About the Department of Finance
Mission Statement
To instill the public's trust and ensure the financial integrity of the County of Marin by safeguarding the County's funds and promoting the prudent utilization of resources.
What We Do
We oversee the management of the County's finances. Our department serves as the County's auditor, controller, tax collector, treasurer, and public administrator.
Our duties include:
- Keeping track of how the County spends money
- Making sure the County follows financial rules and regulations
- Paying employees and vendors
- Calculating taxes, creating bills, and collecting payment
- Helping to manage estates
Our divisions
- Accounting The Accounting division takes care of the county's financial records. We make reports and help departments manage their budgets.
- Accounts Payable The Accounts Payable division makes payments for goods and services and manages vendor data.
- Audit The Internal Audit divisions tracks County operations and recommends improvements. We also report on risk and compliance to management and advisory boards.
- Payroll The Payroll division pays employees and manages payroll information, including deductions, taxes, and direct deposits.
- Public Administrator The Public Administrator handles the estates of Marin residents who die without a will or relatives to manage their affairs.
- Property Tax The Tax Collector calculates property taxes, sends bills, and collects taxes in Marin County.
- Treasurer The Treasurer manages the County's finances and protects its funds. We provide banking and investment services, handle deposits, and manage unclaimed property.
- Fiscal Administrative Services The Fiscal Administrative Services Division delivers efficient and effective financial and operational support services.
- Special Districts Special districts are a type of community based local government to meet a specific public need for services.
- Central Collections Central Collections manages collections, Transient Occupancy Tax, and Business Licenses
Taxes
- Learn about paying property taxes If you own property — like a home or real estate — you’ll have to pay secured property taxes every year.
- Learn about supplemental tax assessments If you buy a new property — or finish a building project on property you own — you may need to pay an extra fee on top of your normal property taxes.
- Learn about property tax exemptions Find out if you’re eligible for a tax exemption, which could save you money on your taxes.
- Learn about tax defaulted land sales If taxes aren’t paid on a property for 5 years or more, it’s tax defaulted. We sell tax defaulted properties to collect unpaid taxes.
Short-term rentals
- Report your AirBnB earnings Each month, you’ll need to report your Transient Occupancy Tax, including information from any Airbnb stays.
- Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) If you run a short-term rental business, you’ll need a Transient Occupancy Tax certificate.
- Learn about Transient Occupancy Tax Certificate If you run a hotel or rental business, you’ll have to pay a Transient Occupancy Tax. This tax helps us fund projects like parks and infrastructure.
Estates
- Information about the Public Administrator If a person dies and doesn’t have a will or a relative to manage their estate, the Public Administrator can help. Learn about the process.
- Real Property Sales Information about Estate sales - this page is updated on a continuous basis as Real Property Sale information becomes available for Public Notice.
- Personal Property Sales Information about Estate sales - this page is updated on a continuous basis as Personal Property Sale information becomes available for Public Notice.