Taxes in San Bernardino
California's real Prop 13 property-tax mechanic and its genuinely highest-in-the-US 13.3% top marginal income tax rate both apply to San Bernardino residents, with the same important Prop 13 county-wide-average nuance documented for Riverside County.
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Learn moreProp 13, and why San Bernardino County's county-wide rate looks low
San Bernardino County's widely-cited 'effective' property tax rate (0.70%) reflects a real, disclosed Prop 13 blending artifact -- decades of suppressed assessed values across long-time owners countywide. A fresh 2026 buyer's assessed value resets to the purchase price and should expect an effective rate closer to 1.05%-1.25%, with specific-area rates ranging from 1.02% (Mountain Pass) to 2.51% (Devore Heights) depending on local school and Mello-Roos assessments.
California's real progressive income tax, not a flat rate
California runs ten income tax brackets, topping out at a real 13.3% marginal rate on income over $1M -- the highest top marginal state income tax rate in the US, applying identically to San Bernardino residents as any other California resident.
Retirement-income treatment
California does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level, but fully taxes pension and retirement-account withdrawals at ordinary rates with no retirement-income deduction.
Key takeaways
- San Bernardino County's low 0.70% county-wide rate reflects a Prop 13 blending artifact -- specific-area rates run 1.02%-2.51%.
- California's real progressive income tax reaches a 13.3% top marginal rate (over $1M) -- the highest in the US.
- Social Security is exempt from state tax; pensions and retirement-account withdrawals are fully taxed.
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