Nevada 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 Nevada County Treasurer-Tax Collector, the county fee schedule and the California State Board of Equalization; sources are listed at the end.

Nevada County property tax is 1 percent of your home’s assessed value plus voter-approved debt rates, billed in two installments that go late after December 10 and April 10. A late installment costs a 10 percent penalty, and the second installment adds a $10 cost.

If you sell, unpaid taxes are paid from your proceeds at closing. This guide explains the deadlines, what default costs, and how to sell a house in Nevada County when you owe taxes.

Nevada County property tax at a glance

When are Nevada County property taxes due?

The first installment is due November 1, with a grace period until December 10. The second is due February 1, with a grace period until April 10. If a due date lands on a weekend or holiday, payment is due the next business day. For the 2026-27 bill, the first deadline is Thursday, December 10, 2026.

• Online and phone payments count as on time if made by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on December 10 or April 10. Payments received after that are returned for penalties.
• Partial payments are not accepted.
• Paying from several sources, such as a check plus a credit card, needs prior authorization or the payments are voided and returned.
• Put your assessment number or installment stub with a mailed check, and include a note if you want a receipt.

How much is property tax in Nevada County?

The base is 1 percent of taxable value, plus whatever voter-approved debt rate applies to your parcel. The State Board of Equalization explains that Proposition 13 generally limits yearly increases in a property’s base year value to 2 percent, until the home changes hands or is improved. A long-time owner in Grass Valley can therefore pay far less than a new buyer next door.

If you live in the house, the Homeowners’ Exemption lowers taxable value by $7,000. It requires a one-time filing with the county Assessor. Questions about your assessed value go to the Assessor, not the Tax Collector.

Nevada County property tax late-payment calculator

Enter an unpaid installment to see the 10 percent penalty, the second-installment cost and default charges after June 30. Use the figures from your own bill.

How do I pay my Nevada County property taxes?

• Online or by phone: credit card, debit card or e-check through the county’s payment portal, or by calling 1-877-445-5617. Cards carry a 2.38 percent convenience fee. E-check is free.
• In person: Treasurer-Tax Collector, 950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 290, Nevada City. Payments are taken Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays.
• By mail: payable to the Nevada County Tax Collector, PO Box 128, Nevada City, CA 95959.
• Drop box: at the Rood Center parking lot, 950 Maidu Avenue, or at Truckee Town Hall, 10183 Truckee Airport Road. The county says both boxes are temporarily locked around December 10 and April 10, so plan to pay online near a deadline.

For questions, call the Tax Collector at (530) 265-1285.

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

The county’s tax calendar lays out the sequence. After April 10, the second installment carries a 10 percent penalty and a $10 cost. On July 1, accounts that remain unpaid move to the defaulted tax roll, where an 18 percent annual charge (1.5 percent a month) applies to the base amount, along with a $15 redemption fee.

• July 1 to 15: the power to sell is recorded for taxes that have been defaulted five years.
• July 31: delinquent tax bills are mailed with two coupons, one for full payment and one to start an installment plan.
• August 1: the three-year publication is generated, and owners with three or more years of delinquent taxes are published in the newspaper, even if they are on an installment plan.
• April 10: the annual amount on a five-year installment plan is due.

On a $2,500 installment, the penalty is $250 and each month in default adds $37.50, so a year in default adds $450 before the redemption fee. The county page does not give a redemption deadline, and a tax sale has its own page on the county site, so call the Tax Collector for the exact amount to redeem.

What is a supplemental tax bill in Nevada County?

A supplemental bill is an extra bill issued after a sale or new construction triggers reassessment. The State Board of Equalization explains that a prorated supplemental assessment covers the rest of the fiscal year. A higher value produces a bill and a lower value produces a refund.

The county pages reviewed for this guide do not give supplemental due dates, so ask the Assessor or Tax Collector if you are buying, selling or inheriting.

Heirs often face this bill. If you inherited a home, our page on how we buy houses in Nevada County covers the options.

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

You can sell a house in Nevada County with unpaid property taxes. They are a lien on the property, so escrow pays them from your proceeds and the buyer takes the house with the taxes current.

1. Get your payoff figure. Call (530) 265-1285. Defaulted amounts grow monthly, so ask for the amount due in your closing month.
2. Expect proration. The current year’s bill is split between you and the buyer by the closing date.
3. Budget for transfer tax. The county’s fee schedule lists documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000, of consideration, minus any loans assumed. On a $600,000 sale with no assumed loan that is $660.00.
4. Watch the calendar. Closing before December 10 or April 10 avoids the penalty on that installment. If the property is heading toward the tax sale process, the sale has to close first.

A cash sale helps when time is short, whether the house is in Nevada City, Grass Valley or Truckee. There is no loan approval to wait for, so closing can be set ahead of a deadline. See how we buy houses in Nevada County.

Behind on Nevada County property taxes and thinking about selling? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Estimate your transfer tax when you sell

Nevada County property tax FAQ

When are Nevada County property taxes late?

After December 10 for the first installment and after April 10 for the second. The second also carries a $10 cost, and online or phone payments count if made by 11:59 p.m. on those dates.

Can I pay Nevada County property taxes with a card?

Yes, online or by phone at 1-877-445-5617. The county charges a 2.38 percent convenience fee on cards and nothing on e-checks.

Does Nevada County accept partial payments?

No. The Tax Collector does not accept partial payments, and payments split across sources need prior authorization.

What is the Nevada County installment plan for delinquent taxes?

Delinquent bills mailed on July 31 include a coupon to start a five-year installment plan, with the annual amount due each April 10.

How do I sell a house in Nevada County with delinquent property taxes?

Get the payoff amount from the Tax Collector, give it to escrow, and the delinquent taxes are paid from your proceeds at closing.

Sources

• Nevada County: Important Dates
• Nevada County: Property Tax Bills
• Nevada County: FY 2025-26 Consolidated User Fee Schedule
• California State Board of Equalization: California Property Tax, An Overview

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 Nevada County Treasurer-Tax Collector.