San Diego Property Taxes

When buying real estate in San Diego, it’s a good idea to remember that you will be paying property taxes on whatever real estate you buy. Factor these taxes into the price of the home so that you can have a better general idea of how much your San Diego home will actually cost you.

To get a broad idea of the amount of property taxes you would owe annually on a San Diego property, multiply the purchase price of the property by 1.2%. For example, if you purchased a $200,000 home, your annual tax due would be around $2,400, plus any special assessments or charges such as Mello-Roos fees (if applicable).

San Diego consumers should be aware that tax rates for a specific community can increase as new bonds are added or decrease if bonds are paid off. In general, Mello-Roos bonds take about 20-25 years to pay off. In addition, special assessments for new infrastructure can also impact tax rates.

The tax period in San Diego Cover covers the time period of July 1st to June 30th. The amount of property taxes owed is based on the assessed value of the San Diego property as of January 1st. The tax bill is mailed out in late September or early October, and is due in two equal installments. The first payment is due December 10th and the second payment is due April 10th. State tax laws do not allow for extensions to pay tax bills and late payments are subject to a penalty of 18% APR.

When considering the purchase of a single family home, condominium, town house or other real estate in San Diego (particularly in newer communities), prospective buyers should find out if the property has Mello-Ross or any other special assessment fees, how long those fees will continue, and if the fees increase annually.

For more information about property tax issues in San Diego or to obtain a definitive answer to your property tax questions, contact your local San Diego County tax professional.


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