Santa Cruz County property tax
6 days left Until this due date
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Last day to pay without a penalty: .
Read the county’s exact wording
Officially published. Check the county’s payment time and method. Updated daily.
First installment due November 1, 2026. Pay by December 10, 2026, to avoid penalties.
Not tax or legal advice; confirm with your county. Dates are shown as published by the source.
Installment timeline
2026–2027Due dates and filing windows, in one view.
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Today:
Assessment notice: not yet verified.
Appeal window: not yet verified.
How to pay
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Late payments and penalties
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10% penalty on each delinquent installment; additional costs may apply when the second installment is delinquent.
Officially published
A numerical example is unavailable without a verified single percentage and unit. Use the published rule or ask the county for a payoff amount.
Assessment appeals
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Exemptions
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Homeowners' Exemption
Who may qualify
Officially published
Senior and Disabled Citizen Exemptions
County offices
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Common questions
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When is property tax due in Santa Cruz County?
First secured installment: November 1, 2026 (Officially published). Second secured installment: February 1, 2027 (Set by law).
Where can I pay Santa Cruz County property tax?
Use the official payment portal: https://ttc.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/TaxBills/. Online e-check, Discover credit card
Sources
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Read the source quotations (16)
https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Default.aspx?TabID=4490
2026–2027 Secured Annual Property Tax Bills are now available online and are being mailed.
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https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Default.aspx?TabID=4490
First installment due November 1, 2026. Pay by December 10, 2026, to avoid penalties.
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https://boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/calendar.htm
§ 2606 Rev. & Tax. Code February 1 Property owners Second installment real property taxes due and payable.
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https://boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/calendar.htm
§§ 2618 and 2705 Rev. & Tax. Code April 10 Property owners Second installment of taxes on the secured roll, if unpaid, is delinquent at 5:00 p.m., or close of business day, whichever is later.
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https://boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/calendar.htm
If the specified date falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the action may be done on the next business day. (Government Code §§ 6706, 6707)
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https://www.boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/homeowners_exemption.htm
The California Constitution provides a $7,000 reduction in the taxable value for a qualifying owner-occupied home. The home must have been the principal place of residence of the owner on the lien date, January 1st.
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https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/TaxCollector/TaxCollectionDivision/Exemptions.aspx
Under Government Code Section 50079, persons age 65 and older may be exempted from paying the parcel taxes, provided that an enabling exemption is included in the wording approved by the ballot measure.
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https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/TaxCollector/TaxCollectionDivision/Exemptions.aspx
The State Controller’s Office (SCO) administers the Property Tax Postponement (PTP) program, which allows eligible homeowners to postpone payment of current-year property taxes on their primary residence.
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https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/TaxCollector/TaxCollectionDivision/Exemptions.aspx
PTP applications are accepted from October 1 to February 10 each year.
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https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/TaxCollector/TaxCollectionDivision/PayPropertyTax.aspx
Pay Property Taxes Here
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https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/TaxCollector/TaxCollectionDivision/PayPropertyTax.aspx
Online (recommended): e-check (free, immediate confirmation) Credit Card: Discover accepted (service fee applies)
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https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/TaxCollector/TaxCollectionDivision/PayPropertyTax.aspx
A 10% penalty is added to any unpaid installment after the delinquency date. If the second installment becomes delinquent, additional costs may also apply.
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https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Default.aspx?TabID=4490
Laura Bowers, CPA, CPFO Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector
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https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/ClerkoftheBoard/AssessmentAppealsBoard/Contactus.aspx
Clerk of the Board Attn: Assessment Appeals Board 701 Ocean Street, Room 520 Santa Cruz, CA 95060
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How we verified this page
Official sources, verification dates and corrections
Property tax in Santa Cruz County: county, state and US
Compare Census estimates and read the sampling notes
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Census ACS 2020–2024 estimates for owner-occupied homes. The median annual tax paid is a historical survey estimate, not a quote for this year’s bill.
| Area | Median annual tax paid | Median home value | Effective rate estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County | $6,538 | $1,027,500 | 0.64% |
| California | $5,124 | $734,700 | 0.70% |
| United States | $3,119 | $332,700 | 0.94% |
Santa Cruz County’s effective-rate point estimate is 0.06 percentage points below California’s and 0.30 percentage points below the US estimate.
