Orange County, CA Property Tax Calculator

Orange County Property Tax Rates

The median home value in Orange County, is $703,800 and the median property tax payment is $5,588. 

The revenue generated from Orange County property taxes is needed to provide funding for schools, public libraries and other local projects and initiatives.

In California, your property tax rate may differ depending on whether your property is secured or unsecured. Secured property generally refers to any property that can be used as collateral, like land and mines. In other words, if a homeowner or business owner fails to pay his or her secured property taxes, they can be paid when the property is sold. That’s not the case with unsecured property (like office equipment, boats and airplanes) since it isn’t considered real estate.

A financial advisor can help you understand how homeownership fits into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Orange County Property Tax Breaks

Looking for a way to lower your property tax bill? If you own a home, you may be eligible for a homeowners’ exemption. Orange County residents can qualify for the exemption if they own and occupy a property that serves as their primary residence on Jan. 1 of any given tax year.

If you qualify for the full exemption, $7,000 of your home’s value will be exempt from taxation. If you don’t own and occupy a primary residence on January 1, you may qualify for a partial exemption (equal to $5,600) if you file a claim with the Orange County treasurer-tax collector by December 10. Filing a claim by February 15 will ensure that you receive your full exemption the following tax year.

Another tax-saving program allows senior citizens and blind and disabled individuals to postpone the payment of property taxes on their primary residence. To qualify, your annual household income must be $49,017 or less and you must have at least 40% equity in your home.

Senior citizens may also save money on property taxes through Propositions 60 and 90, which allow them to transfer the base value of a former residence to another residence as long as they follow certain rules. For example, the new property must be of equal or lesser value than the first home. In Orange County, seniors can take advantage of these property tax benefits even when their replacement home is located in another county in California.

If you have questions about how property taxes can affect your overall financial plans, a financial advisor in Newport Beach can help you out.

Paying Your Orange County Property Taxes

The Orange County tax collector prepares tax bills for secured properties and mails them out between September and October each year. You can also find your property tax bill online by visiting ocgov.com/octaxbill.

Secured property taxes are paid in two installments. The first installment is due on November 1, and the second installment is due the following year on February 1. If the payment for your secured property taxes isn’t postmarked by its deadline (December 10 for the first installment and April 10 for the second installment), your taxes become delinquent and you’ll face a 10% penalty. You’ll also be required to pay a $23 collection fee if you miss the deadline on April 10.

Unsecured property tax bills are mailed out by July 31. Tax payments are due in full and must be postmarked by August 31. If you miss this deadline, you’ll get hit with a 10% penalty and a $75 collection fee. If you’re afraid that your secured property or unsecured property tax payment might be late, you can sign up for a free email reminder service.

Note that by failing to pay your unsecured property taxes, you may end up with a tax lien. Before this happens, you’ll receive a notice of the county’s intent to enforce collections. In the worst case scenario, you could face a lawsuit for not paying the unsecured property taxes that you owe. Your bank account or your unsecured property could be seized as well.

There are multiple ways to pay your property tax bill. You can mail in your payment or pay your bill online. While it’s free to pay with an e-check or through an online banking system, you’ll incur a 2.3% fee if you pay with a credit card. You can also pay online through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) or in person by visiting the Office of the Tax Collector located in the Hall of Finance in Santa Ana.