California Property Tax Calculator
Your annual bill under Prop 13, your county's average rate, the homeowners' exemption, and the supplemental bills that arrive after you buy.
California property tax is 1% of your assessed value plus local voter-approved rates, so most bills land between 1.0% and 1.25% a year. Your assessed value starts at the purchase price and can rise by at most 1% a year under Prop 13. Pick your county to use its average rate.
Enter the assessed value (usually your purchase price) and choose your county. If you just bought, add the closing date and the prior assessed value to see your supplemental bills.
Property Tax Calculator
Estimated Annual Property Tax
Per month
Each installment (Nov & Feb)
| Year | Assessed value (max under Prop 13) | Tax at this rate |
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How this is calculated
The bill. Every California property pays the 1% general levy on its assessed value (Prop 13, Article XIII A of the Constitution), plus rates for local bonds that voters approved. That is why total rates run from 1.000% to about 1.25%. On top of that, many bills carry direct assessments (Mello-Roos, parcel taxes, lighting or sewer districts) that are flat charges, not percentages.
County rates. The county list uses each county's average total rate for fiscal year 2024-25 from the State Board of Equalization's annual report. Rates vary by tax rate area within a county, so your parcel's exact rate on the tax bill can be a little higher or lower.
Homeowners' exemption. If the home is your primary residence, filing once with the assessor removes $7,000 from the assessed value, which is worth about $70–$90 a year. See the exemption finder for others.
Supplemental bills after a purchase. When a home changes hands, the assessor reappraises it to the purchase price and sends a supplemental bill for the difference between the new and old values, prorated for the rest of the fiscal year (July 1–June 30). Revenue and Taxation Code 75.41 treats the change as happening on the first day of the next month. If that date falls between February 1 and June 1, you get two supplemental bills: one prorated for the current year and one for the full next year, because the next year's regular bill was already set at the old value.
Increases. Without a sale or new construction, the assessed value can rise by at most 1% a year (less if California inflation is lower). The table shows that maximum path. For a detailed model, use the Prop 13 simulator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is property tax calculated in California?
Assessed value times the total tax rate: the 1% general levy under Prop 13 plus local voter-approved bond rates, minus the $7,000 homeowners' exemption if it is your primary residence, plus any flat direct assessments such as Mello-Roos. Assessed value starts at the purchase price.
What is a supplemental property tax bill?
A separate bill the county sends after a purchase or new construction for the difference between the new assessed value and the old one, prorated for the rest of the fiscal year. Closings from January through May usually produce two supplemental bills.
Why is my property tax rate more than 1%?
The 1% is only the general levy. Voters in your area have approved bonds for schools, water, transit and other projects, and their repayment rates are added on top. County averages range from 1.000% to about 1.25%.
How much can California property taxes go up each year?
Without a change in ownership or new construction, the assessed value can rise by no more than 2% a year under Prop 13, or less when California inflation is lower. Voter-approved rates and direct assessments can change separately.
When are California property taxes due?
The annual bill is paid in two installments: the first is due November 1 and late after December 10; the second is due February 1 and late after April 10. Supplemental bills have their own due dates printed on the bill.
This tool provides an educational estimate only. Your exact rate depends on your tax rate area, and your bill may include direct assessments not shown here. Check your county assessor and tax collector for exact figures.