Oregon Property Tax Highlights

Oregon property taxes are controlled by two laws established in the 1990s: Measures 5 and 50. Combined, these two measures limit both the overall effective tax rate that can be imposed to any particular property and the rise in assessed values, which is used to calculate taxes.

Because of these constraints, Oregon’s property taxes are presently barely below the national average of 0.99%. More specifically, Oregon has an average effective property tax rate of 0.82%. Oregon homeowners also benefit from a high level of regularity in their tax payments from year to year.

Oregon Property Tax Highlights

Oregon, like many other states, has local assessors appraise properties on a yearly basis to establish their fair market value. Yet, taxes in Oregon are not limited to market value. Instead, they apply to the market value or the highest assessed value, whichever is lower.

The most essential component of the maximum assessed value is that it can only grow at 3% per year if it is less than market value (which is typically the case). This means that even as home prices rise, property taxes ought to stay largely consistent.

If the market value falls below the highest assessed value, the maximum assessed value may remain constant or increase by less than 3%. For instance, if the market value and maximum assessed value are both $100,000 and market value rises by 2%, both market value and maximum assessed value will be $102,000 the next year. On the other hand, if market value rises by 10%, the highest assessed value is expected to be $103,000 (a 3% increase), while market value will equal $110,000.

Find out more: Publication 530 (2023), Tax Information for Homeowners | Internal Revenue Service

What are the Oregon Property Tax Rates?

Oregon limits both the value that the tax rates apply and the tax rates themselves. For any single real estate, total school district taxes cannot exceed $5 per $1,000 of market value, and total of general government taxes cannot exceed $10 per $1,000 of market value. (The limits are not applicable to bond levies, which require voter approval.

Thus, in actuality, Oregon’s effective tax rates (annual taxes as a proportion of house value) are limited to 1.5% ($15 in taxes per $1,000 of real estate value), plus any bond levies. If any property’s tax rates surpass that amount, those rates are reduced (or “compressed”) until the total rates fall below the restrictions. If a property’s taxes are approaching that limit (or “in compression”), those taxes cannot be increased, even if everyone’s taxes rise.

Here are the Oregon property tax rates, by county:

Source: SmartAsset

Multnomah County

Multnomah County, which includes most of Portland, offers property taxes that are close to the state average. The county’s average effective tax rate at 1.11 percent. If you applied that rate to the county’s median house worth of $410,800, you’d end up with an annual property tax obligation of around $4,575.

Washington County

Washington County’s effective tax rates are approximately comparable to those of adjacent Multnomah County. Washington County’s average effective tax rate stands at 1.08%. At that rate, a home worth $413,500 (around the county’s median home value) would incur annual taxes of $4,465.

Clackamas County

Clackamas County extends from the southern Portland neighborhoods to Mount Hood & the Cascade Mountains. The county is predominantly suburban and rural. Lake Oswego is the largest city in the area, with a population of around 40,000 people. Clackamas County homeowners pay the highest median annual property tax in the state, at $4,590.

Lane County

Lane County, in western Oregon, is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Willamette National Forest to the east. Eugene, home to the University of Oregon’s main campus, has roughly half of the county’s population.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the median home value for Lane County is $280,000, which is slightly lower than the state median of $422,700. The average effective tax rate within Lane County is 1.11%, resulting in a median yearly property tax bill of $3,106.

Where to Go for State Property Tax Help

Property taxes must be appropriately estimated in order to prevent overpaying, underpaying, or not paying at all. However, it may be difficult to determine the amount of the deduction, who receives it, and when.

If you need further help with your Oregon property taxes or general Oregon state tax information, visit XOA TAX Live Service. We will match you with a tax specialist who is familiar with your state. Without having to visit an office, you can have your taxes done by a professional tax specialist.

People Also Read:

• Nevada Property Tax: Key Highlights
• Utah Property Tax: County’s tax rates