This fee is not an additional tax. The convenience fee is added to cover the fees charged by the credit/debit card companies to provide the service and maintain their network. The fee amount is based upon a percentage of the transaction.

If you elect to pay by credit card, please be aware that these fees are added to your transaction.

The current convenience fees are:

Credit/Debit Card — 2.25% of the taxes being paid (minimum $2.50 convenience charge)

eCheck — No convenience fee for the taxpayer

A secured property tax bill is generally a tax bill for real property, which could include your home, vacant land, commercial property and the like.

The term "secured" simply means taxes that are assessed against real property (e.g., land or structures). The tax is a lien that is "secured" by the land/structure even though no document was officially recorded. If the taxes remain unpaid after a period of five (5) years, the property may be sold to cover the taxes owed.

The term "unsecured" simply refers to property that can be relocated and is not real estate. An unsecured property tax bill is usually for property such as aircraft, boats and business personal property. An unsecured property tax bill may also be for real property such as land in some cases. What makes this tax bill different from the secured tax bill is that the lien for taxes is against the owner of the property. If taxes are not paid a lien can be filed against the owner of the property.

Property taxes are levied on land, improvements, and business personal property. Proposition 13, the property tax limitation initiative, was approved by California voters in 1978. It limits the property tax rate to 1% of assessed value (ad valorem property tax), plus the rate necessary to fund local voter‐approved debt.

On your tax bill you will see “1% Maximum Levy” listed with the other individually identified charges for voter-approved debt. To discover all the taxing entities that are funded through your payment of the levy please follow the link and then enter your address, APN, or TRA number. You will then see a chart with a breakdown of the tax distribution for your property.