Understanding California Property Taxes
Your resource for understanding property tax assessments, your right to appeal, and how to file — tailored to your county.
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
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
San Diego County
- Informal review
- December 1 – April 30Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – November 30$0
San Mateo County
- Informal review
- Deadline: October 31Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – November 30$30
Santa Clara County
- Informal review
- Deadline: August 1Free
- Formal appeal
- July 2 – September 15$290
Just need the dates? Alameda deadlines · Los Angeles deadlines · Orange deadlines · San Diego deadlines · San Mateo deadlines · Santa Clara deadlines
California property tax basics
What 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 moreReady to check if you're overpaying?
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