When Are Pierce County Property Taxes Due?
Pierce County property taxes are due in two halves: the first by April 30 and the second by October 31. If your total bill is $50 or less, the full amount is due April 30.
Two dates. Mark both. Everything else on this page is detail.
April 30
First half due
October 31
Second half due
February
Statements are mailed
Source: Pierce County Tax Bills and Payments.
The calendar
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Late June | Value notices are mailed. This value sets next year's tax |
| Summer | Appeal window for that value |
| February | Tax statements are mailed |
| April 30 | First half due. Full amount due if the bill is $50 or less |
| October 31 | Second half due |
The county notes that not receiving a statement does not waive interest on a late payment. If February comes and goes without one, look up your parcel online.
What happens if you pay late
For homes, the rule changed a few years ago and it is gentler than it used to be.
Residential parcels with one to four units, tax year 2023 and later: interest of 0.75% per month on the full year's tax, starting May 1. No added penalties.
All other property: interest of 1% per month starting May 1, a 3% penalty on June 1, and another 8% penalty on December 1.
Late charges on a home with a $6,000 annual bill, if the first half is missed
Paid in May: $45
Paid in June: $90
Paid in July: $135
Paid in August: $180
Paid in September: $225
Paid in October: $270
Illustration using Pierce County's 0.75% monthly interest on the full year's tax for one-to-four unit residential parcels.
Notice that interest runs on the full year's tax, not just the half you missed. You can still make the first-half payment with interest through October 31.
One more rule to know: the county says it returns late payments that do not include the correct interest. It cannot accept a partial amount. Call (253) 798-6111 for the exact figure before you send it.
How to pay
- Online. Search your parcel in the Assessor-Treasurer parcel search and pay from there.
- By mail. Make the check payable to Pierce County and mail it to Pierce County Finance, P.O. Box 11621, Tacoma, WA 98411-6621. Include your stub or parcel number.
- In person. Assessor-Treasurer office, 2401 S. 35th St., Room 142, Tacoma, or the Finance office at 1501 Market Street, Suite 120, Tacoma.
Mailed payments count by postmark. The county suggests certified mail if you want proof of the date. It also warns that posting takes longer in April, May, October, and November, so do not panic if a payment takes a while to show.
If your lender pays from escrow
Your mortgage servicer should request the statement and pay both halves. Check anyway. If a payment has not posted by the end of May or the end of November, the county says to call Finance at (253) 798-7554 with your parcel number, and call your servicer.
Late interest from a servicer's mistake is the servicer's to fix, but you are the one who has to notice it.
Buying or selling in the middle of the year
Taxes are prorated at closing. The seller pays for the days they owned the home and the buyer pays for the rest. The escrow company handles the math. If a half is already due when you close, it gets paid out of the transaction.
If you are buying, ask what the current tax bill is and whether the seller has an exemption. A senior exemption does not transfer, so your bill may be higher than theirs.
Frequently asked questions
When are property taxes due in Pierce County?
The first half is due April 30 and the second half is due October 31. If the total tax is $50 or less, the full amount is due April 30.
What is the penalty for paying Pierce County property taxes late?
For residential parcels with one to four units, interest is 0.75% per month on the full year's tax starting May 1, with no added penalties. Other property pays 1% per month plus penalties of 3% on June 1 and 8% on December 1.
When are Pierce County tax statements mailed?
In February each year. Not receiving a statement does not waive interest on a late payment.
Can I pay my Pierce County property taxes online?
Yes. Search your parcel in the Assessor-Treasurer's online parcel search and pay from the record.
Related reading
- Pierce County Property Tax Lookup: Find Your Bill and Value
- Why Did My Puyallup Property Taxes Go Up?
- Pierce County Senior Property Tax Exemption: Who Qualifies
- Why Is My Mortgage Payment Going Up?
Buying or selling near a tax deadline? Reach out.
Property taxes get split between buyer and seller at closing, and the timing matters. If you have a move coming up, call, text, or email me and I will walk you through it.
Austin Robertson
Real Estate Broker, Robertson & Co.
253.225.2395 | austin@robertsonand.co
For people building something worth keeping.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Austin Robertson, License # 21036843, Austin Robertson and Allena Robertson Real Estate Brokers, regulated by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). This article is general information only. It is not legal, tax, insurance, lending, or construction advice, and it is not an appraisal of any property. Costs, rates, and rules change. Confirm the details with the sources linked above before you act.
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