California · November 7, 2026
California homeowners have until 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 10 to pay the first installment of their 2026-27 property tax bill. After that, counties add a 10% penalty. The first installment became due on November 1, and county tax collectors mailed bills in October.
The two deadlines
California splits the yearly secured property tax bill into two equal halves:
- First installment: due November 1, late after 5 p.m. December 10. Penalty: 10% of the installment.
- Second installment: due February 1, late after 5 p.m. April 10. In 2027 that date is a Saturday, so the deadline moves to Monday, April 12. Penalty: 10% plus a small cost charge.
When a deadline falls on a weekend or court holiday, it moves to the next business day. You can pay both halves now if you want to. Postmarks count for mailed payments in most counties, but online payments on the last day can be slow, so do not wait until the evening of December 10.
What the typical bill looks like
The typical California homeowner pays $5,124 a year, about 0.70% of a typical home value of $734,700, according to Census survey figures for 2020 to 2024. That means a first installment of about $2,560, and a 10% penalty would add roughly $256.
Bills in the largest counties:
- Los Angeles County: typical yearly bill $5,675, rate 0.68%
- San Diego County: $5,774, 0.68%
- Orange County: $6,330, 0.66%
- Riverside County: $4,348, 0.78%
- Alameda County: $8,474, 0.78%
California’s rates are low, but bills are high because home values are high. Because of Proposition 13, two similar houses can have very different bills depending on when each was bought. Our Prop 13 guide explains why.
Paid through escrow?
If your mortgage includes an escrow account, your lender usually pays both installments and you will see the bill marked for information only. If you recently refinanced or changed servicers, confirm that the new servicer has the bill. The owner is responsible for the penalty if a payment is missed.
If you can’t pay by July
Bills still unpaid on June 30 go into “defaulted” status. From then on, the county adds a redemption penalty of 1.5% a month plus a fee, and after five years in default a county can sell a home at auction. Many counties offer a five-year payment plan to clear defaulted taxes, as long as you keep up with each new year’s bill. See our guide to unpaid property taxes.
A check before you pay
If you bought your home this year, you may get one or more supplemental bills on top of the regular bill. These cover the change in value from your purchase and are due on their own schedule. Check that your homeowners’ exemption is applied if you live in the home. It saves about $70 a year, and you can file with the county assessor. For a quick estimate of your bill, use the calculator on any California county page.
Sources: Alameda County Treasurer-Tax Collector, taxes FAQ · County of San Mateo, secured property taxes
