San Diego County Property Tax: Bill Searches, Payments, Due Dates and Relief
The San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector handles property tax bills and payments. The Assessor handles assessed values, exemptions and reassessment questions. Use this guide to find a bill, check its payment deadline, choose a payment method and locate the appropriate office for relief or an assessment appeal.
Start here: Use the official property tax search and payment system. For tax collection questions, call 877-829-4732; operators do not accept payments. The separate telephone payment number is 855-829-3773.
Independent guide. This website is not affiliated with the County of San Diego. Search for bills, submit payments and file applications through official channels. Confirm the deadline and instructions for your particular bill before paying.
Find Your Current Property Tax Bill
The County's property tax search and payment system provides access to secured, unsecured, supplemental, escape and defaulted tax records. Choose the search option for the bill you need.
| Record or search | Information to prepare |
|---|---|
| Secured or defaulted property tax | The parcel number or current mailing address associated with the account. |
| Supplemental or escape tax bill | Parcel number, current mailing address, or the supplemental or escape bill number, using the corresponding search option. |
| Unsecured tax bill | The four-digit tax year and six-digit bill number. |
| Mailing-address search | The address used for tax correspondence, which may differ from the property's physical address. |
Compare the parcel or bill number, tax year, bill type and installment with your tax document before paying. The County warns that additional bills may not appear under a particular search criterion, so separately check any supplemental, escape or other bill you received.
A missing result does not mean that no tax is owed. For search instructions and help locating a bill, see how to find your property tax bill online.
Check the Due Date and Delinquency Date
Regular annual secured property taxes are payable in two installments. The due date and the last day to pay without a late penalty are different.
| Installment | Due date | Last day to pay without a late penalty |
|---|---|---|
| First installment | November 1 | December 10 |
| Second installment | February 1 | April 10 |
If a delinquency deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. Follow the requirements for your payment method, including any submission, receipt or postmark instructions.
A late first installment incurs a 10% penalty. A late second installment incurs a 10% penalty plus a $10 cost. Unpaid secured taxes enter tax default after June 30 and incur additional charges.
Supplemental, escape and unsecured bills can have different deadlines. Read each bill and see property tax due dates and late penalties for more information.
If you cannot pay an overdue balance in full, review payment plans for eligible overdue property taxes. These plans have specific eligibility requirements and do not extend regular deadlines for current-year taxes.
Choose a Payment Method and Save the Receipt
Search for the correct bill, select the installment, review the payment details and complete the submission. Adding a bill to the shopping cart does not complete payment.
| Method | What to know |
|---|---|
| County online e-check | No payment-processing fee. Enter bank routing and account information directly in the County's payment system. |
| Online card payment | A convenience fee applies. Check the accepted card types, fee and total charge before submitting. |
| Your bank's online bill pay | This is separate from the County's e-check service. Your bank may mail a paper check, so allow delivery time and follow the County's payment instructions. |
| Telephone payment | Call 855-829-3773 and follow the available bill and payment options. |
| Mail, office or drop-box payment | Use the current Treasurer-Tax Collector instructions for the destination, accepted payment types and service hours. |
For accepted cards, published fees and bank information needed for e-check, see property tax payment methods and fees.
For online payments, retain the receipt marked “Successful.” An e-check receipt confirms submission but does not guarantee that the bank will honor the payment. If the result is unclear, see how to confirm that your payment was received before submitting another payment.
For mailing addresses, payment locations and other collection services, see our Treasurer-Tax Collector guide.
Check for Supplemental and Other Separate Bills
Supplemental bills
A change in ownership or completed new construction can trigger reassessment and a separate supplemental tax bill. Supplemental bills are separate from the regular annual secured bill and have their own payment dates.
Supplemental bills are not sent to a mortgage lender for payment. If your mortgage payment includes a tax escrow or impound account, confirm payment arrangements rather than assuming the lender will handle the separate bill.
Review the official supplemental property tax page and follow the dates printed on your bill.
Escape, unsecured and defaulted taxes
An escape assessment concerns property or value that was not previously assessed. An unsecured bill uses its own bill identifier and can involve business property, boats or aircraft. Defaulted taxes concern unpaid obligations from earlier periods.
Check these records separately from the current annual secured installment. Contact the Treasurer-Tax Collector if you are unsure which balance or payment option applies.
