Estimate Your Annual Property Tax

How Property Taxes Are Calculated

Property taxes in California are governed primarily by Proposition 13, which caps the base-year assessed value at the purchase price and limits annual increases to no more than 2% per year, regardless of actual market appreciation. When you buy a property, the county assessor establishes a new base-year value equal to the sale price. Your annual tax bill is then calculated by multiplying that assessed value by the local tax rate, which is approximately 1% of assessed value plus any voter-approved bonded indebtedness and special assessments.

This means that two identical homes on the same street can have very different tax bills if they were purchased in different years. A home bought in 1990 may have an assessed value far below current market value, resulting in a much lower tax bill than a recently purchased neighbour. The effective tax rate in most San Diego County areas ranges from about 1.0% to 1.25% when including all supplemental assessments and Mello-Roos district fees. Use this calculator to estimate your tax based on the actual purchase price or current assessed value.

Keep in mind that supplemental tax bills may apply in the first year after purchase, and certain exemptions (such as the homeowner's exemption of $7,000 off assessed value) can slightly reduce your bill. Always check your county assessor's website for the most precise figure.