Last verified: June 1, 2026. Tax rates, deadlines, exemption thresholds, and the live lookup tools below change periodically — always confirm time-sensitive details at the official Pierce County and Washington State links provided before you pay, file, or appeal.
If you own property anywhere in Pierce County — Tacoma, Puyallup, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, or the unincorporated stretches in between — one office handles both your assessed value and your tax bill: the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer. This is the practical, local-operator’s guide to looking up a parcel, paying on time, claiming the exemptions you’re owed, challenging a value you think is wrong, and finding the current City of Tacoma sales tax rate. The lookups are live tools, so we tell you how they work and link you straight to them rather than printing numbers that go stale.
Pierce County property tax at a glance
- One office runs assessment and collection. The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer sets your property’s value and collects the tax. Main line: 253-798-6111. Office: 2401 South 35th Street, Tacoma, WA 98409.
- First-half taxes are due April 30; second half by October 31. If your bill is over $50 you may split it into two installments, per the Tax Bills & Payments page. Mailed payments must be postmarked by the due date.
- Look up any parcel free on the Assessor-Treasurer Information Portal (ATIP). Search by address, parcel number, or owner name for assessed value, tax history, and characteristics — check live at atip.piercecountywa.gov.
- Seniors (61+) and people with disabilities can cut their bill. 2026 household-income thresholds run from $46,000 up to $64,000, with tiered relief — details on the exemption program page.
- Disagree with your value? File with the Board of Equalization. The deadline is July 1 of the assessment year or 60 days after your value-change notice is mailed, whichever is later — see Board of Equalization.
- The City of Tacoma combined sales tax rate is 10.4% in 2026. That’s 6.5% state plus local Pierce County and Tacoma portions — verify the current figure by address with the Washington DOR rate lookup.
How to look up a parcel and your tax bill
Property records in Pierce County are searchable by anyone, for free. The primary tool is the Assessor-Treasurer Information Portal (ATIP). Enter a street address, a 10-digit parcel number, or an owner name and you’ll pull up the assessed value, prior-year tax history, the breakdown of taxing districts, property characteristics (square footage, year built, land use), and the current amount due. Because balances and assessed values update continuously, treat ATIP as the source of truth — check live rather than relying on a figure quoted elsewhere.
For a map-first view, the county’s PublicGIS application lets you click any parcel on an interactive map to see boundaries, dimensions, and zoning, and the Parcel & Property Information hub links the full set of lookup tools in one place. If you only have an address and need the parcel number, start in PublicGIS, then carry that number into ATIP for the tax detail.
Paying your property taxes: deadlines, methods, and penalties
Pierce County mails tax statements in mid-February. The Assessor-Treasurer’s payment page sets two key dates: the full year or first half is due by April 30, and if your total tax exceeds $50 you may pay the second half by October 31 without penalty. Miss a deadline and interest plus penalties accrue under state law, so don’t let a half-payment slide.
You can pay four ways: online by e-check or card through the portal, by mail (the U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing your check about seven days early so the postmark lands on time), by phone, or in person at the Tacoma office. Most homeowners with a mortgage have taxes paid automatically from escrow — if that’s you, confirm your lender remitted before assuming the bill is handled. When in doubt, the office answers at 253-798-6111.
Tax rates and how your bill is calculated
Your property tax bill is not a single rate. It’s the sum of overlapping taxing-district levies — the state school levy, county, city, fire, library, port, and school districts — applied to your assessed value. Two identical homes a mile apart can owe different amounts because they sit in different districts. ATIP breaks out exactly which levies make up your bill. Washington caps how fast regular levies can grow, but voter-approved measures (school bonds, EMS, parks) add on top, which is why the total moves year to year. The Assessor-Treasurer publishes the annual levy rates and the assessment roll.
Note the difference between two separate taxes people often conflate: property tax (annual, based on assessed value, paid to the county) and sales tax (charged at the register). The City of Tacoma combined sales tax rate is 10.4% as of 2026 — 6.5% Washington state plus the local Pierce County and Tacoma components. Rates vary slightly by exact location and change when local measures pass, so confirm the rate for a specific address with the official Washington Department of Revenue tax rate lookup (check live).
Exemptions, appeals, and the Auditor’s recorded documents
Senior and disability exemptions. If you’re at least 61 by December 31 of the prior year, or unable to work due to a disability (no age limit), you may qualify for a reduced bill. For 2026, Pierce County’s tiered household-income thresholds run from $46,000 to $64,000: the lower your income, the more of your value is exempted, including relief from excess and voter-approved levies. Eligibility detail lives on the Eligibility Requirements page; the official statewide thresholds are published by the Washington DOR. Apply through the exemptions department at 253-798-2169.
Appealing your assessed value. If you believe the Assessor over-valued your property, you can petition the Pierce County Board of Equalization. Under RCW 84.40.038 you must file by July 1 of the assessment year or within 60 days of the date your value-change notice was mailed, whichever is later. Bring evidence — comparable sales, an appraisal, photos of condition issues. The Board (253-798-7415) and the county’s Appeals page explain the petition steps; late filings are granted only in narrow circumstances.
Deeds and recorded documents. Ownership records, deeds, deeds of trust, liens, and surveys are handled by the Pierce County Auditor, not the Assessor-Treasurer. The Auditor’s recorded-documents index is searchable online by recording number, name on the document, and recording date (it does not index by parcel number or address, and documents with sensitive data are withheld online). Conveyances like deeds must also clear real estate excise tax through the Recording Department before they’re recorded.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay my Pierce County property tax?
Pay online, by mail, by phone, or in person through the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer. First-half or full-year taxes are due April 30 and the second half by October 31; bills over $50 can be split into those two installments. Mailed payments must be postmarked by the due date.
How do I do a Pierce County assessor property search?
Use the free Assessor-Treasurer Information Portal (ATIP) and search by address, 10-digit parcel number, or owner name to see assessed value, tax history, and property characteristics. For a map view, use the county’s PublicGIS tool. Both are live, so check them directly for current figures.
How do I do a Pierce County auditor property search?
The Pierce County Auditor’s recorded-documents index lets you search deeds and other recorded instruments by recording number, name on the document, or recording date. It does not search by parcel number or address — for value and tax data, use the Assessor-Treasurer’s ATIP instead.
What is the City of Tacoma sales tax rate?
The combined Tacoma sales tax rate is 10.4% in 2026 — 6.5% Washington state plus local Pierce County and Tacoma portions. Rates can vary by exact address and change when local measures pass, so confirm the current figure with the Washington Department of Revenue rate lookup.
Who qualifies for a Pierce County property tax exemption?
Homeowners who are 61 or older by December 31 of the prior year, or who are unable to work due to a disability, may qualify. For 2026, household-income thresholds run from $46,000 to $64,000 with tiered relief. See the Eligibility Requirements page and apply through the exemptions department at 253-798-2169.
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