Tax Bills & Payments

Payment Information

All checks must be made payable to Pierce County and may be mailed with the property tax remittance stub to the address listed below. If the stub is not included please be sure to include the parcel number.

Property Tax Foreclosure Avoidance Payments:
Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer
Attention: Foreclosure Avoidance
2401 South 35th Street, Rm 142
Tacoma, WA  98409-1498

All Other Payments:
Pierce County Finance
P.O. Box 11621
Tacoma, WA 98411-6621

or brought with the property tax remittance stub to:

Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer's Office
2401 South 35th Street, Rm 142
Tacoma, WA 98409

A drop box is available if you wish to leave your payment outside of normal business hours (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM).

Statement Information

Property tax statements are mailed during February each year. Failure to receive a tax statement does not waive interest and penalty for a delinquent tax.

If the amount of tax due is $50 or less, full payment is due by April 30. If the tax amount due is over $50 it may be paid in two installments. First half may be paid by April 30 and the balance by October 31 without incurring a penalty for late payment. (RCW 84.56.020)

Mortgage companies will be subject to the same payment policy as the taxpayer and will be expected to pay all taxes, special assessments, and other charges levied on a parcel of property.

All mailed property tax payments are processed and posted by the Pierce County Finance Department. Payments are reflected on the website immediately upon posting to their respective accounts. Longer processing and posting times can be expected during the months of April / May and October / November due to the number of payments being received.

The website will continue to automatically update accounts with accruing interest and penalty charges until a payment is posted. However, if the postmark on the property tax payment envelope indicates the payment was mailed before the statutory deadline, interest and penalties will be waived.

Late Payments

If the payment was mailed after the statutory due date and does not include the correct interest and penalty charges, it will be returned to sender. By law, we cannot accept payments that do not reflect a total amount due and owing, including accrued interest and penalties.

To ensure that your payment is postmarked with the correct date, payments should be sent certified return receipt requested. This requires a signature and provides you with a proof of mailing date. If your payment is sent by regular mail, there is no way to verify receipt until it is posted to your account.

Lost Payments

If you think your payment is lost and it is after the due date, please monitor the website through the following month. If your payment still has not posted by the end of the May for first half taxes or the end of November for second half taxes, contact Finance at (253) 798-7554. Please have your parcel number available.

If you receive your tax statement and your mortgage company is responsible for paying your taxes, please contact your lender immediately. Mortgage companies must submit a request for their customer's tax statements. If they fail to do so, the tax statement is automatically mailed to the taxpayer.

Real Property Payments For Current Year

If a payment for the current year is made after April 30, but before October 31, the taxpayer may pay the current year first installment plus the incurred interest and penalty on the full amount of taxes. The current year second installment will then be due on October 31.

Personal Property Payment For Current Year

If a payment for the current year is made after April 30, but before October 31, the taxpayer may pay the current year first installment plus the incurred interest and penalty on the full amount of taxes. The current year second installment will then be due on October 31.

Delinquent Prior Years Tax Payment

If the taxpayer wishes to pay a delinquent amount, the full delinquent year amount due plus interest and penalty must be paid.

Advance Tax Collection

Real property, such as mobile homes and personal property may be subject to an advance tax collection. Taxes are a lien from date of assessment with reference to its value and ownership on the first day of January of the year in which the property is assessed for tax due the following year. (RCW 58.08.040, RCW 84.56.090)