Tulare 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 Tulare County Treasurer-Tax Collector FAQs; sources are listed at the end.

Tulare County property taxes are paid in two installments, due November 1 and February 1, and they turn delinquent at 5 p.m. on December 10 and April 10. A late installment carries a 10 percent penalty, and a late second installment adds a $10 cost.

If you sell the house, anything still owed is paid from your proceeds at closing. This guide covers the dates, the ways to pay, supplemental bills and how to sell a Tulare County house when you owe taxes.

For how selling works across the county, see our Tulare County cash home buyers page.

Tulare County property tax at a glance

When are Tulare County property taxes due?

The county mails one annual secured bill. Half is due November 1 and half is due February 1. Each half is delinquent at 5 p.m. on December 10 and April 10. When a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. You can pay both installments together, as long as you do it by December 10.

How do I pay my Tulare County property taxes?

• Online: through the My Taxes page on the county website.
• By phone: 1-877-736-9055.
• Questions: call a tax representative at (559) 636-5250.

We did not find a street address for the Tax Collector’s counter, so call the number above to confirm where to pay in person.

What are supplemental bills in Tulare County?

A supplemental bill comes after a change of ownership or new construction, and it is in addition to the regular bill. A lender may not pay it from your escrow account, so buyers and heirs should expect to pay it themselves. For questions about your assessed value, call the Assessor at (559) 636-5100.

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

A late installment first brings the 10 percent penalty, plus the $10 cost on the second installment. Taxes unpaid at the end of the fiscal year become tax-defaulted, and the property can be sold for taxes after five or more years of default.

The county says penalty cancellation is available by request on a very limited basis. We did not find the default interest rate on the county’s page, so ask for an exact payoff. If you are also behind on the mortgage, read about selling a house in foreclosure.

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

You can sell a house in Tulare County with unpaid property taxes. Taxes are a lien on the property, so the escrow company pays what is owed from your proceeds at closing, and the buyer receives the home with the taxes cleared.

1. Get a payoff figure. Ask the Tax Collector for the amount due in the month you expect to close.
2. Give it to escrow. Escrow lists the taxes with your mortgage and other liens and pays them at closing.
3. Budget for transfer tax. California’s statutory county rate is $0.55 for each $500 of value; use the calculator below. The contract decides who pays.
4. Watch the calendar. Closing before December 10 or April 10 avoids the penalty on that installment.

A cash sale helps when time is the problem, because there is no loan approval to wait for. See how we buy houses in Visalia, Tulare and Porterville, or call (424) 435-2326. If you inherited the house, read how to sell an inherited house.

Tulare County tax and transfer tax calculators

Use these to estimate the cost of a late payment and the transfer tax on a sale. Enter the figures from your own bill for the closest result.

Tulare County property tax FAQ

When is the Tulare County property tax deadline?

The first installment is delinquent at 5 p.m. on December 10 and the second at 5 p.m. on April 10. A weekend or holiday moves the deadline to the next business day.

How much is the late penalty on Tulare County property taxes?

It is 10 percent of the unpaid installment. A late second installment also carries a $10 cost.

Is a supplemental bill extra in Tulare County?

Yes. A supplemental bill is in addition to the regular bill, and your lender may not pay it for you.

Can Tulare County cancel a tax penalty?

Penalty cancellation is available by request on a very limited basis. Contact the Tax Collector to ask.

How do I sell a house in Tulare County when I owe property taxes?

Get the payoff from the Tax Collector and give it to escrow. The taxes are paid from your proceeds at closing, so the buyer gets the house with the taxes cleared.

Sources

• Tulare County Treasurer-Tax Collector FAQs (tularecounty.ca.gov)
• Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder: statutory transfer tax rate (Revenue and Taxation Code 11911)

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rates, fees and dates can change; confirm the amount on your own bill with the Tulare County Tax Collector. We did not find a Tulare County Recorder page confirming the transfer tax, so ask escrow to confirm it.