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Santa Cruz County dates and official links

Santa Cruz County Property Tax Calculator

Estimate from home value, or use taxable value and the rate on your bill.

Tools: Santa Cruz County, CA

Property tax calculator

Estimate for Santa Cruz County, CA

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.

Get county tax reminders

Starts at the county’s Census median: $1,027,500. Change it to your best estimate.

The Census estimate describes owner-occupied homes in 2020–2024. It does not calculate a parcel’s current assessment or exemption savings. Use your bill details to test an exemption.

Official tax information

County, state and national effective rates
Santa Cruz County, CA
0.64%
California
0.70%
United States
0.94%

Each rate is median annual taxes ÷ median home value for that area. These historical survey ratios are not tax rates set by law or averages of county rates. Displayed rates are rounded; calculations use the unrounded ratio.

Santa Cruz County, CA: math and Census sources

$6,538 median annual taxes ÷ $1,027,500 median home value = 0.64%. Census ACS 2020–2024.

Sources. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Median home value
0500000US06087|1027500|15133

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Median annual taxes
0500000US06087|6538|166|7434|226|4595|320

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Effective rate calculation
0500000US06087|6538|166|7434|226|4595|320

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

California: math and Census sources

$5,124 median annual taxes ÷ $734,700 median home value = 0.70%. Census ACS 2020–2024.

Sources. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Median home value
0400000US06|734700|1307

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Median annual taxes
0400000US06|5124|17|5839|17|3825|19

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Effective rate calculation
0400000US06|5124|17|5839|17|3825|19

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

United States: math and Census sources

$3,119 median annual taxes ÷ $332,700 median home value = 0.94%. Census ACS 2020–2024.

Sources. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Median home value
0100000US|332700|236

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Median annual taxes
0100000US|3119|4|3489|4|2576|4

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Effective rate calculation
0100000US|3119|4|3489|4|2576|4

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Survey estimates have sampling error and do not account for your parcel’s assessment, taxing districts or exemptions. Estimation methodology.

Due dates for Santa Cruz County, CA

First secured installment: November 1, 2026 (Officially published). Last day to pay without a penalty: December 10, 2026.

Installment label
First installment due November 1, 2026. Pay by December 10, 2026, to avoid penalties.

Official source. Officially published Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Published due date
First installment due November 1, 2026. Pay by December 10, 2026, to avoid penalties.

Official source. Officially published Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Payment cutoff and exact wording
First installment due November 1, 2026. Pay by December 10, 2026, to avoid penalties.

Official source. Officially published Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Second secured installment: February 1, 2027 (Set by law).

Installment label
§ 2606 Rev. & Tax. Code February 1 Property owners Second installment real property taxes due and payable.

Official source. Set by law Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Published due date
§ 2606 Rev. & Tax. Code February 1 Property owners Second installment real property taxes due and payable.

Official source. Set by law Checked Oct 24, 2026.

County dates and official payment links. Dates are published dates, not a statement of your account balance.

Exemptions you may be missing (3 programs in our records)

Exemptions you may be missing

Sources. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Check the exemptions that may fit. A “Yes” does not confirm eligibility; your assessor makes that decision.

Homeowners' Exemption

Qualifying owner-occupied principal residence on January 1; $7,000 reduction of taxable value.

Does this describe you?
Possible annual savings Answer above

We’ll show the next step for this exemption.

Estimate only. Not tax, legal or financial advice; confirm with your county.

Official eligibility and application

Eligibility source
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.

Official source. Officially published Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Senior and Disabled Citizen Exemptions

People age 65 or older may qualify for exemption from a parcel tax only if the voter-approved measure includes an enabling exemption. Contact the applicable district about eligibility and filing.

Does this describe you?
Possible annual savings Answer above

We’ll show the next step for this exemption.

Estimate only. Not tax, legal or financial advice; confirm with your county.

Official eligibility and application

Eligibility source
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.

Official source. Officially published Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Property Tax Postponement for Senior Citizens, Blind or Disabled Persons

Eligible homeowners may postpone current-year property tax on their primary residence through the State Controller’s program.

Does this describe you?
Possible annual savings Answer above

We’ll show the next step for this exemption.

Estimate only. Not tax, legal or financial advice; confirm with your county.

Official eligibility and application

Eligibility source
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.

Official source. Officially published Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Savings source
PTP applications are accepted from October 1 to February 10 each year.

Official source. Officially published Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Full-year marginal estimates before tax ceilings, special charges or mid-year changes. Enter the taxable value before this exemption to avoid subtracting it twice. Estimates are separate. Do not add them together; eligibility, taxing units and restrictions can overlap.

Late payment penalty

Late payment penalty

Sources. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Not available yet

A complete penalty rule and its payment deadline have not been verified here.

Estimate only. Not tax, legal or financial advice; confirm with your county.

Check the official information

Source details
A 10% penalty is added to any unpaid installment after the delinquency date. If the second installment becomes delinquent, additional costs may also apply.

Official source. Officially published Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Is my assessment too high?

Is my assessment too high?

Use market value, not assessed or taxable value.

Compared with the county median At the median

This compares market values only; being above the county median does not establish overassessment.

Estimate only. Not tax, legal or financial advice; confirm with your county.

Official appeal information

Sources. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Census survey, 2020–2024. Rate = median annual taxes ÷ median home value.

Census home value source
0500000US06087|1027500|15133

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Census taxes paid source
0500000US06087|6538|166|7434|226|4595|320

Official source. Checked Oct 24, 2026.

Appeal dates and filing

County appeal deadline: Not yet announced here. Confirm the deadline on your notice with the official office.

How to file: Clerk of the Board, Attn: Assessment Appeals Board, 701 Ocean Street, Room 520, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

State guidance: File the county's Assessment Appeal Application (BOE-305-AH) with the clerk of the board in the county where the property is located.

Official appeal source. Last verified 2026-10-24.

Official appeal source. Last verified 2026-10-24.

Official appeal source. Last verified 2026-10-24.

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    Starts at the county’s Census median: $1,027,500. Change it to your best estimate.

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    Estimate only. Not tax, legal or financial advice; confirm with your county.

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    Estimate only. Not tax, legal or financial advice; confirm with your county. How these estimates work.

    What's next for you

    Santa Cruz County, CA

    Due date:

    Official source

    Officially published. Verified October 24, 2026.

    First installment due November 1, 2026. Pay by December 10, 2026, to avoid penalties.

    Check the official source

    Add to calendar Remind me

    Updated , from cited verification dates. Individual sources may have earlier checks.