Effective rate = median annual real estate taxes paid (B25103) ÷ median owner-occupied home value (B25077). State and US figures use their own Census medians, not averages of counties. These ratios are not rates set by law or medians of individual tax rates. Differences are not tests of statistical significance. Bounded or missing estimates stay unavailable.
Census sources, quotations and sampling uncertainty
Santa Cruz County
Annual taxes: $6,538 (90% margin of error: ±$166). Census table B25103_001E.
0500000US06087|6538|166|7434|226|4595|320
Home value: $1,027,500 (90% margin of error: ±$15,133). Census table B25077_001E.
0500000US06087|1027500|15133
Estimated effective rate: 0.64%. Census source.
0500000US06087|6538|166|7434|226|4595|320
California
Annual taxes: $5,124 (90% margin of error: ±$17). Census table B25103_001E.
0400000US06|5124|17|5839|17|3825|19
Home value: $734,700 (90% margin of error: ±$1,307). Census table B25077_001E.
0400000US06|734700|1307
Estimated effective rate: 0.70%. Census source.
0400000US06|5124|17|5839|17|3825|19
United States
Annual taxes: $3,119 (90% margin of error: ±$4). Census table B25103_001E.
0100000US|3119|4|3489|4|2576|4
Home value: $332,700 (90% margin of error: ±$236). Census table B25077_001E.
0100000US|332700|236
Estimated effective rate: 0.94%. Census source.
0100000US|3119|4|3489|4|2576|4
Guides and related dates
Santa Cruz County property tax calculator
Estimate your bill, check exemptions and compare counties
Tools: Santa Cruz County, CA
Property tax calculator
Estimated annual property tax $6,538
$1,027,500 home value × 0.64% Census effective rate ≈ $6,538 per year. Uses the unrounded ratio; your actual bill may differ.
Estimate only. Not tax, legal or financial advice; confirm with your county.
Starts at the Census median for Santa Cruz County, CA.
Math and official Census sources
$6,538 median annual tax ÷ $1,027,500 median home value = 0.64%. Census ACS 2020–2024; a historical survey ratio, not a parcel tax rate.
0500000US06087|1027500|15133
Census source. Last verified 2026-10-24.
0500000US06087|6538|166|7434|226|4595|320
Census source. Last verified 2026-10-24.
Full Santa Cruz County, CA calculator: exemptions, rates, dates and reminders
Prorated property tax calculator
Nearby counties and other due dates
Nearby counties
We haven’t verified a shared Census area for nearby county links.
Other counties in California due soon
Published payment dates in the next 60 days.
- Alameda County Due date:
- Amador County Due date:
- Butte County Due date:
- Calaveras County Due date:
Date sources and verification
Alameda County
Set by law. Verified October 24, 2026. Official date source
§ 2605 Rev. & Tax. Code … November 1 … Property owners … First installment of real property taxes and all taxes on personal property on the secured roll are due and payable.
Amador County
Set by law. Verified October 25, 2026. Official date source
§ 2605 Rev. & Tax. Code | November 1 | Property owners | First installment of real property taxes and all taxes on personal property on the secured roll are due and payable.
Butte County
Set by law. Verified October 24, 2026. Official date source
§ 2605 Rev. & Tax. Code November 1 Property owners First installment of real property taxes and all taxes on personal property on the secured roll are due and payable.
Calaveras County
Set by law. Verified October 25, 2026. Official date source
§ 2605 Rev. & Tax. Code | November 1 | Property owners | First installment of real property taxes and all taxes on personal property on the secured roll are due and payable.
Updated , from cited verification dates. Individual sources may have earlier checks.