Alameda County, CA Property Tax Calculator

Alameda County Property Tax Rates

Residents of Alameda County, where the median home value is $825,300, pay an average effective property tax rate of 0.88% for a median tax bill of $7,287.

There are several ways to pay your property taxes in Alameda County. You can go online to the website of the county government and look up your property taxes. Once online, you can pay through the site, but be aware that a convenience fee of 2.5% will be charged if you pay by credit card.

You can also call the county at (510) 272-6800 to settle your property tax bill. You’ll be able to use the interactive voice response (IVR) system to find out the size of your property tax bill and to pay by credit card. The same 2.5% fee for credit card payments applies if you pay by phone.

Alameda County has its own mobile app for property tax payments. Called “AC Property,” it’s available for just iPhone. The 2.5% credit card fee applies on the app, too. If you want to go old-school, you can pay by mail or in person. Your property tax bill will come with a return envelope you can use to send a check, but don’t send cash. You can detach the payment coupon from your bill and keep the rest of the bill for your own files. You won’t get a receipt for paying by mail, so check with your bank to make sure that the check clears.

To pay in person, you can head to the Oakland office of Alameda County during a weekday. There, you can pay by cash, check, money order, cashier’s check or certified check. You can also use a kiosk to pay by credit card or electronic check, though a fee will apply.

If your check is returned or your credit card payment is denied, you’ll incur a fee of $61, plus late payment penalties and costs if you’re past the due date. You’ll be notified in the event that this occurs.

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.

Alameda County Property Tax Breaks

Military personnel can apply for Alameda County’s Property Tax Relief for Military Personnel. If your application is successful, you’ll be allowed to defer payment of your property taxes in accordance with the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act. Your deferred payments won’t rack up late fees, but they will be subject to a 6% interest rate.

If you’re behind on your property taxes (this is known as having secured property tax delinquencies), you can apply to set up an Installment Plan Agreement with Alameda County. This will allow you to redeem the property on which back taxes are owed. It applies to property taxes that have been delinquent for a year or more, and will allow you to make up to five catch-up payments. If you have an installment plan in place, your property can’t be sold out from under you and you will retain the right to redeem the property.

Another property tax break available to not only Alameda County residents, but all California residents, is the Property Tax Postponement Program. To qualify, applicants must be seniors, be blind or have a disability. Applicants must also hold at least 40% equity in their home and have an annual household income of $49,017 or less.

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

How Your Alameda County Property Tax Bill Works

Wondering what the payment schedule for Alameda County property taxes looks like? The first installment is due on Nov. 1, and is considered delinquent if not paid by 5 p.m. on December 10. Delinquent payments are subject to a 10% penalty.

The second installment is due on February 1 of the following year and is considered delinquent if not paid by 5 p.m. on April 10. As with the November deadline, late payments will incur a 10% penalty.

If December 10 or April 10 happens to fall on a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, your payment won’t incur a 10% penalty as long as it’s made by 5 p.m. on the following business day.

If you have the money on hand and you want to knock out both property tax installments at once, you can pay the “Total Amount Due” (as listed on your tax statement) by the December 10 deadline. Be sure to include both installment pay stubs if you’re paying by mail.

Often, homebuyers include property tax payments with their mortgage payments and the mortgage company remits the property taxes to the county. If you have this arrangement in place and then the lender stops paying your property taxes (because you pay off your mortgage, for example), you can simply view and pay your bill online, or contact the county to receive a duplicate tax bill complete with payment stub if you plan to pay by mail.