As a rule, property
is taxed at a rate
of one percent of its
assessed value.
WHAT ARE THE ASSESSOR ’ S DUTIES ?
California law grants to the County Assessor the duty to
assess (determine taxable value) property. Here in San Mateo
County, that task encompasses more than 217,000 parcels
of land and more than 25,000 businesses, with a total
assessed value of more than $97 billion. Each year, the
Assessor processes more than 50,000 transfer documents,
24,000 building permits, 12,000 exemption claims, and
8,500 business property statements, and maintains more
than 5,400 parcel maps.
Each July, the Assessor publishes the official listing –
“assessment roll” – of assessed properties and their values.
Roll data is sent to the County Tax Collector who
then issues tax bills, collects payments, and the County
Controller distributes tax revenues to county and local
governments according to an allocation formula set by the
state law. That formula now allocates 14% to the county,
12% to cities, 9% to special districts, and 65% to schools.
WHAT PROPERTY IS TAXABLE ?
All property in the state is taxable unless state law
excludes it. Generally speaking, taxable properties include
land, buildings, business assets, boats, airplanes, and
manufactured homes.
HOW MUCH CAN IT BE TAXED ?
As a rule, property is taxed at a rate of one percent of its
assessed value.
Each type of property type has its assessed value determined
according to specific formulas set by law. The California
Constitution, as amended by ballot Proposition 13 in 1978,
set limits on real property taxes:
• Limits tax rate to 1% of assessed value (except for
voter-approved or improvement bonds, service fees, and
special assessments)
• Limits annual inflation-based assessed value increase to 2%
• Proposition 8, enacted in 1978, allows reduction of
assessed value if the property is substantially damaged,
destroyed, or has a market value that is less than its
Proposition 13 value
WHEN IS PROPERTY ASSESSED ?
The Assessor’s business calendar – “fiscal year” – is July 1
through June 30. Property owners are identified and become
responsible for assessed taxes as of January 1 – the “lien date.”
Other key dates are determined by property type and related
events:
A. Real Property
Real property – “real estate” – includes land and the
buildings attached to it. The Assessor identifies each unit
of real property – a “parcel” – with a unique identifying
number (“APN”). The assessed tax on each parcel is
“secured,” meaning that the tax collector may sell the
property if the taxes remain unpaid.
Proposition 13 established the 1975-1976 market values
as the “base year” value for all properties existing when
Proposition 13 was passed in 1978.
A new appraisal is required only in the event of certain
changes of ownership (usually a sale or transfer) or
new construction which improves the property (beyond
normal maintenance). The fiscal year in which such an
event occurs becomes the new “base year.” Since 1983, the
new appraisal will result in a “supplemental assessment”
to the owner. A supplemental assessment is separate and
additional to the normal annual assessment, reflecting
the difference between the new base year value and the
previous value entered in the year-end secured assessment
roll. The supplemental assessment is prorated between
fiscal years based on reappraisal date. Accordingly, a
reappraisal date between January 1 and May 31 results
in a prorated supplemental assessment for the remaining
months of the fiscal year and one for the following fiscal
year. A reappraisal date between June 1 and December 31
results in one supplemental assessment for the current fiscal year only. Supplemental assessment notices are issued
to owners prior to the Tax Collector’s issuance of tax bills.
A-1. Change of Ownership
When a property owner files with the County Recorder
a document indicating a change in ownership (such as
a deed, or unrecorded sale contract or probate or trust
agreement), the owner must also file the Assessor’s
Preliminary Change in Ownership Report. The Assessor
then determines whether the transfer is exempt from
reappraisal. An automatic exclusion applies to a transfer
between spouses as a result of divorce or death. Exclusions
available upon timely application include: (1) a transfer
of a principal residence between parent and child;
(2) the first $1 million of full cash value of property
transferred between parent and child. However, these are
not “automatic” and require that a “claim” form be filled
by the applicant.
A-2. New Construction
The Assessor receives copies of all building permits
within the county. Generally, structural additions, but
not replacements, require reappraisal. Only the addition
is reappraised; the reappraisal value is added to the preexisting value of the main structure. The Assessor will
notify the owner of the reappraised value. The owner
has the right to dispute the value by way of an appeal.
B. Personal Property
Personal property and the tax on it are generally “unsecured” because the tax debt is against a “movable” asset.
Personal property is reassessed each January 1 at its fair
market value.
CONTACT INFORMATION
ASSESSOR
B-2. Boats and Aircraft
These are assessed annually, based on actual purchase
price as adjusted by the sale prices of comparable craft.
We identify location and ownership with information
obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles, the
Federal Aviation Administration, and site inspections.
IMPORTANT DATES
Jan 1
Feb 1
WHAT IF YOU DISPUTE OUR ASSESSMENT ?
Second installment of secured taxes due
and payable
Apr 1
Business property statement due filed (file
before May 8 to avoid late penalty)
Apr 10
Deadline to pay second installment of secured
taxes. A 10% penalty plus $10.00 charge is
added after 5:00 P.M.
B-3. Business Property
Supplies, equipment, and fixtures are appraised
annually. Owners must file a detailed statement of
costs and location by April 1. Late filing penalty
(10% of full cash value) applies after May 7.
“Lien Date” as of which ownership and value
is determined
www.smcare.org
[email protected]
Property Owner
Assessment
Information
San Mateo County
Real Property
Owner & Parcel info ..................................363-4500
Exemptions................................................363-4500
Maps..........................................................363-4502
Recorded Document Info ..........................363-4500
Business Property .....................................363-4501
Boat & Aircraft ..........................................363-4501
May 8
Penalty applies for late business property
statement
Jun 30
Last day of fiscal year
APPEALS BOARD
Appeals Board ..........................................363-4573
Jul 1
Fiscal year begins; secured roll done
Within 15 days of receiving notice of an assessment, you
may notify us that you disagree with our valuation. You and
an appraiser will review your claim and any supporting
information you can provide. If we can reach an agreement,
we will adjust your assessment.
Jul 2
Appeals Board filing period opens
Aug 31
Unsecured property tax payment due
Mid-Oct
Tax Collector issues annual tax bills
TAX COLLECTOR
www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/taxcollector
Nov 1
First installment of secured taxes due
and payable
Tax Rates ..................................................363-4777
Tax Bills & Payments ................................363-4142
If we cannot agree, we’ll help you apply to the County
Assessment Appeals Board. This independent panel of three
private citizens, appointed by the Board of Supervisors,
will review our valuation, following formal hearing where we
both may submit evidence. Appeals from annual assessments
may be filed only from July 2 to November 30. Appeals
from supplemental assessments (issued following a change in
ownership or new construction) may be filed within 60 days
of the date of the notice of supplemental assessment.
Nov 30
Appeals Board filing period closes
Dec 10
Deadline to pay first installment of secured
taxes; a 10% penalty is added after 5:00 P.M.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Controller ..................................................800-952-5661
www.sco.ca.gov
Franchise Tax Board..................................800-852-5711
www.ftb.ca.gov
Board of Equalization ................................800-400-7115
www.boe.ca.gov
SAN MATEO COUNTY
ASSESSOR-COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665
(650) 363-4500
www.smcare.org
Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00
printed on recycled paper
Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Warren Slocum
Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
& Chief Elections Officer
County of San Mateo
555 County Center
Redwood City
California 94063
Phone 650-363-4500