California Property Tax Calculator 2026

Calculate property taxes in California. The average effective property tax rate in CA is 0.69%, which is below the national average of 0.89%. Estimate your annual property tax bill.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated October 19, 2026 · Methodology

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Annual Property Tax

$2,415.00

Monthly Equivalent

$201.25

Effective Rate

0.690%

Property Tax Breakdown

Assessed Value$350,000.00
Homestead Exemption$0.00
Taxable Value$350,000.00
Annual Tax$2,415.00
Monthly Equivalent$201.25

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

California Property Tax Guide

California property tax is lighter than its reputation suggests. The average effective rate is about 0.69% of a home's value, well under the roughly 0.9% national average, a quirk that stems from rules limiting how fast a property's taxable value can rise. Counties, not the state, assess and bill the tax, so your county assessor sets the assessed value and the county tax collector sends the bill, usually in two installments each year.

To estimate a bill, start from the assessed value rather than the market value. Proposition 13 sets the base rate at 1% of assessed value, and voter-approved bonds and special assessments bring the typical total to about 1.1%, so a home assessed at $700,000 owes roughly $7,700 a year. Owner-occupants who claim the homeowners' exemption take $7,000 off the assessed value, which saves about $77. The 0.69% average is the bill measured against market value; it is lower because the assessed value can rise no more than 2% a year (the 2026-27 inflation factor is 1.02) until the home changes hands or is newly built on. Additional relief exists for qualifying veterans and disabled homeowners. Because assessed value often lags well behind market value for long-held homes, two neighbors in identical houses can owe very different amounts depending on when each one bought.

California Property Tax Details (2026)

Avg. Effective Property Tax Rate 0.69%
National Average 0.89%
vs. National Average 0.2 points below
Estate Tax None
State Sales Tax 7.25%
State Income Tax progressive (up to 13.3%)

Official Sources:

California Property Tax FAQ

How do I estimate my California property tax bill?
Multiply the assessed value on your county notice by the tax rate for your area: the 1% base rate under Proposition 13 plus voter-approved bonds and assessments, about 1.1% in total on average. A $700,000 assessed value comes to roughly $7,700 a year, or about $7,623 with the $7,000 homeowners' exemption. Do not apply the 0.69% statewide effective rate to the assessed value; that figure is the tax divided by market value, which for long-held homes is well above the assessed value.
Why does California's property tax rate run below the national average?
The average effective rate sits near 0.69%, compared with roughly 0.9% nationally, largely because a property's taxable value can grow by no more than 2% a year while you own it. That keeps long-term owners' assessed values well below current market prices. The trade-off is that bills jump when a home is sold and reassessed to its new value.
Who sets and collects property tax in California?
It's a local process. The county assessor determines each property's assessed value, the county auditor applies the rate, and the county tax collector issues the bill, typically in two installments. The state sets the framework, but the money funds local services like schools, fire, and county government, which is why rates and add-ons vary by county.
What exemptions can lower a California property tax bill?
Homeowners who occupy their property can claim the homeowners' exemption, which takes $7,000 off the assessed value used to calculate the tax. Additional programs exist for qualifying disabled veterans, and under Proposition 19 homeowners 55 or older, severely disabled homeowners and victims of wildfires or other disasters can carry their assessed value to a replacement home anywhere in California (up to three times for owners 55 and older). You apply through your county assessor, since these exemptions are administered locally.

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