When most people think about taxes, their mind goes straight to income taxes — but there’s another kind of tax that hits closer to home: property taxes.

If you own a home, land, or investment property, paying your property taxes strategically could save you money this year — up to 4%, in fact.

🏡 The Secret to Saving 4%

Each year, counties send out property tax bills in the fall. What many people don’t realize is that paying early can come with a discount.

Here’s how it typically works:

• 4% discount if you pay in November
• 3% discount if you pay in December
• 2% discount if you pay in January
• 1% discount if you pay in February

After that, the full amount is due by March 31, and if you miss that deadline, penalties, and interest can start to accrue.

So, if your property tax bill is $5,000, paying it in November could save you $200 — simply by being proactive.

💡 What If You Have an Escrow Account?

If you have a mortgage, your lender likely collects a portion of your property taxes with each monthly payment and pays the bill on your behalf.

The good news? Mortgage companies usually take advantage of the early payment discount automatically, paying in November or December to capture that 4% or 3% savings for you.

If you don’t escrow your property taxes, however, this is something you’ll need to handle yourself.

🧾 Why This Matters for Your Financial Planning

Property taxes aren’t something you can avoid, but you can be strategic.

When we think about broader financial planning, annual expenses like insurance, property taxes, and maintenance are part of the overall picture. Managing these expenses proactively helps reduce unnecessary costs and smooth out your cash flow from year to year.

Small planning decisions like this—saving 4% here, avoiding penalties there—can add up over decades of homeownership.

📌 Final Thoughts

Taxes aren’t fun, but saving money on them is.

If you’re not escrowing property taxes, consider paying early this year to capture the full 4% discount. And if you’re unsure of the best way to time these payments or how they fit into your overall financial plan, we’re always here to help.

Sometimes the simplest planning strategies provide the easiest wins.