Lest we forget, November 1st marks the date the first installment of property taxes are due. The dates tend to confuse many property owners, so below is some basic information about taxes for real property in San Diego County.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

July 1 - Beginning of fiscal year
January 1 - Unsecured bills mailed out; Lien date for unsecured taxes.
August 31 - Unsecured deadline. A 10% penalty is added.
September - Treasurer-Tax Collector mails out original secured property tax bills
November 1 - First installment is due (Secured Property Tax) and delinquent -unsecured accounts are changed additional penalties of 1½% until paid.
December 10 - First installment payment deadline. A 10% penalty is added after 5:00 p.m. *
February 1 - Second installment due (Secured Property Tax)
April 10 - Second installment payment deadline. A 10% penalty plus $10.00 cost is added after 5:00 p.m.*
May - Treasurer-Tax Collector mails delinquent notices for any unpaid, regular current taxes
June 30 - End of fiscal year
July 1 - Delinquent Secured accounts are transferred to delinquent tax roll and additional penalties added at 1- ½% per month on any unpaid tax amounts, plus $15.00 redemption fee

The following late payment penalties are required by California law:

  • A 10% penalty added 5:00 p.m. on December 10.*
  • A 10% penalty and $10.00 cost added after 5:00 p.m. on April 10.*
  • After the end of the fiscal year (June 30), a $15.00 redemption fee and a 1-½% per month (18% per annum) penalty is added on the unpaid tax amount.

Penalties can be reduced by paying any prior year back taxes or by initiating a five-year installment plan of redemption.
* If a delinquent date falls on a weekend or holiday, the delinquent date is the next business day.

Property taxes in San Diego County are collected by the San Diego County Treasurer and Tax Collector's office and can be paid in person, by mailing in your payment, over the phone with a Visa card, and online at www.sdtreastax.com.

Feel free to search all San Diego homes for sale throughout the county.