How Real Estate Taxes are Calculated in Washington, DC

Real estate taxes in Washington DC are calculated using a combination of the assessed value of your home and the tax rate set by the city government.

How Often Are Washington, DC Property Taxes Paid?

 Property Taxes in Washington, DC are paid twice a year, due March 31st and September 15th.

The assessed value of your home is determined by the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR). OTR appraises all properties in the District every two years and determines an assessed value for each one.

 The tax rate is set by the city government and can change from year to year. For FY 2021, the tax rate is $0.855 per $100 of assessed value. So, if your home has an assessed value of $500,000, your real estate taxes would be $4,275 ($500,000 x 0.855).

Homeowners in Washington DC pay some of the highest real estate taxes in the country.

In 2019, the average effective real estate tax rate in DC was 1.31%. That means that for every $100,000 of a home's assessed value, homeowners paid an average of $1,310 in property taxes. However, it's important to keep in mind that real estate taxes are just one part of the overall cost of owning a home. Homeowners also must pay for things like mortgage interest, insurance, and repairs and maintenance. When you factor all these costs in, the average homeowner in Washington DC spent about $4,460 per year on their home in 2019.