Lower your Orange County property taxes
The Orange County Assessor sets your value each January 1 and mails a Value Notice in July. Homes bought near a price peak can sit above market for years if nobody asks for a Prop 8 review. 30% of first-year savings, only if you save.
What a too-high value costs you
If your home is assessed at $1,100,000 but similar homes point to about $1,020,000, you're taxed on $80,000 too much. At a 1.07% rate that's about $853 a year. Our fee would be $256; you'd keep $597.
What gets missed in Orange County
- The January–April review. The Assessor's free Informal Assessment Review is open January 1 – April 30 only. Results show up on the July Value Notice.
- Late comparable sales. Sales must fall within 90 days after January 1 to count. A June sale won't help this year's value.
- Condition. The roll can't see an original kitchen, a worn roof or deferred maintenance.
- Wrong comparisons. Sales from a gated or view tract nearby that isn't like your home.
Insider tip: Hearings are scheduled first come, first served, about 6–9 months after filing. Filing early in July can mean an earlier hearing. You must attend, or the appeal is denied.
Reviewed by the founder
Julien reviews every Orange County case personally and tells you the value we’ll ask for before anything is filed.
Get my free reviewOrange County calendar
| January 1 | Valuation date for the 2027–28 roll |
| January 1 – April 30, 2027 | Free Informal Assessment Review with the Assessor (mail-in form) |
| March 31 | Last day for sales that can support a January 1 value (90 days) |
| July | Assessor mails Value Notices, including informal review results |
| July 2 – November 30, 2027 | Formal appeal window with the Clerk of the Board (5:00 p.m. deadline) |
| 6–9 months after filing | Typical hearing date; notice comes 60–70 days ahead |
| December 10, 2027 / April 10, 2028 | First / second tax installment delinquent if unpaid |
Sources: Orange County Assessor — Informal Assessment Review · OC Clerk of the Board — Appeal your property value · OC Clerk of the Board — Appeal FAQs · BOE LTA 2026/023 — filing periods. Dates are checked each year; confirm with the county for your property.
Exemptions to check
The homeowners' exemption takes $7,000 off the taxable value of your main home; file Form BOE-266 by February 15 for the full amount. Disabled veterans may qualify for a much larger exemption, and Prop 19 lets owners 55 and over move their tax base. We check your exemptions free at sign-up.
Orange County questions
Is there a fee to appeal in Orange County?
No. The Clerk of the Board says there is currently no charge to file an assessment appeal, and the Assessor's informal review is also free.
How do I file?
Use the Clerk of the Board's e-form, then mail or deliver the printed, signed application. Faxed applications are not accepted.
I missed November 30. Now what?
Sign up anyway. We can file an informal review between January 1 and April 30, and the next appeal window opens July 2, 2027.