Inyo County Property Tax Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Dates and rules come from notices published by the Inyo County Treasurer-Tax Collector; sources are listed at the end.

Inyo County property tax is due in two installments, and the Treasurer-Tax Collector accepts only a postmark dated on the delinquent date or earlier. The first installment is due November 1 and delinquent after December 10. The second is due February 1 and delinquent after April 10.

Late payments owe a 10 percent penalty plus applicable costs, and the office rejects payments that arrive without them. A house with taxes owing can still be sold, because escrow pays the balance at closing.

Inyo County property tax at a glance

How much is property tax in Inyo County?

California’s base is 1 percent of assessed value under Proposition 13, plus any local bonds or direct charges on your parcel. Assessed value can rise no more than 2 percent a year until a sale or new construction resets it.

Inyo’s notices do not publish a countywide rate, so your own bill is the reliable figure, and the estimator below turns it into a yearly total for a home in Bishop, Big Pine or Lone Pine.

When are Inyo County property taxes due?

The notices put the first installment due date at November 1 and the second at February 1. Payment is delinquent after December 10 and April 10. The county’s wording is precise about postmarks, and it matters more here than in most counties.

• The office accepts only a postmark on the delinquent date itself, or earlier, as a timely payment.
• Online bill pay and home banking payments are not postmarked. If your bank mails the check and it arrives late, the county says the 10 percent penalty and costs apply.
• The county will deny requests to cancel penalties on bank-mailed payments that were received after the delinquent date, because only the received date can be considered.

Inyo County property tax calculators

Estimate your yearly bill, check what paying late would cost and see the transfer tax on a sale. Use the amounts on your own bill.

The late-cost calculator leaves out any county cost added to a late installment, since Inyo’s notices do not list the dollar amount.

How do I pay my Inyo County property tax bill?

The notices mention mailed payments, online payments and home banking, and they point owners to an Online Payments page on the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s site. They do not list the accepted card or e-check types. Call (760) 878-0312 for questions.

If you want the safest route, mail the payment well before the deadline, or pay through the county’s own payment page instead of a bank’s bill pay service, because the bank’s mailing leaves no postmark.

What happens if I don’t pay property taxes in Inyo County?

The notices say a late payment needs the 10 percent penalty and applicable costs, and that a payment without them will be rejected.

They do not describe default charges or the five-year rule, which come from state law rather than the county’s notices, so ask the office for the current figures before you rely on them.

What does not change is that unpaid tax is a lien against the house, and the longer it stays, the more it costs to clear.

On a $3,000 installment, the 10 percent penalty alone is $300 before any costs, and it is owed in full even if you miss the deadline by one day. That is why the postmark rule matters so much to Inyo owners who live far from the county seat in Independence.

Who handles Inyo County’s property tax questions?

Payment questions go to the Treasurer-Tax Collector at (760) 878-0312. The county also lists a Property Tax Administration page under the Auditor, which covers how the tax roll and rates are set. If you inherited a house and the bill is in a parent’s name, our page on selling a house in Inyo County explains how heirs can sell.

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

You do not have to pay first. The tax is paid from the proceeds when escrow closes, and the buyer receives clear title.

1. Get the amount due. Call the Treasurer-Tax Collector at (760) 878-0312 and give the parcel number and your expected closing date.
2. Include penalties in the payoff. If an installment is late, the 10 percent penalty and costs have to be part of what escrow sends.
3. Budget for transfer tax. California charges $0.55 per $500 of value, so a $250,000 sale is $275. The contract decides who pays.
4. Close before the next date. Finishing before December 10 or April 10 avoids a new penalty.

A cash sale fits a short timeline because it does not wait on loan approval. See how we buy houses in Inyo County, or read our transfer tax report.

Behind on Inyo County property taxes? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. It is free and there is no obligation.

Inyo County property tax FAQ

When are Inyo County property taxes delinquent?

The first installment is delinquent if not paid on or before December 10 and the second if not paid on or before April 10.

What is the penalty for late property tax in Inyo County?

A late payment owes a 10 percent penalty plus applicable costs, and the office rejects payments that arrive without them.

Does Inyo County accept a postmark for property tax payments?

Yes, but only a postmark dated on the delinquent date or earlier counts as timely. Home banking and online bill pay payments are not postmarked.

What if my bank mails my Inyo County property tax payment late?

The payment is subject to the 10 percent penalty and costs, and the county denies cancellation requests because only the received date can be considered.

Can I sell my Inyo County house if I owe property taxes?

Yes. Escrow pays the balance, including any penalty, from your sale proceeds at closing.

Sources

• Inyo County: 2nd Installments of 2025-26 Secured Annual Property Tax
• Inyo County: 2025-2026 Secured Annual Property Tax 1st Installment

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Dates and fees can change; confirm the amount on your own bill with the Inyo County Treasurer-Tax Collector.