AppealDesk

Sacramento County Property Tax Appeal — California

Rob HartleyRob Hartley·Updated February 15, 2026

Sacramento County is located in northern California and has a population of just over 1.6 million people. It's also home to the state capital. The county's effective property tax rate is 0.73%. At that rate, the total property taxes owed on a median home is $4,059. Sacramento County's county seat is the City of Sacramento, which serves as both the state capital and the county's major population center. The median home price in Sacramento is $271,435, which is below the national median, though the effective property tax rate of 1.20% is slightly higher than the national median. The county includes diverse communities ranging from urban areas like Sacramento to suburban cities like Folsom and rural agricultural regions.

Notable cities: Sacramento, Folsom, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova

Median Home

$315,351

Tax Rate

1.19%

Annual Tax

$3,715

Population

1,600,000

2026 Appeal Deadline: December 1, 2026

The filing period for assessment appeals is July 2 to November 30. Supplemental, Roll Correction and Escape Assessment appeals must be filed within 60 days of the mailing date of the tax bill. Missing a deadline eliminates all recourse for that assessment year. There are no exceptions, extensions, or grace periods in California property tax appeals.

Property in Sacramento County, California — local tax assessment and appeal guide

How Sacramento County Assesses Property

100%of market value

Assessed by: Sacramento County Assessor's Office

Assessment cycle: annual

Notices typically mailed: spring each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of April

In California, properties are assessed at 100% of their market value, meaning the assessed value equals the full market value at the time of purchase or new construction. For example, if your home's market value is $315,351 (the Sacramento County median), at California's 100% assessment ratio your assessed value would be $315,351, resulting in approximately $3,753 in annual taxes at the county's effective rate of 1.19%. Thanks to Proposition 13, this assessed value can only increase by a maximum of 2% per year, regardless of market appreciation.

The Appeal Process

Appeals are heard by the Assessment Appeals Board. The hearing leads to both the owner and Assessor's Office presenting evidence to support their opinions of value. The Appeals Board operates under California property tax law and Local Rules of Procedure and is independent of the Assessor's Office.

1

Step 1: Contact Real Property appraisal staff at(916) 875-0700 before filing the appeal to discuss your assessed value

2

Step 2: File for an informal Prop 8 review with the Assessor's Office between July 1 and December 31 - there is no charge for this service

3

Step 3: Request an appeal application from the Assessment Appeals Board at 700 H Street, Room 2450 or call(916) 874-8174

4

Step 4: Fill out the form electronically on your computer, then print the completed form and submit it with an original signature in blue ink

5

Step 5: Submit your formal appeal with a $30 filing fee before the deadline

6

Step 6: Attend the hearing where both the owner and the Assessor's Office will present evidence to support their opinions of value

7

Step 7: If unsatisfied with the Appeals Board decision, consider filing with the State Board of Equalization or pursuing court action

Required form: BOE-305-AH REV. 12 (5-24)

Filing Methods

mail:700 H Street, Room 2450; Sacramento, CA 95814
in-person:700 H Street, Room 2450; Sacramento, CA 95814 or South County Service Center: 8239 E. Stockton Boulevard, Suite A

Evidence to Bring

Comparable sales dataPhotos of property conditionRepair estimatesAppraisal reports

Sacramento County Assessor Contact

Sacramento County Assessor's Office

Phone: Real Property Assessment: (916) 875-0700

Address: 3636 American River Drive, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95864-5952

Website: https://assessor.saccounty.gov/

Hours: Phone Hours 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Office Hours 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tax Exemptions in Sacramento County

Homeowners' Exemption

$7,000 assessed value reduction resulting in a savings of approximately $70-$80 in property taxes each year

The California Constitution provides a $7,000 reduction in the taxable value for a qualifying owner-occupied home

Eligibility: The home must have been the principal place of residence of the owner on the lien date, January 1stDeadline: February 15 to receive the full exemption for that year

Disabled Veterans' Exemption

Can reduce the assessed value of a property by up to $196,262

Provides a higher tax savings benefit than the Homeowners' Exemption $7,000 maximum

Eligibility: Veterans who have a service-connected disability and who have been honorably discharged from the militaryDeadline: February 15

Senior Property Tax Postponement

Allows postponement of property tax payments

Property tax postponement for qualifying seniors

Eligibility: Seniors meeting age and income requirementsDeadline: Contact Assessor for details

Proposition 19 Base Year Value Transfer

Maintains existing tax base when moving

Homeowners 55+ or those with disabilities may transfer their current tax base to a new Sacramento home under specific conditions

Eligibility: Homeowners 55+ or those with severe disabilitiesDeadline: Within specific timeframes after property transfer

Official Resources

Sacramento County Assessor Website →

Official website for property information, forms, exemptions, and assessment appeals information

Sacramento County Assessment Appeals Board →

Official appeals board information including filing procedures and hearing schedules

California State Board of Equalization - Property Tax Appeals →

State-level guidance on property tax appeals including forms and instructional materials

Sacramento County Property Tax Lookup Tool →

Online tool to search for property assessed values using parcel numbers

Sacramento County Appeal Statistics

Success Rate

38%

Check Your Sacramento County Assessment

Enter your address to see if your Sacramento County property is overassessed.

