California Property Tax Due Dates: Annual Bills and Payment Checks

Updated September 2026.

California's annual secured property tax bill normally has two installments: the first is due November 1 and becomes delinquent after December 10; the second is due February 1 and becomes delinquent after April 10. A due date and a delinquency date serve different purposes. Check the dates, payment instructions, and any applicable relief on your county bill before planning a payment.

The annual secured property tax calendar

The California Board of Equalization's property tax overview explains the standard installment dates. The county tax collector issues the bill and provides the payment instructions for your property.

These dates describe the annual secured bill. They are not a universal calendar for supplemental, unsecured, or already-defaulted taxes. Keep each bill and its instructions separate.

Check the deadline and payment method

Los Angeles County's secured property tax FAQs explain that a standard delinquency date falling on a Saturday or Sunday moves to the next business day. The FAQs also explain payment receipt and United States Postal Service postmark requirements. Check your own county's current calendar for holiday adjustments and its instructions for the payment method you choose.

If you do not receive a bill, contact the county tax collector to request it. Do not assume that the absence of a mailed bill means there is nothing to pay. If a lender handles taxes through an impound account, confirm which bills it covers and verify that the payment posted.

What happens after a missed installment

Los Angeles County lists a 10% delinquency penalty on an unpaid annual secured installment and a $10 cost on the second installment. Longer-term default has additional rules and charges. Ask the tax collector for the current amount and status rather than calculating a payoff from an old article.

If the property may qualify for disaster relief or another special program, check the county's current instructions. This article does not determine whether an exception, penalty cancellation, or payment arrangement applies to your property.

Supplemental bills need their own check

A change in ownership or completed new construction can lead to a supplemental assessment. The Board of Equalization's supplemental assessment guidance explains that a supplemental bill is in addition to the annual bill. Read its own installment dates and confirm whether your lender will pay it.

Unsecured bills also require their own review. Use the bill's tax year, assessment, deadlines, and payment instructions rather than applying the annual secured calendar above.

A payment record owners can use

• Identify the bill: Record the parcel number, tax year, bill type, and installment.
• Confirm responsibility: Establish whether you, a lender, or another authorized party is handling the payment.
• Plan early: Leave time to resolve an incorrect amount, missing bill, or payment-method problem.
• Verify the result: Keep the confirmation and check the county record for the posted payment.

For a preliminary budget estimate, use Coastline's California property tax calculator. An estimate does not replace the county bill, a payoff quote, or confirmation that a payment posted.

This article is general education, not tax or legal advice. Verify the current bill and property-specific questions with the county tax collector and your qualified adviser.