Life in America’s Finest City Made Easier With a Homeowners Property Tax Exemption in San Diego
While no longer home to the Chargers, San Diego is a conference champion in levying property tax.
While the U.S. average property tax rate sits at 1.07%, San Diego residents are expected to pay 1.25%. With median house prices sitting at around $526,000, this means an average annual bill of a hefty $6,575.
What is worse is that San Diego property prices—and therefore property tax assessments—are among the fastest-growing in the nation, coming in at around 12% year-on-year.
While this is good news for the local tax collectors, it’s a heavy blow for San Diego’s homeowners. Thankfully, help is at hand in the form of exemptions for homeowners. DoNotPay will help you find the exemptions you qualify for to reduce your property tax bill.
What Is Property Tax?
Property tax affects everyone who owns real estate. It is an annual tax on the value of your real estate, the proceeds of which are used to fund local amenities and services.
It is known as an ad valorem tax, meaning that it is based on the value of a property rather than a dollar amount—so the more expensive your property, the more you will pay in property tax.
How Does San Diego Calculate Property Tax Rates?
Your annual property tax bill is calculated by multiplying the value of your property by the local tax rate.
The local tax rate—also known as the mill rate—is based on the needs of the community. Property tax revenue is the main source of funding for local services such as:
- Public schools
- Community health services
- Fire and police protection
- Road maintenance
- Disaster management
The local authority determines the amount of funding needed and sets the mill rate accordingly as a percentage or a cent amount per dollar of property value. San Diego’s mill rate sits at 1.25%, meaning your real estate’s dollar value will be multiplied by this factor to determine the amount of property tax you will pay each year. This mill rate is higher than in many cheaper areas in the U.S., and the national average mill rate is 1.07%.
How Does San Diego Assess Your Property’s Value?
The second part of your property tax calculation is the value of your property. This is assessed annually by the San Diego County Assessor and takes into account the size of the property, its access to amenities, and average house prices for similar-sized real estate nearby.
Your assessed property value should not change drastically from year to year, and San Diego limits any increase in assessments to a maximum of 2% annually, enabling you to forecast your future property tax bills.
Property is automatically reassessed when it changes ownership, and this is where larger increments can be enforced. The principle of a fair market valuation of property is largely dependent on how much a buyer is willing to pay, so if property prices are on the rise—as they are in San Diego—property tax assessments will go up at the same rate.
This can be a significant financial burden for new property owners in the area. Fortunately, there are exemptions you can apply for to mitigate the blow. DoNotPay can help you find and secure the exemptions you are eligible for.
What San Diego Property Tax Exemption Is Available?
San Diego offers the following property tax exemptions for homeowners:
- Homeowners’ property tax exemption
- Veterans’ or disabled veterans’ property tax exemption
- Senior and disabled property tax relief
Homeowners’ Property Tax Exemption
Homeowners who use their property as their primary residence can apply for a reduction of $7,000 in the assessed value of their home.
Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption
Disabled veterans who are blind, have lost the use of two or more limbs, or are classified as 100% disabled may be eligible for a property tax exemption. There are two levels of exemption available in San Diego, namely:
| Exemption Level | Explanation |
| Basic |
|
| Low income |
|
The exemption amounts and the cutoff numbers are adjusted annually for inflation.
There’s also a number of deferment programs available to help you pay your property tax bill.
Senior and Disabled Property Tax Relief
San Diego does not offer any local exemption for senior or disabled citizens, but property tax relief programs are offered by the state of California for senior citizens or disabled people over 65 years old. An additional program for homeowners over 55 allows them to avoid the new property being reassessed when they sell their home and purchase a new one of equal or lesser value.
More information on San Diego’s property tax exemptions can be found here.
How Can I Get a San Diego Homeowners’ Property Tax Reduction?
You can find most of the information you require on claiming a homeowners’ tax exemption in San Diego here.
There are some important dates to make a note of:
| Date | Action |
| September | Annual property tax bills are mailed |
| November 1 | First installment of property tax due |
| December 10 | Unpaid first installments become delinquent |
| February 1 | Second installment due |
| February 15 | Deadline for exemption applications |
| April 10 | Unpaid second installments become delinquent |
| July 2–December 1 | Appeal period for assessed values |
Use DoNotPay To Get a Homeowners Property Tax Exemption in San Diego
Applying for a property tax exemption in San Diego is relatively straightforward, but DoNotPay can make the process even easier.
can check your location and give you customized advice on what exemptions are available in your area. The guide comes with two sections:
| Property Tax Exemptions | Property Assessment Appeals |
|
|
How Do I Get DoNotPay’s Property Tax Guide?
Getting our guide is fast and simple—here’s what you have to do:
- Go to DoNotPay using any , sign up, and find the Property Tax feature
- Answer the questions about yourself and your property
- Wait for the app to give you a customized guide to property tax reductions
How To Reduce Property Tax in San Diego Even Further
If you want to lower your property tax bill in San Diego even further, there are a few more things you can try. Here are our tips:
- Avoid carrying out any renovation or improvement work that could increase the value of your property
- Ensure your property tax bill is accurate
- Be present when the county assessor performs the assessment
As a last resort, you can appeal your San Diego property tax assessment. This is a big undertaking, but DoNotPay can help you understand the appeal procedure, prepare the documents you need, and lodge your appeal.
DoNotPay—The Easy Way To Save Money
If it looks like your wallet has a hole and the money keeps pouring out for unnecessary expenses, it might be time to come up with a better saving strategy.
DoNotPay uses AI-powered technology to identify the best opportunities for some serious penny-pinching or earning a few extra bucks:
| Saving Money | Earning Money |
|
|
Do You Need Help With All That Paperwork?
Saving money is great, but cutting the time wasted on bureaucracy sometimes sounds even better. DoNotPay joins the best of both worlds and helps you avoid boring paperwork while preventing future unnecessary charges and expenses.
With our help, you can enjoy free trials without any risk, file insurance claims, or handle issues with credit cards.
You won’t have to waste time on researching the right procedures or pay for help if you need to stop stalkers and harassers or put together all sorts of legal documents.