Mono County Property Tax Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Dates and penalties below follow Mono County’s published tax notices; some of those notices are several years old, so confirm everything on your current bill.

Mono County property tax follows the standard California pattern: the first installment is due November 1 and delinquent after December 10, and the second is due February 1 and delinquent after April 10. A late payment carries a 10 percent penalty, and the second installment also adds the cost of preparing delinquent records and notices. Mailed payments must be postmarked by the delinquent date.

Mono County property tax at a glance

First installment	Due November 1; delinquent after December 10; 10% penalty
Second installment	Due February 1; delinquent after April 10; 10% penalty plus cost of preparing delinquent records
Pay both at once	Allowed when the first installment is due
Mail	Must be postmarked by the delinquent date
Payment plan	The county lists a 5-pay installment contract form for delinquent accounts

When are Mono County property taxes due?

Mono County’s published notices give November 1 and February 1 as the due dates, with December 10 and April 10 as the deadlines after which penalties apply. You may pay both installments together when the first one is due. The county notes that mail must be postmarked on or before the delinquent date.

I could only find these dates in older county notices, so treat them as the usual schedule and check the deadlines printed on your own bill. The notices did not give a dollar amount for the second-installment cost, and I have left out the county’s office address because the one in an older notice may have changed. Use the contact details on your tax bill or the county website.

What if I can’t pay all at once? The 5-pay plan

Mono County lists a 5-pay installment contract form on its tax pages. Under California’s plan for taxes that have gone delinquent, an owner can arrange to pay the back taxes in installments over several years. The details, including eligibility and the interest that continues to apply, come from the Tax Collector, so ask for the current terms before you rely on it.

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

Each missed installment adds its penalty. Taxes that remain unpaid at the end of the fiscal year become tax-defaulted and continue to accrue charges. California law allows the county to sell tax-defaulted property after five years, but I did not find Mono County’s own sale schedule, so ask the Tax Collector about your parcel.

If you are also behind on the mortgage, see how to sell a house in foreclosure. Heirs to a Mono County house should read how to sell an inherited property.

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

You can sell with unpaid taxes. They are a lien on the property, so escrow pays the balance from your proceeds and the buyer takes the property with taxes current. Second homes and cabins in resort areas like Mammoth Lakes are often sold this way when owners live out of the area.

1. Get the payoff. Contact the Mono County Tax Collector for the total due on your expected closing date.
2. Brief escrow. Delinquent taxes are paid first from proceeds.
3. Estimate transfer tax. California law sets the county documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of the sale price. Use the calculator below and confirm with escrow.
4. Pick the close date. Closing before December 10 or April 10 avoids the penalty on that installment.

See our Mono County cash home buyer page for how a no-loan sale works.

Estimate your transfer tax when you sell

Behind on Mono County property taxes? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. No cost, no obligation.

Mono County property tax FAQ

When is the second installment late in Mono County?

After April 10, with a 10 percent penalty plus the cost of preparing delinquent records.

Can I pay both installments in November?

Yes. Mono County allows both installments to be paid when the first is due.

Does Mono County offer a payment plan for delinquent taxes?

The county lists a 5-pay installment contract form. Ask the Tax Collector for current eligibility and terms.

Does a postmark count in Mono County?

Mail postmarked on or before the delinquent date is treated as on time.

Can I sell a Mono County house with delinquent taxes?

Yes. Get a payoff figure and escrow pays the taxes from your sale proceeds at closing.

Sources

• Mono County Treasurer-Tax Collector: published property tax notices and installment contract form
• Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder: Documentary Transfer Tax (state rate under Revenue and Taxation Code 11911)

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm amounts with the Mono County Tax Collector.