Property Tax Frequently Asked Questions

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• How do I verify property ownership?

  You may call the Assessor's Office at (619) 236-3771 for ownership information.

• What does a TAX RATE consist of?

  The TAX RATE consists of the 1% tax rate and voter approved bonded debt rate.

• Where can I obtain a copy of my tax bill?

  You may call the Tax Collector's Office at (877) 829-4732 or email taxman@sdcounty.ca.gov for information.

• How much do I owe on my tax bill?

  You may call the Tax Collector's Office at (877) 829-4732 or email taxman@sdcounty.ca.gov for information.

• How do I find out if my payment was received?

  You may call the Tax Collector's Office at (877) 829-4732 or email taxman@sdcounty.ca.gov for information.

• What if I was late paying my property taxes?

  There is a 10% penalty on the first installment and a 10% penalty on the second installment plus a ten dollar cost. There are additional penalties after June 30th. For more information on penalties contact the Tax Collector's Office at (877) 829-4732.

• Is the TAX RATE per one-hundred or one-thousand dollars of the assessed value?

  The TAX RATE is per every one-hundred dollars of the assessed value.

• Is my Property Tax Information confidential?

  No. It is public information and there is a public research center located in the County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego Room #103 (Assessor's Office).

• What if I wanted to get my property tax bill sent to me instead of my mortgage company?

  You may call the Tax Collector's Office at (877) 829-4732 for property tax bill mailing.

• Can my property taxes change from year to year?

  Yes. Proposition 13 allows for an increase of up to 2% of property value. Also, the tax rate in your area can increase as new voter approved bonds are added or decrease as existing bonds are paid off. Special Assessments can also cause an increase or decrease from year to year.

• When was Proposition 13 passed by the voters?

  Proposition 13 was approved by the voters on June 6, 1978, and effective July 1, 1978.

• Is there a way to know what my charges for special assessments are for next year?

  Only the taxing agency that levies the assessment can answer that question. The County only collects the assessments assessed by each district. The telephone number for each special assessment is located on the tax bill next to the assessment. Please go to View Fixed Charge Special Assessment by Parcel or you may contact Property Tax Services at (858) 694-2901.

• What is a supplemental tax bill?

  State law requires that the Assessor reappraise property value immediately upon a change of ownership or completion of new construction. The Assessor's Office must issue a supplemental assessment that reflects the difference between the new and prior assessed values. The difference in values is multiplied by the rate applicable to the date of the event and then prorated based on the number of months remaining in the fiscal year, ending June 30th.

• Why did I receive two supplemental tax bills?

  If the change in ownership occurs or the new construction is completed on or after January 1 but on or before May 31, then there shall be two supplemental assessments. The first supplemental assessment will be the difference between the new assessed value and the taxable value on the tax roll in existence for these dates. The second supplemental assessment will be the difference between the new assessed value and the taxable value on the next year's tax roll.

• What is a Mello-Roos fee?

  A Mello-Roos fee is a special assessment charged by the taxing agency to pay for public facilities such as schools and roads.

• How are Mello-Roos fees established?

  Mello-Roos fees are normally approved by the voters to finance tax-exempt bonds to pay for public facilities.

• How long will these Mello-Roos fees last?

  Generally, the bonds are paid over a period of 5 to 20 years.

• How can I determine if my property is in a Mello-Roos district?

  Your property tax bill will identify Mello-Roos fees as a Community Facilities District (CFD) followed by a telephone number and a tax amount. This information can also be obtained by going to View Fixed Charge Special Assessment by Parcel or contacting Property Tax Services at (858) 694-2901.

• If I have any questions about a Mello Roos fee who should I call?

  Call the telephone number for the taxing agency located on the tax bill next to the Mello Roos assessment. The taxing agency will answer questions regarding the debt, payment schedules, and calculations.

• I have a new PACE loan. When will charges be applied to my property tax bill?

  If you entered a new contract prior to July 1, the charges will likely appear on the Annual tax bill generated in September.  If the new contract was entered on July 1 or after, the charges may be billed on the Annual tax bill in September of the following year.  To confirm, please contact your PACE provider.

• I paid off my PACE loan to my PACE provider. When will the charges be removed from my tax bill?

  If you have a HERO loan, several steps must be taken before the charge can be removed.  HERO will first ensure that the payoff funds have cleared.  Next, a release of lien will be recorded with the Recorder’s Office.  HERO will then submit a correction form to our office to remove the charge from the tax bill.  This last step may take up to a week to process.  Any refunds due may take an additional four weeks to be issued.

  If you have a Ygrene loan, Ygrene does not remove PACE charges from the tax bill. 

  For additional details on the payoff process, please contact your PACE provider:

  HERO	(800) 969-4382
  CA Home Finance Authority	(866) 807-6864
  CaliforniaFirst	(949) 955-1500
  CA Municipal Finance Authority	(844) 622-5533

• Is there any additional information on PACE at the County?

  Yes.  See the Treasurer/Tax Collector information on PACE: https://www.sdttc.com/content/ttc/en/tax-collection/PACE-program.html