San Francisco property tax: where it goes
A San Francisco house pays 1.182% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $656,456 of value before exemptions with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $8,497 a year.
Tax is levied on assessed value (Prop 13), as determined each year by the Assessor-Recorder.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $656,456 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco secured property tax rate (1% general levy plus voter-approved debt) | 1.1816% | $7,674 |
| SFUSD School Parcel Tax of 2020 (Prop J) | flat | $342 |
| SFUSD Teacher Support (QTEA 2008) | flat | $326 |
| SFUSD Facilities District special tax | flat | $44 |
| City College parcel tax | flat | $99 |
| SF Bay Restoration Authority parcel tax | flat | $12 |
| Total | 1.182% | $8,497 |
2026-27 tax year, City and County of San Francisco. Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
Ways to pay less
- Seniors 65+: school parcel tax exemptions. SFUSD offers senior exemptions from three parcel taxes. For the Quality Teacher & Education Act tax ($326.30 in 2026-27) and the School Parcel Tax of 2020 ($341.56), the senior owner must be at least 65 by June 30, 2027, own the property and live there as their principal residence. For the School Facilities Special Tax ($43.86 for a single-family home), a senior occupant 65 or older must live there as their principal residence; the owner need not be 65. Parcels exempted in 2025-26 that still meet the criteria are exempted automatically for 2026-27. How: Apply to the SFUSD Senior Citizen Exemption Office (SeniorExemptionOffice@sfusd.edu); new applications for 2026-27 were due June 30, 2026.
- New owners: file the homeowners' exemption. If you own and live in your home as your principal residence, the exemption takes up to $7,000 off its assessed value, about $80 a year in tax. File by February 15 for the full exemption; once filed, you do not need to file again unless you move. How: File online through the Assessor-Recorder's community portal, by email to asrexemptionunit@sfgov.org, or at City Hall, Room 190.
- Disabled veterans: property tax exemption. Veterans with 100% disability, or partially disabled and unemployable, or their unmarried surviving spouses, are eligible for up to a $271,009 exemption. If total household income does not exceed $81,131, a 100% disabled veteran may qualify for up to $271,009. How: File with the Assessor-Recorder through its online community portal or on the paper claim form.
- Seniors, blind or disabled: property tax postponement. The State Controller's Property Tax Postponement Program lets homeowners who are seniors, blind, or have a disability defer current-year property taxes if they meet certain criteria. How: For more information, call the State Controller at (800) 952-5661.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Dec 10 (in 48 days) | First installment of secured property tax is delinquent after 5:00 pm; 10% penalty. |
| Feb 15 | Deadline to file for the full homeowners' exemption. |
| Apr 10 | Second installment of secured property tax is delinquent after 5:00 pm; 10% penalty plus applicable fees. |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- SF Assessor Historical Secured Property Tax Rolls (DataSF), 2025 roll, class D dwellings
- LAO: Understanding California's Property Taxes
- SF Treasurer: parcel tax exemptions and special assessments
- SF Treasurer: secured property taxes
- California BOE: Homeowners' Exemption
- SF Assessor-Recorder: veterans' exemption
- SF Assessor-Recorder
- SF Assessor-Recorder: homeowners' exemption
- SFUSD Senior Citizen Exemption Office
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.