Property identification number (PIN) is a number assigned to parcels of real property by the tax assessor of a particular jurisdiction for purposes of identification and record keeping.
A PIN may also be referred to by the following terms:
- Property Tax ID Number
- Folio Number
- Parcel ID Number
- Property Tax Number
- Tax Parcel Number
PINs are usually eight or ten digits long and interspersed with hyphens. Formats vary across jurisdictions but may follow the concatenation of the book, page, and parcel number. PINs are unique within jurisdictions. Embedded in the PIN may be identifying information about each parcel, such as plot type or location.
Each PIN has a specific tax value. The PIN is used to collect property taxes from homeowners. Those same taxes are used to fund local community services such as schools, jails, roadways, and city maintenance.
The PIN can be found on a property tax notice sent annually by the tax assessor or by calling the tax assessor's office. Some counties have online mapping systems that display parcels' tax IDs when you type in the address. Or, you can search for a parcel by its PIN.
Property tax assessments determine the value of a property. Each local jurisdiction may use slightly different methods to determine a property’s value. The value of the property then determines the amount of tax that a homeowner will pay. The higher the value of the property, the more tax the homeowner will pay.
