Calculator · California

Prop 13 Property Tax Estimator

See your estimated annual property tax — Prop 13 base + voter bonds + parcel taxes + Mello-Roos.

iAll numbers shown are estimates only. They are not tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed California real estate agent and a CPA before relying on any figure for a real transaction.

Purchase price *City *Bond rate varies by school district + city ballot measures.Mello-Roos / CFD annual (if applicable) Verify with the County Assessor — Mello-Roos varies wildly by parcel.Prior owner's assessed value (for supplemental tax) Optional — used to estimate the supplemental bill.

Your Annual Tax

Enter purchase price + city. We'll show the Prop 13 base, voter bonds, parcel tax, and supplemental tax estimate.

The short answer

Under California’s Prop 13, your property tax base rate is 1% of the assessed value, plus voter-approved local levies that bring the typical effective rate to roughly 1.1%–1.25%. The assessed value is set at your purchase price and can rise no more than 2% per year, so long-time owners often pay far less than a recent buyer of the same home.

Frequently asked questions

It’s the assessed value multiplied by your local tax rate. Prop 13 sets the base rate at 1%, and local voter-approved bonds and assessments add a fraction more — usually landing between 1.1% and 1.25% of assessed value depending on the district.

Passed in 1978, Prop 13 caps the base tax rate at 1% and limits annual increases in assessed value to 2%, regardless of how fast the market rises. Your assessed value resets to market price only when the property changes ownership or you complete new construction.

Usually yes. A sale triggers reassessment to the new purchase price, so a recent buyer’s tax bill is often much higher than the prior owner’s. Budget for roughly 1.1% of your purchase price in the first year, then small (≤2%) annual increases after that.

Yes. California’s Homeowners’ Exemption shaves $7,000 off the assessed value of your primary residence, and there are additional programs for seniors, veterans, and disabled homeowners. These are modest but worth claiming with your county assessor.

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