Glenn County Property Tax Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Dates and penalties come from the Glenn County Tax Collector’s published legal notice and penalty-waiver page; sources are listed at the end.

Glenn County follows the standard California schedule: a late installment gets a 10 percent penalty. The Tax Collector’s legal notice puts the first installment deadline at 5:00 p.m. on December 10 and the second at 5:00 p.m. on April 10. After April 10 the penalty is 10 percent plus the cost of preparing the delinquent records and giving notice. If you sell, escrow pays any taxes owing out of your proceeds.

Glenn County property tax at a glance

How much is property tax in Glenn County?

The state base rate is 1 percent of assessed value under Proposition 13, with voter-approved bonds and direct levies on top. Assessed value rises by no more than 2 percent a year until a sale or new building work resets it.

A farm or home in Orland or Willows can therefore be taxed very differently from a recently sold property of the same size. The county pages we reviewed do not publish a county average, so use your own bill and the estimator below.

When are Glenn County property taxes due?

Glenn County’s notice sets November 1 and February 1 as the due dates and December 10 and April 10 as the last on-time days. The notice we relied on is from the 2020 tax year, and the dates are the statewide pattern, so confirm the current year’s dates on your bill.

• The county tells owners who have not received a bill by November 10 to contact the Tax Collector.
• Mailed payments need a postmark by the delinquent date to avoid penalties.
• A returned or bounced payment costs $43.00 per item on top of whatever penalty applies.

Glenn County property tax calculators

Estimate a yearly bill, the cost of paying late and the transfer tax on a sale. Use the figures printed on your bill.

The late-cost calculator leaves out the notice and record costs added after April 10, because Glenn’s notice does not give a dollar amount.

How do I pay my Glenn County property tax bill?

The county takes payments online through its payment system by e-check or credit card, by telephone and by mail. You can also pay in person at the Willows Department of Finance office at 516 W. Sycamore Street.

Phone payments go through (877) 470-6240, and questions about a balance go to Tax Collection at (530) 934-6410. If you mail a check, send it early, since the postmark is what decides whether it was on time.

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

A missed first installment costs 10 percent. A missed second installment costs 10 percent plus the cost of preparing the delinquent records and giving notice. On a $2,200 installment, the penalty alone is $220.

The county’s penalty-waiver page says penalties follow the Revenue and Taxation Code, so unpaid tax at the end of the fiscal year is handled under state rules for defaulted property.

The pages we checked do not print the default rate, a payment plan or the date a sale can take place, so ask the Tax Collector for a written redemption figure.

There is a way to ask for relief. A penalty waiver application is mailed to the Glenn County Tax Collector, Attn: Appeals, 516 West Sycamore Street, Willows, CA 95988. You send two checks, one for the original tax and one for only the penalty and fee, and applications that arrive without payment are denied. Approval is not promised, so do not assume the penalty will be cancelled.

Do Glenn County owners get supplemental bills?

Supplemental bills are a state-law feature, triggered by a sale or new construction, and Glenn’s pages do not describe how they are timed. If you bought, inherited or finished a building project in the last year, ask the Tax Collector whether a second bill is coming. Our page on selling a house in Glenn County covers inherited and farm-area homes.

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

Back taxes do not block a sale. Escrow pays the amount owed to the Tax Collector from your proceeds.

1. Get the payoff. Call (530) 934-6410 and ask for the total as of your closing date, with penalties and costs.
2. Ask about every year. Earlier delinquent years and any supplemental bill belong in the payoff.
3. Plan for transfer tax. California charges $0.55 per $500, so a $275,000 sale is $302.50. 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 can close without loan approval, which is useful when a deadline is close. See how we buy houses in Glenn County, or read our transfer tax report.

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

Glenn County property tax FAQ

When are Glenn County property taxes delinquent?

The first installment is delinquent after 5:00 p.m. on December 10 and the second after 5:00 p.m. on April 10, according to the Tax Collector’s legal notice.

What is the penalty for paying Glenn County property tax late?

A late installment gets a 10 percent penalty, and after April 10 the notice adds the cost of preparing delinquent records and giving notice.

Can I get a Glenn County property tax penalty waived?

You can apply to the Tax Collector, Attn: Appeals, with two checks, one for the tax and one for the penalty. Applications without payment are denied.

How do I pay Glenn County property taxes?

Online by e-check or credit card, by phone at (877) 470-6240, by mail, or at the Willows Department of Finance office at 516 W. Sycamore Street.

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

Yes. Escrow pays the balance from your sale proceeds at closing.

Sources

• Glenn County: Notice of Current Property Taxes Due (legal notice, 2020)
• Glenn County: Penalty waiver and payment information

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