Secured Property Taxes

"Secured" property is any property that can't be moved like homes or land. 

Proposition 13 limits the tax rate to 1% of a property's current assessed value, plus any voter-approved bonds and assessments. The proposition also states that property values can't increase more than 2% annually, based on the California Consumer Price Index. However, property is reassessed whenever it changes owners or undergoes new construction.

All owners of business, industrial, agricultural and residential properties must pay property taxes unless exempted by state law. Lessees must pay property taxes if they are leasing real estate from an owner whose property is exempt.

Deadlines

Secured property taxes are due in two installments. The first is due on November 1 and is penalized if not paid by December 10. The second installment is due February 1 and is penalized if not paid by April 10. 

December 10 and April 10 are called "delinquent dates," and if they fall on a weekend or holiday, you will have until the close of the next business day to pay your bill before it's penalized. 

Penalties

If you missed the delinquent date, you will be charged a 10% penalty, plus a $10 fee added to the second installment. If you do not pay both installments by June 30th, your unpaid taxes go into default. 

Defaulted taxes and penalties accrue interest at a rate of 1.5% per month (18% per year). When you pay off defaulted taxes, you'll also have to pay a $33 redemption fee when you pay your bill. 

 If a "tax defaulted" notation appears on your tax bill, you may have unpaid taxes for prior years. You can save money by paying any back taxes or by requesting a Five Year Installment Payment Plan.

Best Way to Pay 

Those hefty penalties are why we've made it easy for taxpayers to pay their taxes with our online payment system. 

Electronic payments are now the preferred payment method, and they are free, fast, and secure if made by e-check. To pay by e-check, all you need to do is enter the routing and account numbers found at the bottom of your physical checks.