San Diego County Property Tax
The San Diego County property tax rate is .61%, making property taxes in this county a lot lower than the national average.
Written by Heather Bernhard
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
With an average tax rate of .61%, San Diego County residents pay around $2,955 a year in property taxes.
Many argue that property tax is unfair and outdated. But the fact is, property tax helps communities pay for many things, from police and fire services to schools.
Regardless of where you stand on the matter, the fact is every homeowner must pay their property taxes as a part of owning a home.
That’s why home and
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Property tax 101
If you’re a property tax newbie, this is what you need to know:
- The local government assigns property taxes to pay for various community services (such as infrastructure and education)
- Most property taxes apply to immovable property like land and buildings
- Your local tax assessor determines your property taxes based on your home’s assessed value
- If your home’s assessed value changes, your taxes will also change
Basically, property tax is how local governments generate money to do stuff—like repair roads, maintain parks, and hire police officers.
MORE: Checklist for first-time home buyers
What is the property tax rate in San Diego County?
San Diego County’s property tax rate is .61% of assessed home values—slightly below the state average of .74%. Based on that rate, the average San Diego County tax bill is about $2,955 a year.
How San Diego County property taxes are determined
The property tax rate in San Diego County is determined based on the assessed value of your home. This is initially based on the property’s purchase price, but the assessment rate may change based on inflation.
No matter what, your home’s assessed value can never be raised more than the state’s 2% maximum each year.
Additionally, if the home is your primary residence, you are eligible for a Homeowner’s Tax Exemption of $7,000—that means your home’s assessed value is lowered by $7,000 if owner-occupied. You only need to apply for this exemption once when you first move in, but the application must be received by February 15.
If you believe that you are paying too much in property tax, you can appeal to the
San Diego County Assessment Appeals Board
to have your property reassessed. Applications are accepted between July 2 and December 1 every year, and the reassessment will apply to that fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). What do San Diego County property taxes pay for?
The
San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office
collects more than $6 billion in County, city, school, and special district taxes every year. In the most recent fiscal year, those taxes were allocated as such:
- Schools 45.0%
- County 13.1%
- Special Districts 3.2%
- Cities 12.6%
- Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund (RPTTF) 12.1%
- County in Lieu of Vehicle License Fee 7.9%
- Cities in Lieu of Vehicle License Fee 5.4%
- Library .7%
The office also collects about $150 million in unsecured property taxes each year (on things like boats and airplanes) and in mobile home fees.
How to pay property taxes in San Diego County
San Diego County property taxes are due November 1 and February 1 each year. The first installment is delinquent after December 10 and the second installment is delinquent after April 10. Taxpayers may choose to pay both installments in November.
Homeowners in San Diego County have a few convenient options for paying their taxes when the time comes:
- By mail: Make checks payable to Dan McAllister - Tax Collector and mail to San Diego County Admin. Center, 1600 Pacific Hwy., Room 162, San Diego, CA 92101.
- Pay online: TheTreasurer-Tax Collectoraccepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and e-Check. A convenience fee of 2.19% is required for processing cards. Other debit cards, prepaid cards, and gift cards are not accepted.
- Pay by phone: Call 1-855-829-3773 to pay your property tax by phone.
If your paper check or e-check are not accepted for any reason, state law mandates that a $25 fee be added to your bill.
How to save money on homeowners and car insurance in California
Even though San Diego County property taxes are below the national average, $2,900 a year is nothing to laugh at.
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When are property taxes due in San Diego County?
Property taxes are due on November 1 and February 1 in San Diego County.
How do I get my California property tax statement?
The county Tax Collector will send out property tax bills in late September. You can also lookup
your current bill
online using your Assessor Parcel Number or home address.
Are property taxes high in San Diego County?
At .61%, San Diego County property taxes are well below the national average of 1.1%.
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