Riverside 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 Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and the California State Board of Equalization; sources are listed at the end.

Riverside County property tax is 1 percent of your home’s assessed value plus voter-approved debt rates, billed in two installments that go late at 5 p.m. on December 10 and April 10. A late installment costs a 10 percent penalty, and the second adds a $38.06 administrative charge.

Taxes unpaid on June 30 become tax defaulted. This guide explains the deadlines, the default and redemption costs, and how to sell a house in Riverside County when you owe taxes.

Riverside County property tax at a glance

When are Riverside County property taxes due?

The first installment is due November 1 and is delinquent at 5 p.m. on December 10. The second is due February 1 and is delinquent at 5 p.m. on April 10. You can pay the whole annual bill with the first installment.

If December 10 or April 10 falls on a weekend or holiday, taxes become delinquent at 5 p.m. the next business day. For the 2026-27 bill, the first deadline is Thursday, December 10, 2026, and because April 10, 2027 falls on a Saturday, the second moves to Monday, April 12, 2027.

• The second installment is not accepted unless the first is paid or submitted with it.
• Not receiving a bill does not excuse a late-payment penalty.
• Mail checks early so the postmark meets the deadline, and write the bill’s PIN on the check.

How much is property tax in Riverside County?

The base is 1 percent of taxable value, plus the voter-approved debt rates that apply 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 a change in ownership or new construction. Two similar houses in Corona and Temecula can therefore carry very different bills.

The county’s Assessor handles valuation and exemptions. An owner-occupied home may qualify for the Homeowners’ Exemption, a $7,000 reduction in taxable value, along with veteran’s and church and welfare exemptions. Call the Assessor at (951) 955-6200 for those. If you disagree with a value, a regular assessment appeal is filed between July 2 and November 30, and you should keep paying on time while it is pending.

Riverside County property tax late-payment calculator

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

How do I pay my Riverside County property taxes?

• Online: electronic check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express at the Tax Collector’s payment site, ca-riverside-ttc.publicaccessnow.com. Cards carry a convenience fee and electronic checks have no fee.
• By phone: (951) 955-3900, or (877) 748-2689 in the 951 and 760 area codes, and choose the credit card payment option. You need a touch-tone phone.
• By mail: use the envelope sent with your bill, make the check payable to the Tax Collector, and write the PIN on it. Do not send cash.

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

The county’s redemption page spells out the cost. Taxes unpaid at 5 p.m. on June 30 are tax defaulted. A redemption penalty of 1.5 percent a month is added on the last day of each month, along with a $36.45 redemption fee and a $38.06 administrative charge for each delinquent year.

On a $3,000 installment the first penalty is $300, and each month in default adds $45. Over a year, the monthly penalty alone adds $540 before fees.

The five-year installment plan

The county offers a plan once taxes default, as long as it is opened within five years of the default date.

• The first payment is at least 20 percent of the redemption amount, plus the current year’s taxes and a $23.92 start-up fee.
• Each April 10, you pay at least 20 percent of the redemption amount, plus 1.5 percent monthly interest on the unpaid balance and a $40.24 annual maintenance fee.
• Current-year taxes are paid separately. Missing a payment or the current-year taxes by April 10 puts the plan in default.

Taxes cannot stay unpaid forever. After five years of default, the property becomes subject to the Tax Collector’s power of sale, and secured property is sold at online public auctions. Call (951) 955-3900 for the redemption amount in the month you plan to pay or close.

What is a supplemental tax bill in Riverside County?

Supplemental bills are issued after a sale or new construction triggers reassessment. A higher value creates an additional bill and a lower value creates a refund. The county says delinquency penalties on supplemental taxes match those on annual taxes. If you disagree with a supplemental assessment, you have 60 days from the mailing of the Assessor’s Notice of Supplemental Assessment to file an appeal.

The pages reviewed do not give the supplemental due dates, so check your bill. If you inherited the property, see how we buy houses in Riverside County for heirs.

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

You can sell a house in Riverside County with unpaid property taxes. They are a lien on the home, so escrow pays the amount owed from your proceeds and the buyer receives it with taxes current.

1. Get your payoff figure. Call the Tax Collector at (951) 955-3900 and ask for the redemption amount in your closing month, because the 1.5 percent monthly penalty keeps growing.
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 Assessor-Clerk-Recorder says it pursues documentary transfer tax on documents that involve a change in ownership of Riverside County real property. The county page reviewed for this guide does not state the rate, so confirm the amount for your sale with the Recorder at (951) 486-7000 or your escrow officer.
4. Watch the calendar. Closing before December 10 or April 10 avoids the penalty on that installment, and before June 30 avoids default.

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

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

Riverside County property tax FAQ

When are Riverside County property taxes late?

At 5 p.m. on December 10 for the first installment and 5 p.m. on April 10 for the second, with the next business day applying when the date falls on a weekend or holiday.

What is the Riverside County penalty for late property taxes?

Ten percent on either installment, plus a $38.06 administrative charge on the second. Taxes unpaid on June 30 are tax defaulted and add 1.5 percent a month.

How long before Riverside County can sell my house for unpaid taxes?

Property becomes subject to the power to sell after five or more years of default. The five-year plan, opened within five years of default, can stop that clock if you keep up with it.

Does a Riverside County sale trigger a supplemental tax bill?

Yes. A change in ownership triggers reassessment and a supplemental bill if the value goes up, or a refund if it goes down.

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

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

Sources

• Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Property tax summary
• Riverside County Tax Collector: Redemption information
• Riverside County Tax Collector: Tax sale information
• Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder: Documentary transfer tax
• 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 Riverside County Tax Collector.