Payment Plans

Five-Year Payment Plan

This plan may be available to taxpayers who have been in default for less than five years. However, it is not available for taxpayers who are late on their current year taxes.

If you are in default on your prior-year taxes, you can elect to pay your defaulted taxes in installments. The deadline to set up a five-year payment plan is 5 p.m. on the last business day of the fifth fiscal year after the property originally became tax-defaulted. For example, if you defaulted on your taxes on June 30, 2017, you would have until 5 p.m. on June 30, 2022, to set up a payment plan (2017 + 5 = 2022).

After that five-year mark, our office has the power to sell the property at our annual property tax sale, according to state law.

Payments made while on the payment plan are not refundable. If you are due any refund for any year, we will put the refund toward the payment plan. The refund will be treated like any other payment that is made during the plan.

Starting a Payment Plan

To start a payment plan, you must do ALL of the following:

• Complete, sign and return the Five Year Payment Plan Contract to the Tax Collector's Office prior to the deadline.
• Pay at least 20% of the total amount, plus all other current year taxes due and a $89 fee. (This fee is comprised of a $71 plan setup fee and an $18 redemption cost fee)

NOTE: Starting a payment plan will not stop a foreclosure action by a mortgage holder or holder of a Deed of Trust. It is your responsibility to contact your bank or mortgage company about a separate payment plan. Also, a payment plan does not stop your property from being foreclosed on for delinquent debt service obligations under the Improvement Bond Act of 1915 and/or the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982.

To remain in good standing, you must:

• Pay at least 20% of the redemption amount, plus all interest, all current year taxes, and the $85 maintenance fee by April 10th each following year.

Each year after the plan's start, the total amount paid must be equal to or greater than 20% of the original redemption amount, plus all interest that has accrued on the unpaid balance. The unpaid balance of your installment plan, plus accrued interest, may be paid in full at any time before the fifth and final payment would be due.

Defaulting on Your Payment Plan

You will default on your plan if you fail to pay the minimum due or fail to pay current taxes each year on or before April 10th, and you will again be charged the penalties on your full defaulted taxes beginning with the original default date.

An installment plan CANNOT be restarted in the same fiscal year in which it defaulted. An installment plan also CANNOT be restarted if the property has become subject to our office's annual tax sale.

If eligible, you can start a new installment plan after July 1st following the fiscal year the plan defaulted. The "default credit" (money previously paid while on the payment plan) cannot be used to start a new payment plan. That amount will be deducted from the balance after the initial 20% has been applied.

A new installment plan MAY be initiated:

• Only after July 1 following the default of the plan.
• All conditions of the installment plan must be met.

An installment plan MAY NOT be initiated:

• After the fifth year following the declaration of tax default.
• After the property has become subject to Power to Sell.

Five-Year Payment Plan FAQs

Four-Year Escape Tax Bill Payment Plan

The Treasurer-Tax Collector sends escape tax bills when your assessment has changed and was not included on your regular property tax bill.

Why would you receive an escape bill? Click here for an explanation. 

Some escape bills may be eligible to be paid on a four-year payment.

To enroll a bill on the four-year plan, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Escape tax bill must be for a previous fiscal tax year.
2. The total amount due must be greater than $500.
3. Submit a completed and signed Four Year Payment Plan Agreement before April 10th or by the extension date listed on the coupon, whichever is later.
4. Pay at least 20% of the escape bill and all other taxes that are currently due, if any, no later than the deadline for filing the written request.
5. Pay the $76 payment plan setup fee.
6. If you do not pay your scheduled installments when due or other secured property taxes when due, the plan will default, and you will be charged penalties just like all other delinquent taxes. The tax plus the penalty will be due immediately.
7. In each succeeding year, a payment of at least 20% of the original amount, plus a maintenance fee of $81, is required by April 10th.

You will default on the plan if any of the following happens:

• 20% installment not received by April 10th each year
• Maintenance fee of $81 not received with installment payment
• Current year taxes not paid in full by April 10th each year
• All Secured property tax bills not paid on time
• The property with the escape bill changes ownership