2026 fiscal calendar
Know the tax date before it becomes a penalty date.
Tax bills, payment rules, and valuation-review windows are controlled by the local jurisdiction and the governing state framework. The verified record below separates published figures from dates that require confirmation with Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation — Washington County Assessments; Washington County Treasurer's Office.
Effective rate
FY2027 county real-property rate for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027: $0.9280 per $100 assessed value; municipal rates vary.
Statement mailing
July 2026; Washington County states annual real-estate tax bills are mailed each July.
Payment deadline
FY2027 taxes are due July 1, 2026 and become delinquent October 1, 2026. For eligible principal residences, the first semiannual payment is due September 30, 2026 and the second is due December 31, 2026. The 2026 Washington County tax sale is June 2, 2026.
Valuation protest
Appeal the SDAT assessment within 45 days of the 2026 notice date; Maryland Tax Court appeal is within 30 days of a Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board order. See https://assessmentappeals.dat.maryland.gov/start.aspx.
Critical payment warning
Do not assume a grace period.
The verified county record identifies the payment timing above but does not establish a universal penalty schedule for this page. Late charges, interest, collection costs, tax-sale procedures, and lien or foreclosure timelines can depend on state law and the local collector’s process. If the deadline is close or a balance is delinquent, contact the tax collector directly and request the current payoff amount in writing.
Treat the published payment deadline as a hard operational date and retain your receipt or confirmation number.
Read the calendar in order
From assessment to collection
1. Valuation and notice
Review the assessment notice as soon as it arrives. The protest window may run from the notice date rather than from the payment due date.
2. Statement and account review
Match the tax statement to the parcel or account number and confirm exemptions, assessed value, taxing units, credits, and balance.
3. Payment confirmation
Use the official collector channel, then save the receipt, transaction reference, and date posted. A bank submission is not always the same as a county posting date.