Pierce County property taxes are due soon: here’s how to pay, appeal, apply for exemption

It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year: tax season.

Most Pierce County property owners can expect to see an increase in their property taxes this year, the Assessor-Treasurers Office reported earlier this week. Property taxes billed in 2023 are 5.1% higher than last year. The average tax bill countywide for 2023 is $5,579.

While property values rose in 2022, statutory limits on property-tax rates reduced the rate by over a dollar in nearly every taxing district this year, according to Assessor-Treasurer Mike Lonergan.

Here’s more information about how to pay your taxes, who qualifies for an exemption and how to appeal your property values before the deadline.

How to pay your property taxes

To pay your taxes online, visit the Assessor-Treasurer’s parcel search or call 253-798-3333 and have your parcel number ready.

You can mail checks payable to Pierce County with the property tax remittance stub to Pierce County Finance, P.O. Box 11621, Tacoma, WA 98411-6621. You also can drop off your check at the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer’s Office at 2401 S. 35th St., Room 142, Tacoma, WA 98409.

The first half of property taxes are due by April 30 and the second half is due by Oct. 31. Failure to pay by these dates could result in interest and penalties.

Available exemptions

Pierce County has a program where seniors or people with disabilities can apply for property tax exemptions. Proof of income and disability is required.

Who is eligible: senior citizens who are at least 61 as of 2022, or retired from gainful employment due to a disability with an income of $45,708 or less, according to the Pierce County Assessor website.

Exemptions must be renewed once every six years unless there’s a change in status or income.

Apply for the tax exemption on the Pierce County Assessor website.

How to appeal

If you think your property value is not fair market value, you have the right to appeal to the Board of Equalization on or before July 1, or 60 days after the date a value-change notice or other determination notice was mailed, whichever is later, according to the Pierce County Assessor website.

You must provide specific reasons as to why the assessor’s value doesn’t reflect the true and fair market price. The percentage of the assessment increase, the amount of tax, personal hardship and other matters unrelated to the market value will not be considered, according to the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer website.

To obtain an appeal form, contact the Pierce County Board of Equalization at 253-798-7415.