Buying a property
Review your closing statement and confirm with escrow or your lender which installments were paid and which remain your responsibility. Buyer-and-seller prorations do not change the installment amount on the County's bill.
Check for unpaid prior-year taxes and separate supplemental bills rather than relying only on the regular bill received after closing.
Review Prior-Year Payment Records and Assessment Information
The Prior-Year Property Tax Records page provides summaries of paid secured taxes as recorded when the roll closed on June 30.
This historical service excludes unsecured and defaulted taxes and adjustments made after the roll closed. It is not a substitute for checking the current amount owed or confirming a recent payment.
A “record not found” result can reflect an installment that was not fully paid by June 30, a delinquent or defaulted account, or a refund. Ask the Treasurer-Tax Collector to confirm the account when the result does not match your records.
Assessed value is different from the tax bill
The Assessor's Secured Assessment Roll Search reports assessed values. It does not provide the bill balance to pay.
Check the valuation date and record date shown on the assessed-value notice. Later changes may not appear in the published search results.
For parcel search formats, maps and recorded documents, see our property records guide. For payment amounts and payment status, use the Treasurer-Tax Collector's service.
Find Exemptions, Relief and Assessment Appeal Instructions
Property tax savings programs
The Assessor's property tax savings directory provides eligibility rules and application links. Benefits require the applicable qualifications and filing; they are not automatic for every owner.
| Program | Purpose and starting point |
|---|---|
| Homeowners' Exemption | A $7,000 reduction in assessed value for a qualifying primary residence, generally providing about $70 in annual tax savings. Review the official exemption instructions. |
| Disabled Veterans' Exemption | Potential relief for qualifying service-connected disabled veterans or eligible unmarried surviving spouses. Review the eligibility and filing requirements. |
| Proposition 19 relief for older homeowners | Eligible homeowners age 55 or older may transfer a qualifying taxable value to a replacement primary residence. Review the conditions and application instructions. |
| Disaster and calamity relief | Potential reassessment relief for qualifying damage exceeding $10,000. The County states that applications must be filed within 12 months of the damage. Use the official disaster relief page. |
The Homeowners' Exemption reduces assessed value, not the tax bill by $7,000. Proposition 19 concerns qualifying transfers of taxable value and does not guarantee that the replacement property's tax bill will remain unchanged.
For assessment terminology, exemption preparation and value reviews, see our Assessor guide.
Questioning an assessment
Contact the Assessor if you believe the taxable value is incorrect. A formal assessment appeal is handled through the Clerk of the Board and Assessment Appeals Board. Use the official assessment appeal service for filing instructions, forms and the application portal.
- Regular annual assessment: The filing period is generally July 2 through November 30 each year. If November 30 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
- Supplemental assessment: Generally, file within 60 days of the mailing of the supplemental assessment notice. If no notice was sent, the deadline is within 60 days of the supplemental tax bill. Do not wait for a later bill if you already received the notice.
- Other assessments: Escape, calamity and penalty assessments have their own filing rules. Check the instructions for the assessment being challenged.
Review the County's filing dates page and contact the Assessment Appeals Unit promptly if the deadline on your documents is unclear. Discussing a value with the Assessor does not replace filing a timely appeal.
An unresolved appeal does not suspend tax payment deadlines. Pay required installments while the appeal is pending; a resulting assessment adjustment can lead to a corrected bill or refund.
Property Tax Contacts and Responsible Offices
| Question or service | Contact |
|---|---|
| Tax bills, balances, payment status and collection questions | Treasurer-Tax Collector 877-829-4732 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 162 San Diego, CA 92101 |
| Telephone payment | 855-829-3773 This is separate from the general tax collection inquiry line. |
| Assessed values, exemptions and reassessment questions | Assessor 619-236-3771 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 103 San Diego, CA 92101 |
| Assessment appeal applications and filing requirements | Clerk of the Board — Assessment Appeals Unit 619-531-5777 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 402 San Diego, CA 92101 |
For assessment-related assistance navigating County services, the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate provides an additional contact. Seeking assistance does not extend a payment or appeal deadline.
Before an office visit, check the Treasurer-Tax Collector's current locations and payment instructions. Available services and accepted payment types can differ by branch.
For mailed payments or applications, use the destination specified by the selected service. A physical office address is not automatically the correct mailing destination for every transaction.