Where to find your 2023 property tax payment amount

Your property tax payment for 2023 appears on documents you received from your county or local tax assessor's office, not from the IRS. The most reliable source is your property tax bill or statement — usually mailed in late 2022 for taxes due in 2023, or in early 2023 for a spring due date. If you paid by check, your bank statement shows the amount. If you paid online or by mail, look for a receipt or confirmation number from that transaction.

If you cannot find the original bill, contact your county assessor's office or tax collector directly. Most counties now let you look up your account online through their website by entering your address or parcel number. Some assessor offices charge a small fee for a duplicate bill, but many provide it free. You can also ask your mortgage lender — if you have a mortgage, your lender may have a copy of the bill in your loan file, since property taxes are often paid through escrow.

Key Takeaways

  • Your 2023 property tax bill came from your county assessor or tax collector, not the IRS, and should show the exact amount you paid.
  • Check your bank or credit card statements for the year 2023 to confirm the payment amount if you paid by check or online.
  • Your county assessor's office website usually lets you search your account by address or parcel number to view payment history.
  • If you have a mortgage, your lender's escrow statement for 2023 will show property taxes paid on your behalf.
  • You need this amount to report property tax deductions on your federal tax return if you itemize deductions.

Understanding what counts as a property tax payment

Property tax is the annual tax your county or municipality charges based on your home's assessed value. It is separate from homeowners insurance, mortgage interest, or HOA fees — those are not property taxes. The amount you owe is set by your local government, not by the IRS, and the rate varies widely by location.

If you paid property taxes through your mortgage escrow account, your lender paid the tax to the county on your behalf. The amount still counts as your property tax payment for the year, even though you did not write the check directly. Your mortgage servicer sends you an escrow statement each year showing how much was paid for property taxes, insurance, and other items.

If you own property in more than one state or county, each location sends its own bill. You will need to add up all property tax payments across all properties you owned during 2023 to get your total for the year.

How to read your property tax bill

A property tax bill lists several key pieces of information. The assessed value is what your county estimates your property is worth — this is usually lower than the market value. The tax rate (sometimes called the millage rate) is a percentage or per-$1,000 amount set by your local government. The bill multiplies these two numbers to show the total tax owed.

The bill also shows the due date and payment address. Some counties bill once a year; others bill twice. If your bill shows two installments, you may have paid in two separate payments during 2023. Add both payments together for your total 2023 property tax.

Look for any line labeled "paid" or "payment received" — this shows the amount actually paid and the date it was received. If you paid late, there may be a penalty or interest charge listed separately. These penalties and interest are not deductible as property tax, so do not include them in your total.

Payments made through escrow accounts

If your mortgage includes an escrow account, your lender collects money each month and pays your property taxes, homeowners insurance, and sometimes HOA fees on your behalf. You do not receive a separate property tax bill — instead, your lender sends you an escrow statement once or twice a year.

The escrow statement shows how much was paid for property taxes during the year. Look for the line item labeled "property taxes paid" or "real estate taxes paid." This is the amount you use for tax deduction purposes. The statement also shows the date each payment was made to the county, which helps you confirm the year the payment was credited.

If your escrow statement covers a period that spans two calendar years (for example, January 2023 through December 2023), use only the portion that falls in 2023. Some escrow statements run on a different schedule — for example, from June 2023 to May 2024. In that case, calculate how much of the property tax payment falls in the 2023 calendar year.

When you paid property taxes late or in advance

If you paid 2023 property taxes in early 2024, the payment still counts as a 2023 property tax deduction — what matters is the tax year the bill covers, not when you paid it. Your bill will show "2023 taxes" or similar language. However, if you paid in advance for 2024 taxes in December 2023, that payment counts toward 2024, not 2023.

If you paid late and your county charged a penalty or interest, only the base property tax amount is deductible. Penalties and interest do not count as property tax for federal tax purposes. Your bill should separate these amounts clearly.

If you received a refund or credit for overpayment in 2023, subtract that from your total 2023 payments. For example, if you paid $3,000 in property taxes but received a $200 refund in the same year, your deductible amount is $2,800.

Reconstructing your payment if you lost the bill

If you cannot locate your 2023 property tax bill or payment records, start by contacting your county assessor's office or tax collector. Provide your address and parcel number if you have it. Most offices can print a duplicate bill or provide a payment history showing what you paid and when. This usually takes a few business days.

If you paid by check, search your bank statements from 2023 for checks written to your county or municipality. The check amount and date will tell you what you paid. If you paid online, log into your bank's website and search the transaction history for 2023 — most banks let you read statements as PDFs that show all payments.

If you paid through your mortgage escrow account and cannot reach your lender, the county assessor's office can tell you what was paid on your behalf. They have records of every payment received, regardless of who sent it. You may need to provide your property address and the year in question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an estimate of my property taxes if I cannot find the exact amount?

No. The IRS requires the actual amount you paid, not an estimate. If you cannot find your bill or payment records, contact your county assessor's office for a duplicate or payment history. Using an estimate could trigger an audit if the IRS compares your return to county records.

Do I include property taxes paid on a rental property or vacation home?

Property taxes on a rental property are deducted on Schedule E (rental income and loss), not on your personal return. Property taxes on a vacation home or second residence can be deducted on Schedule A if you itemize, but you are limited to $10,000 total in state and local taxes (SALT) per year, which includes property tax, income tax, and sales tax combined.

What if I sold my home partway through 2023?

You and the buyer typically split the property tax bill for 2023 based on the closing date. The seller usually pays taxes up to the closing date; the buyer pays from the closing date forward. Your closing statement shows how much property tax you paid. Only include your portion in your 2023 deduction.

Does homeowners insurance count as property tax?

No. Homeowners insurance is a separate expense and is not deductible on your federal tax return. Only the property tax portion of your escrow payment counts. Your escrow statement separates insurance from property taxes, so check that document carefully.

Can I deduct property taxes if I do not itemize deductions?

No. Property tax deductions are only available if you itemize deductions on Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction, you cannot deduct property taxes. You will need to decide whether itemizing (which includes property tax, mortgage interest, charitable donations, and other deductions) results in a larger deduction than the standard deduction for your filing status.