Amador County Property Tax Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Figures come from the Amador County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s web pages, listed under Sources.

In Amador County, a property tax installment that is not paid by December 10 (first) or April 10 (second) picks up a 10 percent penalty, and the April penalty also carries a $20 cost. Taxes still open after June 30 go into default, where a $15 redemption fee and 1.5 percent monthly interest apply. If you sell, the escrow company pays the county from your proceeds, so a tax balance does not block a sale.

Amador County property tax at a glance

First installment	Due November 1; a 10% penalty is added if unpaid after December 10
Second installment	Due February 1; a 10% penalty plus a $20 cost is added if unpaid after April 10
Default date	Unpaid taxes default after June 30; prior-year taxes that stay unpaid are carried as defaulted from July 1
Default charges	$15 redemption fee plus 1.5% per month (18% a year)
Tax sale	The lien can be sold if taxes stay unpaid for 5 years
Payment plan	A 5-year installment plan can be started before the fifth year
Tax Collector phone	(209) 223-6364
Assessor	(209) 223-6351, 810 Court Street, Jackson, CA 95642

When are property taxes due in Amador County?

Amador County follows the California calendar. The first half of the annual bill is due November 1 and the second half February 1, but neither is treated as late until the delinquency dates of December 10 and April 10.

The county’s FAQ points out a detail that catches people out: penalties still apply when a bill never arrives. A bill sent to an old address, or one that went to a lender who no longer holds the loan, does not stop the clock.

If you have not seen a bill by early November, call the Tax Collector at (209) 223-6364 and ask for a copy.

Because the second installment carries an extra $20 on top of the 10 percent, falling behind in the spring costs more than falling behind in December. On a bill of $2,000 per installment, the 10 percent alone is $200, so the second-installment charge would be $220.

How to pay and who to call

The county’s secured-tax pages list the Tax Collector’s phone number but did not spell out a payment-method menu when we reviewed them, so we do not list one here.

Call (209) 223-6364 or visit the Treasurer-Tax Collector page on amadorgov.org to confirm how to pay by mail, in person or online, and to ask about any card fees before you pay.

Questions about value or exemptions go to the Assessor at (209) 223-6351, and the Auditor’s office at (209) 223-6361 handles questions about special assessments and tax rates.

What happens if you don’t pay Amador County property taxes

The consequences arrive in stages. First come the 10 percent penalty and, for the spring installment, the $20 cost. If those remain unpaid at the end of June, the parcel goes into default. The county then adds a $15 redemption fee and 1.5 percent for every month the balance stays open. Over a full year that is 18 percent, charged on top of the original tax and penalties.

The most serious step comes after five unpaid years, when the lien can be sold. Before then, owners can ask about the county’s five-year installment plan, which lets a defaulted balance be paid down over time while current taxes are kept up.

The plan has to be started before the fifth year ends. If you are also behind on a mortgage, our California foreclosure report covers what lenders do, and our guide to redemption after foreclosure explains the rights that follow.

Supplemental tax bills in Amador County

When a property changes hands or a building is completed, the Assessor reassesses it and the county issues a supplemental bill for the difference.

Amador County mails the supplemental bill to the property owner, not to the lender, and the owner and lender have to work out between them who pays it.

A buyer who had planned on a lender impound account for taxes can be surprised here, since that account normally covers only the regular annual bill. Heirs who take over a parent’s home should expect one as well; our inherited home report explains how reassessment works after a death.

Estimate the transfer tax on your Amador County sale

California’s county transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 of sale price. The calculator uses that rate. Incorporated cities may charge more, which this estimate leaves out, so confirm the total with your escrow officer.

How to sell a house in Amador County when you owe property taxes

Owing taxes does not prevent a sale. The county’s own FAQ notes that the owner stays responsible for unpaid taxes at the close of escrow, even when the year’s tax is prorated between buyer and seller, so the paperwork needs to show those taxes being paid.

1. Find the balance. Call the Tax Collector at (209) 223-6364 for the exact amount owed, including penalties, and ask what it will be on your planned closing date.
2. Read the title report. Delinquent taxes appear as a lien. Your title officer will list them for payoff.
3. Check the escrow instructions. Make sure unpaid taxes are listed as a payoff from your proceeds, separate from the normal proration.
4. Choose how to sell. A cash sale can close in days, which keeps the 1.5 percent monthly charge from growing. A listing can fetch more, but adds months and repair requests.

We buy houses in Amador County as they are. Start with our Amador County cash home buyer page, or read how to estimate what your house is worth first.

Ready to talk numbers? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Amador County property tax FAQ

When do Amador County property taxes become delinquent?

After December 10 for the first installment and after April 10 for the second.

What is the penalty for paying Amador County property taxes late?

A 10 percent penalty applies to both installments, and the second installment also has a $20 cost.

What happens to unpaid taxes after June 30 in Amador County?

They go into default. A $15 redemption fee applies and 1.5 percent per month is added until the balance is paid.

Does the county penalize me if I never got a bill?

Yes. Penalties apply even when no bill was received, so call the Tax Collector if yours has not arrived.

Can I sell my Amador County house if I owe back taxes?

Yes. The balance is paid from your sale proceeds through escrow, so you need an exact payoff figure and a title report that lists it.

Sources

• Amador County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Secured Taxes
• Amador County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Frequently Asked Questions
• Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder fee schedule (statutory $0.55 per $500 under Revenue and Taxation Code 11911)

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Dates, fees and rates can change; confirm your balance with the Amador County Treasurer-Tax Collector.