San Marcos property tax: where it goes
A San Marcos house pays 1.142% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $969,000 of market value with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $11,004 a year.
Tax is levied on assessed value; in addition to the one percent (1%) rate set by Proposition 13, a typical annual secured tax bill includes tax rates for voter approved debt of school districts and special districts.
The County Auditor has not yet published its 2026-27 tax rate book (checked October 21, 2026), so the ad valorem rates are 2025-26. The flat vector control assessment is the 2026-27 amount.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $969,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1% general levy (Prop 13) | 1% | $9,620 |
| San Marcos Unified school tax (schools) | 0.0854% | $822 |
| Community college (Palomar) school tax (schools) | 0.019% | $183 |
| Palomar Health bonds (Prop BB) | 0.031% | $298 |
| Metropolitan Water District | 0.007% | $67 |
| County vector control assessment | flat | $13 |
| Total | 1.142% | $11,004 |
2025-26 tax year, San Diego County (tax rate area 13260). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Dec 10 (in 49 days) | First property tax installment delinquent after close of business; 10% penalty after that. |
| Feb 15 | Homeowners' exemption deadline for the full exemption (about $70); late filings through December 10 get 80%. |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- San Diego County Property Tax Rate Book FY2025-26
- San Diego County tax rate area index, FY2025-26
- San Diego County tax rates by tax rate area, FY2025-26
- San Diego County Assessor: Homeowners' Exemption
- San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector: important dates
- City of San Marcos CFD 98-01 parcel tax report, fiscal year 2025 (archived copy)
- SanGIS parcels: San Marcos single-family parcels by tax rate area
Checked October 21, 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.