Search Tempe Property Tax Records

Tempe property tax records are kept at the county level through Maricopa County offices. The city does not collect property taxes on its own. All tax bills, values, and payment records go through the Maricopa County Assessor and Treasurer. You can search Tempe property tax records online at no cost using the county websites. Most searches take just a few minutes. Enter an address or owner name to pull up tax bills, assessed values, and payment history. The county updates these records often so you get current data on any Tempe property.

How Tempe Property Taxes Work

Tempe is a city. Cities in Arizona do not run their own tax offices. Instead, Maricopa County handles all property tax work for Tempe and every other city in the county. Two offices split the duties. The assessor sets property values. The treasurer sends bills and takes payments. Both offices serve Tempe residents from their main location in Phoenix.

Your Tempe property tax bill shows more than just city taxes. It lists all the tax districts that apply to your parcel. Schools get the largest share in most cases. Fire districts, community colleges, flood control, and special improvement areas may also appear on your bill. The city portion pays for local services like parks, streets, and voter-approved bonds. Each district sets its own rate, and the county adds them up to make your total bill.

The tax rate for Tempe city taxes is $2.4291 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2024-25. That rate only covers the city share. Your total bill will be higher once school and other district rates get added in. The assessed value is not the same as market value. Arizona uses a formula that sets the assessed value at 10% of the full cash value for most homes.

Tempe Property Tax Assessments

The Maricopa County Assessor tracks every taxable parcel in Tempe. The office figures out what each property is worth and assigns a class based on how it gets used. Homes fall into one class. Rental units sit in another. Commercial land has its own rules. The class matters because it changes how much of the value gets taxed.

Each year the assessor mails a Notice of Value to property owners. This notice shows two numbers. Full Cash Value is what the property would sell for in a normal sale. Limited Property Value is what actually goes on your tax bill. The limited value can only go up by 5% per year, which protects owners from big jumps when the market heats up. If you bought recently, your limited value may equal the full cash value since there is no history to limit it yet.

You can reach the assessor at 602-506-3406. The office is at 301 W Jefferson Street in Phoenix. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The website lets you search Tempe property records any time. Type in an address to see lot size, building square feet, year built, and sales history. You can also pull up maps that show exact parcel lines.

Arizona Property Tax Oversight

The state plays a role in property taxes too. The Arizona Department of Revenue sets rules that counties must follow. It trains county staff, reviews assessment methods, and handles appeals that go beyond the county level. The department also values certain types of property directly, like railroads and mines that cross county lines.

ADOR publishes guides that explain how property taxes work in Arizona. These guides cover assessment ratios, exemptions, and the appeals process. If you want to understand the math behind your Tempe tax bill, the state resources fill in details that the county sites may skip. The department website also lists forms for appeals and exemptions.

Tempe Property Tax Payments

The Maricopa County Treasurer sends out tax bills and collects payments for Tempe properties. Bills go out in September each year. They show the full amount due plus all the tax districts that get a share. The treasurer website lets you look up any Tempe parcel to see the current bill and past payments.

You can pay in two halves or all at once. The first half is due October 1 and goes delinquent after November 3. The second half is due March 1 and turns delinquent after May 1. If you want to pay the whole year at once, do it by December 31. Missing a deadline adds interest at 16% per year. That works out to about 1.33% per month on the amount you owe.

Payment options include e-check, debit card, credit card, and digital wallets. E-check costs nothing extra, so it is the cheapest choice. Debit cards charge 1.80%. Credit cards and digital wallets run 2.25%. The treasurer accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Google Pay also work.

The treasurer office is at 301 W Jefferson St, Suite 100, in Phoenix. You can call 602-506-8511 with questions. Mail goes to PO Box 52133, Phoenix AZ 85072-2133. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Note: Keep your payment receipt until you get next year's bill in case any questions come up about your account.

Tempe Tax Payment Deadlines

Tax bills for Tempe properties follow the same schedule as all Maricopa County parcels. The county does not send reminders when deadlines get close. Mark these dates on your calendar to stay out of trouble.

