Understanding Your Property Taxes
Your resource for understanding property tax assessments, your right to appeal, and how to file — tailored to your county.
California appeal guides by county
Step-by-step guides tailored to your county's specific forms, deadlines, and fees.
Alameda County
- Informal review
- Accepted year-roundFree
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – September 15$50
Contra Costa County
- Informal review
- Deadline: November 30Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – November 30$40
Los Angeles County
- Informal review
- July 2 – November 30Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – November 30$46
Orange County
- Informal review
- January 1 – April 30Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – November 30$0
Riverside County
- Informal review
- Deadline: November 2Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – November 30$30
Sacramento County
- Informal review
- July 1 – December 31Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – November 30$30
San Diego County
- Informal review
- December 1 – April 30Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – November 30$0
San Francisco County
- Informal review
- January 2 – March 31Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – September 15$120
San Mateo County
- Informal review
- Deadline: October 31Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – November 30$30
Santa Clara County
- Informal review
- Deadline: August 8Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – September 15$290
Just need the dates? Alameda deadlines · Contra Costa deadlines · Los Angeles deadlines · Orange deadlines · Riverside deadlines · Sacramento deadlines · San Diego deadlines · San Francisco deadlines · San Mateo deadlines · Santa Clara deadlines
California property tax basics
How to appeal property taxes in California
The statewide process end to end: the free informal review, the formal appeal, every county's deadline, what it costs, and the evidence that wins.
Read moreSAVE MONEYEvery way to lower your California property tax bill
An appeal is one of them. The exemptions, transfers, disaster relief and penalty fixes most homeowners miss — who qualifies, what each is worth, and where to file.
Read moreDEFINITIONOverassessment: what “overassessed” means
The word for a home the county values above what it's worth. How to tell in five minutes, what it costs you each year, and how to fix it for free.
Read morePROP 8What is Proposition 8?
When your home's market value drops below its assessed value, Prop 8 lets you pay taxes on the lower amount. Most homeowners don't know this exists.
Read moreBASICSProp 13 vs. Prop 8
The two California property tax laws aren't alternatives — they work together. Prop 13 is the ceiling, Prop 8 is the temporary safety valve below it.
Read morePROCEDUREDecline-in-value reassessment, explained
The official name for a Prop 8 reduction. How the lien date, factored base year value, and county processes actually work.
Read moreEVIDENCEWhat evidence wins a property tax appeal?
Comparable sales, the 90-day rule under R&T § 402.5, adjustments under Property Tax Rule 4 — and what doesn't work (Zillow, neighbor's tax bill, listings).
Read moreDEADLINESCalifornia property tax deadlines by county
2026 formal appeal deadlines for all 58 California counties, plus informal review windows and filing details for fully-supported counties.
Read moreSTATEWIDEThe Appeal Evidence Kit, explained
Not in a fully-supported county? We build your comparable sales evidence and appeal case for any of California's 58 counties — you file it with our statewide roadmap.
Read moreSCAM ALERTGot a property tax letter in the mail?
Scam, sales pitch, or the real Assessor? How to read a California property tax reduction mailer — the red flags, what the legitimate companies charge, and the free option none of them mention.
Read moreGLOSSARYProperty tax terms, in plain English
Assessed value, factored base year value, lien date, the 90-day rule — every term you'll meet on your bill or your appeal, decoded.
Read moreWashington property tax appeals
Different state, different rules: Washington assesses every home at market value each year, the petition is free, and your deadline comes off your value notice — not a calendar.
How to appeal property taxes in Washington
The free county Board of Equalization petition, your real deadline (it's on your value notice, not a calendar), and the comparable sales evidence that wins.
Read moreDEADLINESWashington appeal deadlines: the 30/60-day rule
There is no statewide filing date — your deadline starts when your value notice is mailed. Why the flat “July 1” you see online is usually wrong, and which counties give you 60 days.
Read moreCA VS WACalifornia vs. Washington appeals, compared
Two states, two completely different systems. What changes when you cross the Columbia: assessment basis, deadlines, fees, evidence rules, and how long a win lasts.
Read moreReady to check if you're overpaying?
Enter your address and we'll tell you in seconds whether your home is likely overassessed — completely free.
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