Palm Desert property tax: where it goes
A Palm Desert house pays 1.22% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $542,000 of market value with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $6,541 a year.
Tax is levied on the assessed value (Prop 13).
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $542,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1% general levy (countywide) | 1% | $5,350 |
| Desert Sands Unified School District bonds (schools) | 0.075% | $401 |
| Desert Community College District bonds (schools) | 0.035% | $187 |
| Coachella Valley Water District State Water Project | 0.11% | $589 |
| Coachella Valley mosquito, fire ant and disease control assessment | flat | $14 |
| Total | 1.22% | $6,541 |
2026-27 tax year, Riverside County (tax rate area 018-000, Palm Desert: Desert Sands Unified, Desert Community College and CVWD State Water Project). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 30, 2026 (in 39 days) | Last day to file a 2026 regular assessment appeal in Riverside County (filing period July 2 to November 30, 2026). |
| Dec 10 (in 49 days) | First property tax installment is due Nov 1 and becomes delinquent Dec 10; taxes not paid by the delinquent date get a 10% penalty. |
| Feb 15 | Last day for a first-time homeowners' exemption claim to get the full exemption for the year. |
| Apr 10 | Second property tax installment is due Feb 1 and becomes delinquent Apr 10; taxes not paid by the delinquent date get a 10% penalty. |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- California BOE Publication 29: property tax overview
- California BOE: homeowners' exemption
- Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District: July 14, 2026 board packet (FY 2026-27 assessment)
- California BOE: 2026 assessment appeals filing periods
- Riverside County Resolution 2026-153 (2026-27 tax rates)
- Riverside County Auditor-Controller: FY 2025-26 tax rates by district
- Riverside County Auditor-Controller: primary tax rate area numbers and names
Checked October 22, 2026. Every number here comes from the public sources listed, matched by our checker.
Rates change every year; this page shows when it was last checked. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.