Property Tax Overview
 

What you pay now:

Property taxes are governed by California State law and collected by the county.  The County Assessor must first assess the value of your property to determine the amount of property tax.

Generally, the assessed value is the cash or market value at the time of purchase.  This value increases no more than 2% per year until the property is sold or new construction is completed.

The Auditor-Controller applies the appropriate tax rates, which include the general tax levy, locally voted special taxes, and any city or district direct assessments.  The Tax Collector prepares property tax bills based on the Auditor-Controller's calculations, distributes the bills, and then collects the taxes.

 






Why can you request a reassessment?

Under California Proposition 8, passed in November 1978, the county assessor is required to annually enroll either a property's Proposition 13 value factored for inflation (no more than 2%), or its current market value if it is less. 

Decline in market value, Prop 8 assessments, are temporary reductions that recognize the fact that the current market value as of the January1 lien date of a property has fallen below its current Prop 13 factored value.  Once a Prop 8 reduced value has been enrolled, that property's value must be reviewed each year as of January 1 to determine whether its current market value is less than its Prop 13 factored value.  Prop 8 values can change from year to year as the market fluctuates.  When the market value of the Prop 8 property increases above its Prop 13 factored value, the assessor will once again enroll its Prop 13 factored value.  In no case may a value higher than a property's Prop 13 factored value be enrolled.

Properties enrolled under Prop 8 provisions are not subject to the 2% annual increase limitation that applies to those enrolled under Prop 13 provisions.

Property Tax Masters can help!  Understanding the property tax code and laws can be complicated.  Let our tax specialists assist you and provide all the information needed to lower your property taxes.