Decrease Your Assessment

There are several ways you may be able to lower your property tax bill. The Alameda County Assessor’s Office can help you understand your options, including exemptions, exclusions from reassessment, decline-in-value reviews, assessment appeals, and disaster relief.

Exemptions

Property tax exemptions reduce the assessed value of your property, which lowers your tax bill. Exemptions must be applied for — they are not automatically granted.

Homeowners’ Exemption — Up to $7,000 off assessed value for your principal residence (saves approximately $70–$80/year).
Disabled Veterans’ Exemption — Significant reduction for veterans rated 100% disabled (Basic: $180,671; Low-Income: $271,009).
Other Exemptions — Church, Religious, Welfare, Public-School, College, Cemetery, and more for qualifying organizations and exempt uses.

Exclusions from Reassessment

Certain property transfers and changes may be excluded from reassessment, meaning your property tax base will not increase.

Parent-Child Transfers — Transfer of a primary residence between parents and children (Proposition 19 rules apply after February 2021)
Interspousal Transfers — No reassessment on transfers between spouses
Proportional Interest Transfers — Certain partnership and LLC transfers
Proposition 19 — Transfer base year value to a replacement home (for homeowners 55+, severely disabled, or disaster victims). Can be done up to three times.

Decline in Market Value (Proposition 8)

Under Proposition 8, if the current market value of your property has dropped below its Proposition 13 assessed value, you may request an informal review at no cost. The Assessor will compare your assessed value to current market data and determine if a temporary reduction is warranted. For a detailed explanation of how Propositions 8 and 13 interact, including a year-by-year chart and data table, visit our Decline in Market Value page.

How It Works

An appraiser reviews your property’s market value and makes a determination
If a reduction is appropriate, a roll change is processed and your tax bill is adjusted
Once enrolled at a reduced (Prop 8) value, your property’s assessed value will be reviewed each year and may go up or down based on market conditions
When the market value rises above the Prop 13 factored base year value, the Assessor will re-enroll the Prop 13 value

How to Request a Review

Request a Decline-in-Value Review — Learn how to submit a request and what to expect
Informal reviews are available July 1 through December 31 each year
There is no fee to request an informal review
For commercial properties, include any relevant income and expense data to help expedite processing

Important: Filing a decline-in-value review does not relieve you of paying your tax bill on time. You must continue to make timely property tax payments to avoid penalties. If a reduction is granted, any overpayment will be refunded.

Assessment Appeals

If you disagree with your assessed value after an informal review, you may file a formal appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board. The Appeals Board is an independent body that reviews evidence from both the property owner and the Assessor’s Office.

Request for Decline in Market Value Reassessment — Learn about the formal appeals process, deadlines, and how to file
There is no fee to file an assessment appeal in Alameda County
Appeals must typically be filed between July 2 and September 15 (November 30 for supplemental assessments)
Both property owner and Assessor present evidence at a hearing before the Appeals Board

Tip: If you have requested an informal review and have not received results by mid-September, consider filing a formal appeal as a safeguard before the deadline passes. You can always withdraw the appeal if the informal review resolves in your favor.

Disaster and Calamity Relief

If your property has been damaged or destroyed by a disaster, fire, flood, or other calamity, you may be eligible for a temporary reduction in assessed value. The reduction applies from the date of damage through completion of repairs or reconstruction.

Property must have sustained damage of $10,000 or more
File a calamity claim within 12 months of the date of damage
Contact our office at (510) 272-3787 for assistance with disaster-related claims

Recently Purchased Property

If you recently purchased your property and believe the assessed value does not reflect the purchase price, please note that assessed values are set as of January 1 (the lien date) and may not yet reflect a recent sale. Changes in ownership typically trigger reassessment to the purchase price. Contact our office if you have questions about your new assessment.

Beware of Fee-Based Services

There is no charge to file for a Homeowners’ Exemption, request a decline-in-value review, or file an Assessment Appeal directly with the Assessor’s Office. Beware of companies that charge fees for these free services.

Contact Us

Our staff is available to help you understand your options for reducing your property taxes.

Phone: (510) 272-3787 | Email: AssessorWebResponse@acgov.org

Office: 1221 Oak Street, Room 145, Oakland, CA 94612