Are you moving to Salt Lake City or just relocating within the area? If you’re ready to give up renting and dream of owning your own home, make sure you go in prepared. One of the biggest hidden expenses of buying a house in Salt Lake City is the property tax. This complete guide covers everything you want to know about Salt Lake County property tax – including the Salt Lake City tax rate, how your taxes are calculated, when to pay your tax bill, and more.
Salt Lake County Property Tax Overview
Salt Lake property taxes are set after 72 taxing entities in Salt Lake County set their budget. These entities include cities, libraries, school districts, and more. The Salt Lake County Assessor is responsible for valuing all recorded property in the county.
Once budgets are approved, the Salt Lake County Auditor and the Utah State Tax Commission calculate a certified tax rate for each entity to fund their budget. This tax rate is calculated by dividing the approved budget of the tax entity by the total taxable value of all property in the tax area.
For instance, if a school district has an approved budget of $75,000 and their district’s total taxable value is $15,000,000, the tax rate will be 0.05 ($75,000/15,000,000). You will see this tax rate listed on your property tax notice.
Individual property tax is calculated by multiplying the property’s taxable value by the current tax rate for each taxing entity in the property’s tax area. All tax rates combined for each taxing entity is your combined property tax rate.
By May 22, the Salt Lake County Assessor must complete the certified assessment roll and deliver it to the Auditor. On July 22, tax rates receive preliminary approval, and the County Auditor sends taxpayers a Notice of Valuation and tax changes.
Taxpayers have 45 days starting August 1 through September 15 to appeal property valuation with the SLCo Assessor.
The Salt Lake County Treasurer then administers the tax relief program to ensure all eligible property owners receive their tax abatements. Property tax bills are created and sent to property owners no later than November 1. The Treasurer collects and distributes property tax revenue back to the taxing entities to fund all 72 budgets in the county.
Salt Lake County Property Tax Rate | Salt Lake City Tax Rate
The 2021 Salt Lake County property tax rate is 0.12847 on average. There are 169 district tax rates and 373 active tax areas in the county. The South Salt Lake City tax rate of 0.009572 is the lowest rate in the county. The Salt Lake County Municipal Type Services tax rate of 0.016122 is the highest rate.
You can see a full list of Salt Lake County tax rates by entity here.
What is the Salt Lake City property tax rate? There are many Salt Lake City tax rates depending on your school district and other taxing entities. The general Salt Lake City tax rate is 0.015288.
The average home price in Salt Lake City is $500,000, up 16% year-over-year. The taxable value is usually 55% of the home’s market value. In this case, the average home would have a taxable value of $275,000 with a tax bill of $4,204.20.
You can learn more about the Salt Lake City property tax here with a full breakdown of tax entities and tax rates by tax area plus tax rates in other cities in Salt Lake County.
Salt Lake County Treasurer | Property Tax Due Dates & How to Pay Salt Lake Property Taxes
Real estate taxes are paid to the Salt Lake County Treasurer. The Treasurer – Tax Collector is K. Wayne Cushing. The Treasurer’s office is responsible for billing, collecting, and distributing property tax in Salt Lake County. The office also handles property tax refunds after successful appeals and Salt Lake tax relief programs.
When are property taxes due in Salt Lake? Utah property tax bills are due November 1 to November 30. This is the last day to pay your current Salt Lake County property taxes without a penalty.
Unpaid taxes become delinquent on December 1. Salt Lake County delinquent real estate taxes are subjected to a penalty of $10 per parcel or 1%, whichever is greater, if paid by January 31. Taxes still unpaid by February 1 are subject to a total penalty of 2.5%.
Salt Lake County Property Tax Bill Payments
You have many ways to pay your property tax. Salt Lake County Treasurer payment options include the following.
- Pay by mail by including your payment stub and mailing your payment to: Salt Lake County Treasurer, PO Box 26947, Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0947
- You can visit the Treasurer’s Office to pay in person at the Salt Lake County Government Center. Cash and check payments can be made in person, but make sure you bring your payment stub.
- Pay Salt Lake property taxes online through slco.org/treasurer. You will need your bank or card information and your Salt Lake County Property Tax Notice. After entering your parcel number or using the Salt Lake County Treasurer property tax search, choose full or partial payment and pay by credit card, debit card, or eCheck. There is a 1% fee for debit payments and a 2.4% fee for credit cards. Electronic check payments are free.
You can also pay Utah real estate taxes in advance using a monthly installment plan. You can make prepayments before taxes are due in November using your coupon booklet mailed out in January. You can use the coupons to pay your taxes over nine months in equal installments or you can choose your prepayment amount.
Alternatively, you can set up electronic bank account withdrawals in 9 monthly payments or amounts of your choosing. You will need to pay the remaining balance or authorize SLCo to make a final withdrawal on November 30.
Note: The Salt Lake County property tax installment plan uses your prior year taxes to estimate your current year taxes. Your remaining balance or refund due will be calculated later and reflected on your Property Tax Notice.
You will need to complete the 2022 Prepayment Application and return it to the Treasurer’s Office by November 30.
Salt Lake County Treasurer Office & Contact Info
- Website
- SLCo Treasurer: K. Wayne Cushing
- Phone: (385) 468-8300
- Salt Lake County Treasurer office: 2001 S State Street, #N1-200, Salt Lake City, UT 84190
- SLCo Treasurer mailing address: PO Box 144575, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4575
- Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
SLCO Assessor | Salt Lake County Assessor Property Search
The Salt Lake Assessor is responsible for determining the fair market value and taxable value of properties in the county. By January 1, the Salt Lake County tax assessor must appraise all property in the county as it exists and as ownership is established on this date. By May 22, the Assessor must complete the tax assessment roll and deliver the certified assessed values to the Auditor.
