little more than the Washington state average of 0.92%. On average, in Pierce County, Washington, property owners pay an average of $2,759 a year in property taxes.
How Pierce County property taxes are determined
Property across Pierce County is usually assessed every six years, although there are exceptions to this, like when new construction has occurred.
The Pierce County assessor-treasurer will determine your home’s assessed value based on its true market value, which is the price a hypothetical buyer would be willing to pay for your home. Between assessment periods, values will be updated based on data from local real estate sales.
How much you’ll owe in property taxes will be calculated by multiplying your property’s assessed value by the combined tax rate for the area where you live. A property’s location typically will fall under multiple taxing districts, like your county, city, and school districts.
If you disagree with your property’s assessed value, you can appeal to the Board of Equalization by July 1 of the assessment year or within 60 days of mailing a value change notice, whichever date is later. Appeal forms can be obtained from the Pierce County Board of Equalization by calling 253-798-7415.
What do Pierce County property taxes pay for?
Pierce County property taxes help fund the following local resources:
- Roads and highways
- Libraries
- Law enforcement
- Fire protection
- Medical services
- Public health
- Public libraries
- K-12 and community education
- Port of Tacoma
- Sound Transit
- Flood control
- Conservation
- Surface water management
- Other city and county budgeted items
MORE: How to deduct a car accident from your taxes
How to pay property taxes in Pierce County
Property tax payments are due in two installments throughout the year in Pierce County: one by May 2, and one by October 31.
Here are several ways you can go about paying your property taxes in Pierce County:
- Online: You can pay your property taxes online with an e-check or credit or debit card. Accepted cards include Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Fees apply to these payments. Delinquent payments aren’t accepted online, however; these must be submitted by mail or in person.
- By mail: Checks should be made payable to Pierce County and should include either the property tax remittance stub or the parcel number. Payments can be mailed to Pierce County Finance, P.O. Box 11621, Tacoma, WA 98411-6621
- In person: You can bring your property tax payment with the tax remittance stub to the Pierce County assessor-treasurer’s office, which is located at 2401 South 35th Street in Tacoma.
- Through your mortgage: If you make your property tax payments via your monthly mortgage payments, your lender should submit your payment on your behalf when it’s due. To verify yours is properly set up, you can check with your lender and the treasurer-assessor’s office.
To check if your taxes are current, you can call Pierce County’s automated phone system at (253) 798-3333 or use its online
parcel search
.MORE: How to choose the right kind of car and homeowners insurance
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When are property taxes due in Pierce County?
Property tax payments are due in two installments throughout 2022 in Pierce County: one by May 2, and one by October 31.
How do I get my Washington property tax statement?
Property tax bills are sent by mail; however, even if you don’t get one, that doesn’t absolve you of your obligation to pay it. If you don’t receive a property tax bill by March 31, contact the assessor-treasurer’s office.
Are property taxes high in Pierce County?
Pierce County, Washington, property owners pay an average of $2,759 a year in property taxes. With an average tax rate of 1.02% of a property’s assessed value, that’s a little higher than the state’s average rate of 0.92%.
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