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Tools · For buyers and investors

Property tax after you buy

The tax on a Zillow listing is usually the seller’s bill. Enter your price and state to see what yours may be.

Your county’s effective rate. Overrides the state estimate.
From the listing’s tax history. Use the total bill.
Mello-Roos, MUD, bond or district charges that sit on top of the base rate.

Estimates only. State rates are Caza’s blend of Tax Foundation 2026 owner-occupied rates and Lincoln Institute 2025 apartment rates, with launch-state values from millage research. The state estimate leans toward a rental or non-homestead bill. If you will live in the home and claim a homestead exemption, your bill may be lower. Your county’s rate, exemptions and any local assessments will differ. Confirm with your county assessor or tax collector. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.

Why the listing’s tax is usually not yours

The tax history on a listing shows what the current owner paid. That bill reflects their purchase price, how long they have owned the home and the exemptions they claim. In states that reassess on a sale, such as California, Florida and Texas, your bill is built from your price, so it can be well above theirs.

In a few states, such as Arizona and Oregon, the assessment carries across a sale, and the listing’s number is a better guide than a percent of price. Homestead savings generally belong to the seller and do not transfer.

How this estimate works

The tool multiplies your price by a state-level effective rate, adds any special assessments you enter, and compares the total with the seller’s bill. A local rate you type in replaces the state rate. Read it as a starting point for your budget, not a quote.

Is the property tax on Zillow accurate? walks through the full method. The price-cut guide and the low-offers guide cover how a lower price changes what you pay.

The formula

Estimated annual tax = purchase price × effective tax rate + special assessments

The effective rate is a statewide figure from our research unless you enter your local rate, which replaces it. Monthly tax is the annual figure divided by 12. The difference is your estimate minus the seller’s current bill from the listing’s tax history.

Worked example

Example scenario · sample numbers, not a real listing
Purchase price$650,000
StateCalifornia (1.15% statewide estimate)
Seller’s current annual tax$3,200
Your estimated annual tax ($650,000 × 1.15%)$7,475
Per month$623
More than the seller pays$4,275 a year ($356 a month)

California reassesses to the purchase price when a home sells, so a seller who bought years ago can pay far less than you will. Mello-Roos or other special taxes would be added on top.

FAQ

Why is the property tax on the Zillow listing lower than what I will pay?

The listing shows the current owner’s bill. In states where a sale resets the value or removes the seller’s savings, such as California, Florida and Texas, your bill is based on your purchase price, and the seller’s homestead savings do not transfer to you.

Is this estimate exact?

No. It uses a statewide effective rate unless you enter your local rate, and rates vary by county, city and school district. Confirm with the county assessor or tax collector before you rely on it.

Does the estimate include special taxes like Mello-Roos?

Only if you enter them in the special assessments field. Ask the seller or title company for the notice of special taxes.

Caza puts investor numbers, with editable tax and insurance estimates, on Zillow listings.

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Caza is independent and not affiliated with Zillow. This is an estimate, not tax, legal or insurance advice.

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