Salt Lake County Assessor Property Search
The Salt Lake County Assessor maintains Salt Lake County property records you can search by owner, parcel number, and address. Click here for the Salt Lake County Assessor property search tool. You will be able to view:
- Parcel information including owner, address, acreage, and property type
- Property tax district
- Current property tax information including land value, building value, market value, and exempt amount
- Valuation history
- Land records
The Salt Lake County Assessor map provides an aerial view of properties. Use this Salt Lake County parcel search tool to search parcels by property type, tax district, owner, or parcel ID.
Salt Lake County Assessor’s Office & Contact Info
- SLCo Assessor: Chris Stavros
- Website
- Phone: (385) 468-8000
- Salt Lake County Assessor’s Office: 2001 South State Street #N2-600, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-7421
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
Salt Lake County Auditor | Notice of Valuation & Salt Lake County Property Assessment Appeal Process
The Salt Lake Auditor is responsible for determining tax rates, along with the Utah State Tax Commission. The Auditor also holds the annual delinquent tax sale in May.
In July, the Salt Lake County Auditor prepares the annual Notice of Valuation and Tax Change statements which are mailed to taxpayers. Once these notices are mailed, the Auditor handles the first phase of property assessment appeals.
The Notice of Valuation (NOV) you receive from the Auditor includes:
- Fair market value (determined by the Assessor)
- Taxable value of your property (current and prior year)
- Any reductions you are receiving such as the 45% residential exemption
- Proposed property taxes based on your assessed market value
- The deadline to appeal your assessed value with the Auditor
- Taxing entities levying taxes on your property
- Property tax rates proposed by each entity and the total tax amount (and prior year tax rates)
- The percent and dollar amount of changes to your taxes
- Public hearing dates for entities proposing tax increases
You can get a copy of your Notice of Valuation using the Salt Lake County property search on the Auditor website. Enter your address or parcel number on the NOV Lookup tool for a digital copy of your NOV.
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Appealing Property Valuation in Salt Lake County
If you do not agree with your Salt Lake property assessment, you have the right to file a property tax appeal. This appeal can be submitted by email, by mail, in person at the Office of the Salt Lake County Auditor/Property Tax Division, or online. Click here to submit an online SLCo property tax appeal.
You can appeal your property valuation between August 1 and September 15. You will need your parcel number and the Salt Lake County proposed value (on your Notice of Valuation), your physical address, and your proposed value. You must submit documentation to support your basis for appeal. This may include a full appraisal completed within the last year, comparable property sales, or a HUD-1 disbursement or closing statement for recent home buyers. See the full list of documentation needed here.
The Tax Administration will screen the appeal and notify you if more documentation is necessary. Next, the Assessor will review your documents and recommend whether your valuation should be adjusted. You can accept this decision to finalize your appeal or continue to a hearing before the County Board of Equalization (BOE). About 56% of appeals are resolved before continuing to the BOE.
If you do not agree with the BOE’s decision, the Utah State Tax Commission will mediate the dispute. The final appeal stage is heard by the 3rd District Court.
Salt Lake County Auditor & Contact Info
- SLCo Auditor: Chris Harding
- Website
- SLCo Auditor office: 2001 South State Street #N3-300, Salt Lake City UT 84190-1100
- Phone: (385) 468-7200
Utah Property Tax Exemptions & Salt Lake County Tax Relief
Most homeowners in Utah qualify for a homestead exemption on their property taxes. The Salt Lake County Assessor exempts 45% of the fair market value of your primary residence and up to one acre of land from taxation. You only pay property taxes in Salt Lake County on 55% of your home’s fair market value.
Residential homes are usually presumed to be used as a primary residence. You may need to verify your Residential Exemption if the Salt Lake County Assessor does not have an owner address matching the property address. You can complete the Residential Exemption Form online.
There are five Salt Lake tax relief programs administered by the SLCo Treasurer. These programs are designed to provide property tax relief to seniors, low income residents, veterans and military members, and blind or disabled residents.
- Circuit Breaker program: available to seniors 66 and older (or surviving spouses) with household income capped at $35,807. Get a reduction of up to 20% on your taxes with a property tax credit of up to $1,110.
- Indigent program: available to disabled homeowners or seniors 65 and older with household income and adjusted assets up to $35,807. Get a property tax abatement of up to $1,110 (based on income) or 50% of any remaining balance after other relief.
- Hardship program: available to homeowners with extreme financial hardship at any age. This program requires adjusted household income and assets not exceeding $35,807 with a limit increased by $4,540 for each household member. The program offers a Salt Lake property tax abatement of up to $1,110 (based on income) or 50% of the remaining balance after other relief.
- Veteran program: available to disabled veterans and active duty military members. Disability must be service-related, and unmarried surviving spouses also qualify. The program offers a property tax exemption of up to $283,964 of your assessed value based on the percentage of disability. Surviving spouses of military members killed in the line of duty or killed in action are exempt from property taxes.
- Blind program: available to legally blind homeowners and unmarried surviving spouses. The program offers a tax exemption of up to $11,500 of the assessed value.
Now that you know everything you need to about property taxes in Salt Lake County, are you ready to make homeownership a reality? Once you’ve started the process of buying a home, give us a call at Wasatch Moving Company to request a free, affordable moving estimate.