✓ All 50 states✓ Instant results✓ $49 flat fee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline to appeal my property taxes in Sacramento County?
The deadline to appeal your 2026 property taxes in Sacramento County is December 1, 2026. The filing period begins July 2, giving you five months to prepare and submit your appeal. Missing this deadline eliminates all recourse for that assessment year, with no exceptions, extensions, or grace periods allowed in California property tax appeals. For supplemental assessments, you have only 60 days from the mailing date of your tax bill to file an appeal.
How do I file a property tax appeal in Sacramento County online?
Sacramento County only accepts paper applications—you must print the completed form and submit it with an original signature in blue ink. This makes Sacramento County more restrictive than counties like Santa Clara or Los Angeles that have modernized with online filing systems. However, you can file for an informal Prop 8 review with the Assessor's Office online between July 1 and December 31, which is free and may resolve your concerns without a formal appeal. The formal appeal requires the BOE-305-AH form submitted to the Assessment Appeals Board.
What is the homestead exemption worth in Sacramento County?
The Homeowners' Exemption in Sacramento County provides a $7,000 reduction in assessed value, resulting in savings of approximately $70-$80 in property taxes each year. To qualify, the home must be your principal place of residence as of January 1st each year. You must file claim form BOE-266, Claim for Homeowners' Property Tax Exemption, which is available from the county assessor. To receive the full exemption, file by February 15. This is different from the legal homestead declaration which protects equity from creditors.
What happens at a Board of Equalization hearing in Sacramento County?
At the hearing, both you and the Assessor's Office will present evidence to support your opinions of value. The Appeals Board operates under California property tax law and Local Rules of Procedure, and is independent of the Assessor's Office. You'll need to bring comparable sales data, photos showing property conditions, repair estimates, or appraisal reports to support your case. The Board can raise, lower, or sustain the current assessment based on the evidence presented. The appeals process can take up to two years from filing to resolution, but many cases settle informally with the Assessor's office before reaching a formal hearing.
How much can I save by appealing my property taxes in Sacramento County?
About 38% of California property tax appeals succeed, and Sacramento County property owners could save $400 to $1,000+ annually by filing a formal appeal if their home's assessed value is higher than what it would actually sell for. With the median annual Sacramento County tax bill at $3,715, even a modest 10-15% reduction in assessed value could save several hundred dollars per year. The savings continue each year until the property changes ownership or undergoes new construction, making the one-time $30 filing fee a worthwhile investment if you have evidence your property is overassessed.
What evidence do I need for a Sacramento County property tax appeal?
For a successful property tax appeal in Sacramento County, you'll need solid evidence showing your property's market value on January 1st was lower than the assessed value. Your job is to document that with three solid comparable sales and reasonable adjustments. The most persuasive evidence includes recent sales of similar properties in your neighborhood, photos documenting any condition issues, contractor estimates for needed repairs, and professional appraisal reports if available. The computer-assisted mass appraisal system Sacramento County uses is efficient but imperfect—it doesn't visit every property annually, doesn't account for every condition issue, and sometimes makes mathematical or classification errors.
Can I appeal my property taxes if I just bought my home in Sacramento County?
Generally, newly purchased properties in Sacramento County are assessed at their purchase price, making successful appeals unlikely unless you can prove the purchase was not an arm's length transaction or there were significant undisclosed defects. Once you buy or sell a home, the county assessor recalculates the assessed value based on the market purchase price. However, following your home purchase, the Sacramento County Assessor re-evaluates your property based on the new sale price. If it's higher than the prior assessed value, expect a supplemental tax bill. You can appeal supplemental assessments within 60 days of receiving the bill if you believe the assessment is incorrect.
What is the difference between an informal review and formal appeal in Sacramento County?
Sacramento County offers an informal Prop 8 review with the Assessor's Office between July 1 and December 31, with no charge for this service. This informal review allows you to present your case directly to the Assessor's staff without filing fees or formal procedures. If the informal review doesn't resolve your concerns, you must file a formal appeal using the BOE-305-AH form with a $30 fee before the deadline. The BOE-305-AH is the only form that constitutes an actual legal appeal in California—everything else is just an informal request. The formal appeal process provides legal protections and a binding decision from the independent Assessment Appeals Board.

For state-wide appeal information including California's assessment ratio and deadlines, see our California Property Tax Appeal Guide →

Considering professional help with your appeal? Compare pricing, coverage, and pros/cons in our Best Property Tax Appeal Services (2026) or browse side-by-side service comparisons →

More California Counties

Alameda County (Oakland)Butte County (Chico)Contra Costa County (Martinez)El Dorado County (Placerville)Fresno County (Fresno)Kern County (Bakersfield)
← All California property tax appeal info

Sources: https://www.lowproptax.com/blog/sacramento-county-property-tax-appeals-2026-complete-guide | https://assessor.saccounty.gov/Pages/AssessmentAppeals.aspx | https://www.ownwell.com/trends/california/sacramento-county | https://smartasset.com/taxes/california-property-tax-calculator

Last verified: 2026-02-15