Property Tax ID Number (Parcel Number): What It Is and How to Find It
TL;DR
Your property tax ID number (also called a parcel number, APN, PIN, or tax ID) is a unique identifier assigned to your property by the county. You need it to look up your tax bill, file an appeal, pay taxes online, or conduct any business with the assessor's office. Find it on your property tax bill, deed, title insurance documents, or on the county assessor's website by searching your address. It is not the same as your Social Security number or federal tax ID.
What It Is
Every piece of taxable property has a unique identification number assigned by the county. This number identifies your specific parcel in the county's records. It goes by different names:
- APN (Assessor's Parcel Number) - California, Nevada, other Western states
- PIN (Parcel Identification Number or Property Index Number) - Illinois, many Midwestern states
- Tax Map/Block/Lot - New York, New Jersey
- Parcel ID - General term used in many states
- Tax Account Number - Some jurisdictions
What the Number Looks Like
Parcel numbers typically follow a structured format that encodes location information:
- California: 123-456-789 (book-page-parcel)
- Illinois (Cook County): 12-34-567-890-0000 (township-section-block-lot-unit)
- Texas: R12345 or 12345-67-890
- Florida: 12-3456-789-0123 (section-township-range-parcel)
Where to Find It
- Property tax bill: Always printed on the front, usually near the top
- Assessment notice: On any notice from the assessor's office
- Deed: Recorded with the legal description
- Title insurance documents: Included in the title commitment and policy
- County assessor website: Search by address to find the parcel number
- County GIS/mapping system: Click on your property on the map
- Mortgage documents: Often referenced in the mortgage or deed of trust
When You Need It
- Filing a property tax appeal
- Paying taxes online
- Applying for exemptions
- Contacting the assessor's office about your property
- Searching public records
- Real estate transactions
Have your parcel number handy? Use it to look up your assessment and run it through our free property tax analyzer to see if your property is over-assessed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the process for property tax id number (parcel number): what it is and how to find it?
Your property tax ID number (also called a parcel number, APN, PIN, or tax ID) is a unique identifier assigned to your property by the county. You need it to look up your tax bill, file an appeal, pay taxes online, or conduct any business with the assessor's office. Find it on your property tax bill, deed, title insurance documents, or on the county assessor's website by searching your address.
What It Is?
Every piece of taxable property has a unique identification number assigned by the county. This number identifies your specific parcel in the county's records. It goes by different names:
What the Number Looks Like?
Parcel numbers typically follow a structured format that encodes location information:
When You Need It?
Have your parcel number handy? Use it to look up your assessment and run it through our free property tax analyzer to see if your property is over-assessed.