San Diego County property tax deadlines for 2026
The two appeal windows, the bill due dates, and what to do if you're late — all specific to San Diego County.
San Diego County has two property tax appeal deadlines, because it has two separate processes. The free informal review with the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: December 1 – April 30. The formal appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board: July 2 – November 30, with no filing fee. Both measure your home's value as of the same date: January 1, the lien date.
Everything on this page is specific to San Diego County. For how the deadlines work statewide — and why some counties' formal deadline is September 15 while others run to November 30 — see the California-wide deadlines guide. For the full step-by-step appeal process here, see the San Diego County appeal guide.
The two appeal deadlines in San Diego County
Free · No hearing
Informal decline-in-value review
- Window
- December 1 – April 30
- Form
- VALREV
- Submitted to
- San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
- Fee
- Free
- Typical response
- by June 30
A county appraiser reviews your comparable sales evidence. Your value goes down or stays the same — it cannot be raised through this process.
Binding · Preserves appeal rights
Formal assessment appeal
- Window
- July 2 – November 30
- Form
- Assessment Appeal Application
- Heard by
- Assessment Appeals Board
- Fee
- No fee
An independent board weighs evidence from you and the assessor and sets the value — it can go down, stay, or (rarely, with supporting evidence) go up.
Deciding whether to file yourself or pay someone to do it? Compare every California appeal option — free DIY, flat-fee, and full-service — or read the Ownwell vs. Overassessed breakdown.
The San Diego County property tax year at a glance
| Date | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | Lien date | Your home's value for this year's bill is fixed as of this date. All appeal evidence points back here. |
| July 2 – November 30 | Formal appeal window | File Assessment Appeal Application with the Clerk of the Board. |
| Nov 1 / Dec 10 | First installment | First property tax installment due Nov 1, delinquent after Dec 10. Pay it even if your appeal is pending — you get a refund with interest if you win. |
| Feb 1 / Apr 10 | Second installment | Second installment due Feb 1, delinquent after Apr 10. |
The informal review window (December 1 – April 30) runs on the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk's schedule — see the cards above. Supplemental and escape assessments have their own clock: generally 60 days from the date printed on the notice.
Not sure the deadline matters for you yet? Start with whether you're overassessed at all — free, about 60 seconds.
Check my propertyWhat if I missed a deadline?
Missed the informal window? If the formal window (July 2 – November 30) is still open, file the formal appeal — same evidence, and your appeal rights are preserved with a binding decision at the end.
Missed both? For a regular decline-in-value case, you wait for the next January 1 lien date and file in next year's windows. The deadlines aren't extendable, but nothing stops you from preparing early — the evidence rules reward sales close to the lien date, so the strongest comps for next year's appeal close between this fall and next March.
Got a supplemental or escape assessment notice? Those carry their own appeal window — generally 60 days from the date on the notice — independent of the windows above.
Who to contact in San Diego County
San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
Informal decline-in-value reviews
- Phone: (858) 505-6262
- Email: ARCCPROP8@sdcounty.ca.gov
- Website: www.sdarcc.gov
Clerk of the Board — Assessment Appeals Board
Formal assessment appeals
- Phone: (619) 531-5777
- Email: AssessmentAppeals@sdcounty.ca.gov
- Mail: Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Assessment Appeals, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 402, San Diego, CA 92101-2471
Common questions
When is the deadline to appeal property taxes in San Diego County?
There are two separate deadlines. The free informal review with the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: December 1 – April 30. The formal appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board: July 2 – November 30. They are independent processes — if the informal review hasn't come back before the formal window closes, file the formal application as a backstop so you don't lose your appeal rights for the year.
Does it cost anything to appeal in San Diego County?
The informal decline-in-value review is free. The formal appeal to the Assessment Appeals Board has no filing fee. In both cases the evidence is the same: recent comparable sales showing your home's market value on January 1 was below your assessed value.
What form do I need for a San Diego County property tax appeal?
For the informal review, San Diego County uses the VALREV form, submitted to the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk. For the formal appeal, you file Assessment Appeal Application with the Clerk of the Board during the July 2 – November 30 window.
What if I miss the San Diego County appeal deadline?
If you miss the informal window but the formal window (July 2 – November 30) is still open, file the formal appeal. If both have closed, you generally have to wait for the next January 1 lien date and file in next year's windows — current-year deadlines aren't extendable for a regular decline-in-value case. Exceptions exist for supplemental and escape assessments, which carry their own clock: generally 60 days from the date on the notice.
Deadlines only matter if you're overassessed.
Enter your San Diego County address and we'll compare your assessed value to recent comparable sales — free, in about 60 seconds.
Deadlines and fees above are sourced from the county's published materials and reviewed when the county publishes updates — but counties can change dates and fees mid-season. Confirm on the county website before relying on a specific date. Overassessed provides estimates based on publicly available data and AI-generated analysis. This is not a formal appraisal, legal advice, or tax advice. Results are not guaranteed, and appeal outcomes depend on county review.