At the average tax rate of 0.8%, residents of Riverside County, California
, pay an average of about $2,618 a year in property taxes. When you’re a homeowner, figuring out how much you owe in property taxes, and how to pay them, can get disorienting pretty quickly, especially since they can vary so much from location to location.
That’s why home and car insurance
comparison app Jerry
is here to help you break down the basics about property taxes in your area. Read on to learn more about Riverside County property taxes, including how they’re paid, when to pay them, and how those funds are put to use. Property tax 101
Local governments collect property taxes each year that help fund essential services and projects in your area. These can support public school funding, as well as emergency services, transportation, parks and recreation, and more.
A local tax assessor will analyze factors like market values and the local tax rate when they calculate how much you’ll owe in property taxes for the coming year.
MORE: Is car insurance tax deductible?
What is the property tax rate in Riverside County?
Riverside County residents pay an average tax rate of 0.8% of a home’s assessed value, which is slightly more than California’s state average of 0.74%. At this rate, homeowners in Riverside County pay an average of about $2,618 in property taxes annually.
How Riverside County property taxes are determined
The county assessor will determine your property’s value, which is generally your home’s market value when it was purchased. The value can’t increase more than 2% from year to year unless a property sale or new construction takes place, which will require reassessment.
For more information about how your property’s assessed value is determined, you can contact the assessor’s office
. Disagree with your assessed property value? Appeals on regular assessments can be filed between July 2 and November 30, just after valuation information has been made available at the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1.
How much your Orange County property taxes will vary depending on where you live in the county and what you owe for property taxes at the city level.
Riverside County tax rates include the following:
General tax levy (limited to $1 per $100 of assessed value and subject to state law requirements)
Special taxes (voted on locally)
What do Riverside County property taxes pay for?
Riverside County collects more than $4 billion in property taxes each year, which accounts for 80% of its general purpose revenue. Revenue from these property taxes help to fund the following in Riverside County:
MORE: How to get a hybrid or electric car tax credit
How to pay property taxes in Riverside County
Riverside County property taxes are due in two installments throughout the year. The first is due November 1, and the second is due February 1. The county’s treasurer-tax collector will mail out billing statements throughout August and September.
There are several ways to pay your Riverside County property taxes. Here’s how:
Online: You can make your property tax payment online
with a credit or debit card. Just note that a fee will apply. By phone: Phone payments can be made by calling 951-955-3900. Credit and debit cards are accepted, and fees apply.
By mail: Checks can be made out to Riverside County Treasurer. Mail your payment to P.O. Box 12005, Riverside, CA 92502-2205.
In-person: You can pay your property taxes in person at three office locations: downtown Riverside, Palm Desert, and Temecula. Check to see whether appointments are required before heading in.
Through your mortgage: You can make your annual property tax payment over the course of a year as part of your monthly mortgage payment, which your mortgage lender can then pay on your behalf when it’s due. Check with your lender and the county tax office to verify it’s set up properly.
For more information and ways to pay, visit the Riverside County website
. MORE: How to deduct a car accident from your taxes
How to save money on homeowners and car insurance in California
Wherever you live in California, the Jerry
app can help you find great savings on home and car insurance policies. Never used Jerry before? Here’s how it works: after you download the app, just enter your information, and in an instant, you can start reviewing competitive quotes from up to 50 top insurance providers!
Once you find the right insurance at the right rate, Jerry’s end-to-end support can even help you set up your new policy and cancel your old one. Service like this is what makes Jerry the top-rated insurance app!
The average Jerry user saves $887 per year on car insurance alone—which can go a long way when you’ve got property taxes to pay.
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