Multnomah County's roughly 300,000 real and personal property owners will receive a 3 percent discount if the full property tax amount is paid or postmarked by Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. Taxes may also be paid without discount in three installments due Nov. 15, 2012, February 15, 2013 and May 15, 2013.  

Multnomah County accepts property tax payments by phone at 1-877-542-5990 or online (credit/debit card or e-check) at www.multcotax.org (third party fees apply) but electronic payments cannot be processed at the county office. Multnomah County is ready to help with questions about property taxes at 503-988-3326 during business hours or online at www.multcotax.org. 

Tax appeal process
In Oregon, taxpayers may appeal the Real Market Value and/or the Assessed Value of their property with the Board of Property Tax Appeals through Dec. 31, 2012. The Board hears appeals beginning in February and through April 15, 2013. Call 503-988-3326 to receive a petition for appeal or a brochure that outlines the appeal process. Additional forms and information are available at www.multcotax.org or at 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 175, Portland.  

Oregon Constitution governs tax growth and collection
Passed in the 1990s, Measure 5, Measure 47 and Measure 50 amended the Oregon Constitution to determine how property taxes are calculated across the state. Taxes generally increase 3 percent per year on properties, plus new bonds or levies approved by voters in a particular area and minus expiring bonds or levies. Exceptions apply for new construction. More information on property taxes in Oregon is available from the Oregon Department of Revenue at http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/PTD/Pages/property.aspx. 

Taxes are calculated on the lesser of Maximum Assessed Value (MAV) or Real Market Value (RMV). The result is called Assessed Value (AV). In Multnomah County, Assessed Value for single family homes is 73 percent of Real Market Value on average with variations by property and area. Within Multnomah County, no true “typical” example of average assessed value (AV) exists.  

Within Multnomah County, tax rates on individual statements vary because property taxes support 69 local government taxing districts with differing boundaries. These districts include education districts and various branches of local government including cities, Multnomah County, local fire, water and special assessment districts, Metro, TriMet and the Port of Portland. Multnomah County only retains about 24 cents of each dollar collected. The remainder is distributed to other taxing districts.

Countywide, taxes increase just over 1 percent from 2011
The total of all property taxes and special assessments to be collected for all districts in Multnomah County is $1.255 billion for the 2012 tax year, an increase of 1.3 percent from $1.239 billion in 2011.  
 

Paying your taxes
Multnomah County’s property tax information phone number is 503-988-3326. General property tax information is also available at www.multcotax.org. For specific property account information (values, taxes, balances due, etc.) visit www.multcoproptax.org.  

The Multnomah County Assessment, Recording and Taxation Office is located at 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland. Tax payments can be made on the first floor in Suite 175 (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., M-F). Payments should be mailed to: P.O. Box 2716, Portland, Oregon  97208-2716. Multnomah County offices will be closed Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 in observance of Veterans Day.

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