Key dates for Tempe property owners:

• September: Tax bills mailed out
• October 1: First half payment due
• November 3: First half turns delinquent
• December 31: Full year payment deadline
• March 1: Second half payment due
• May 1: Second half turns delinquent

Once you miss a deadline, interest starts right away. On a $2,500 tax bill, one month late adds about $33 in interest. Two months adds $66. It piles up quick. The county will not waive interest charges just because you forgot or your payment got lost in the mail. Set up a reminder or use autopay to avoid late fees.

Tempe Property Tax Appeals

If you think your Tempe property is valued too high, you can file an appeal. Start with the assessor. You have 60 days from when the Notice of Value was mailed to act. Fill out ADOR Form 82130 for real property. The assessor reviews your claim and may lower the value if you show good evidence.

What counts as good evidence? Sales of similar homes in your part of Tempe help a lot. If homes like yours sold for less than your full cash value, that supports your case. Photos of damage or problems with your property also matter. The assessor wants facts. A list of recent sales and a clear explanation of why your value is too high works better than just saying you think it is wrong.

If the assessor says no, you have two options. File with the County Board of Equalization within 25 days. Or go to Tax Court within 60 days. The board is less formal and moves faster. Tax Court makes sense for big disputes or complex cases. Most Tempe homeowners do fine with the board route if they need to take the appeal further.

Tempe Property Tax Exemptions

Several exemptions can cut your Tempe property tax bill. Veterans with 100% service-connected disability get a full exemption on their primary home. This rule took effect January 1, 2026. Other veterans with disability ratings may qualify for partial exemptions. Apply through the assessor with the right forms.

The Senior Freeze Program helps older Tempe residents on fixed incomes. If you meet the age and income limits, you can lock in your property value for three years. Your taxes stay flat even if home prices go up. Use ADOR Form 82104 to apply. The program renews if you still qualify after the three years end.

Widows, widowers, and people with total and permanent disabilities can also claim exemptions. The county does not give these out on its own. You must apply. Call the assessor at 602-506-3406 to find out if you qualify and what paperwork you need.

Note: Exemptions only apply after you file the forms, so do not wait if you think you qualify.

Tempe City Tax Office

While Tempe does not handle property taxes, the city does have a tax office that deals with other matters. The Tempe Tax and License Division handles sales tax, privilege tax, and business licenses. If you have questions about city finances that do not involve property tax, this is where to call.

Contact the Tempe Tax Office:

• Phone: 480-350-2955
• Email: salestax@tempe.gov
• Address: 20 E. 6th St. 3rd Floor, Tempe AZ 85281

For property tax questions, you still need to contact Maricopa County. The assessor handles values and exemptions. The treasurer handles bills and payments. Both are in Phoenix at 301 W Jefferson Street. The city tax office cannot look up your property tax bill or take payment for it.

Nearby Arizona Cities

Tempe sits in the East Valley, surrounded by several other large cities. All of them fall under Maricopa County for property tax purposes. The assessor and treasurer serve the whole county from their Phoenix offices. If you own property in more than one city, all your bills come from the same place.

Other cities near Tempe with property tax information pages on this site include Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, and Gilbert. Each page covers the specific tax rates and local details for that city. Phoenix is the county seat and has the largest number of parcels. Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona and sits just east of Tempe.

Tempe borders Phoenix to the west and north, Mesa to the east, and Chandler to the south. Scottsdale is a short drive north. These cities share school districts, fire districts, and other taxing entities in some areas. Your tax bill might include districts that serve parts of multiple cities depending on exactly where your property sits.

Maricopa County Property Tax Resources

Since all Tempe property taxes run through Maricopa County, the county page has more details on how the system works. You can find information on lien sales, GIS maps, business personal property, and more. The county page also lists all the contact numbers and office hours you might need.

Visit the Maricopa County property tax records page for the full guide to county services. That page covers the assessor, treasurer, appeals process, exemptions, and payment deadlines in depth. It also links to all the online search tools and forms you can use.