San Benito 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 San Benito County Tax Collector’s pages and from the California State Board of Equalization; sources are listed at the end.

San Benito 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. Taxes still unpaid after the deadlines can be redeemed only by paying the base tax, a 10 percent penalty, a $10 cost, a $15 redemption fee and 1.5 percent a month.

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

San Benito County property tax at a glance

When are San Benito County property taxes due?

The first installment is due November 1 and is delinquent after December 10. The second is due February 1 and is delinquent after April 10. Unsecured taxes are delinquent if unpaid by 5 p.m. on August 31. For the 2026-27 bill, the first deadline is Thursday, December 10, 2026.

• Partial payments are not accepted.
• Not receiving a bill does not excuse payment or penalties. Contact the Tax Collector if your secured bill has not arrived by November 15.
• A paid bill is stamped “PAID” only if you bring the original. By mail, your cancelled check is your proof of payment, because the office does not mail a printed receipt.
• A copy of a tax bill costs $1, and so does a duplicate receipt.

How much is property tax in San Benito County?

The base is 1 percent of taxable value, plus the voter-approved debt rates for 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. A long-time Hollister owner may pay far less than someone who bought last year.

If you live in the house, the Homeowners’ Exemption lowers taxable value by $7,000, through a one-time filing with the county Assessor.

The county also notes that a penalty can be cancelled for current-year taxes only after the tax and penalty are paid in full, and only for a severe disability, the taxpayer’s death or a calamity beyond the taxpayer’s control.

Lack of funds, mail delays, a missing bill or relying on a joint owner are not accepted reasons.

San Benito County redemption cost calculator

Enter the unpaid amount and the months in default to estimate the redemption amount from the charges the county lists. Use the figures from your own bill.

How do I pay my San Benito County property taxes?

You can pay in person at the Tax Collector’s office, 440 Fifth Street, Room 107, in Hollister, or by mail. The county’s FAQ does not list accepted payment types beyond those two, so call (831) 636-4034 to confirm options, fees and hours before you go.

If a lender pays from an impound account, still confirm that the payment posted. The county says penalties still apply if a payment is missed because of a misunderstanding with your lender.

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

A redemption amount adds up fast. The county lists the base tax, a 10 percent penalty, a $10 cost, a $15 redemption fee charged once per parcel, and 1.5 percent interest per month. On $2,500 of unpaid tax, the penalty is $250, and each month adds $37.50.

An unpaid supplemental bill follows its own clock: if it remains unpaid after May 31 following the second installment’s delinquency, the property becomes tax-defaulted. After five years of delinquency, the property becomes subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell.

San Benito County payment plans

• Five-pay plan of redemption: five installments over five fiscal years. The county’s plan page says opening it prevents the property from being sold at a public auction. The county FAQ lists eligibility, a $75 application fee, a first payment of at least 20 percent of the redemption amount, and 1.5 percent monthly interest on the remaining balance.
• Four-pay plan: for escaped assessments over $500, paid over four years without penalty, and it must start before the bill’s delinquency date.
• You get two chances to complete a five-pay plan. If the second defaults, the full redemption amount becomes due, and earlier payments are non-refundable.

What is a supplemental tax bill in San Benito County?

A supplemental bill is sent in addition to the annual secured bill, and both must be paid by their own due dates.

San Benito County says supplemental taxes are due 30 days or more from the date mailed, that lenders do not receive supplemental bills, and that you must give your lender a copy. You may receive two supplemental bills if the ownership change or new construction happened after January 1 and before June 1.

The State Board of Equalization explains that the supplemental assessment is prorated for the rest of the fiscal year, so a higher value produces a bill and a lower value produces a refund. If you inherited a house, read how we buy houses in San Benito County.

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

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

1. Get your payoff figure. Call the Tax Collector at (831) 636-4034 and ask for the redemption amount in your closing month. Interest of 1.5 percent a month keeps growing.
2. Expect proration. The current year’s bill is split between you and the buyer by the closing date.
3. Budget for recording and transfer tax. The deed is recorded with the County Recorder when escrow closes. The San Benito County pages reviewed for this guide do not state the documentary transfer tax, so ask your escrow officer for the exact amount. The contract sets who pays.
4. Close before any sale date. The county says paying delinquent taxes before a sale only redeems the property for the owner, and the right to redeem ends at close of business on the last business day before the sale. A sale to a cash buyer has to close before then.

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

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

San Benito County property tax FAQ

When are San Benito County property taxes late?

After December 10 for the first installment and after April 10 for the second.

Can a San Benito County penalty be cancelled?

Possibly for current-year taxes, but only after the tax and penalty are paid in full, and only for a severe disability, the taxpayer’s death or a calamity beyond the taxpayer’s control.

Does my lender get my San Benito County supplemental bill?

No. The county says lenders do not receive supplemental bills, so you must give your lender a copy and pay by the due date.

Can a payment plan stop a San Benito County tax sale?

The county’s plan page says opening a five-pay plan of redemption prevents the property from being sold at a public auction, if you qualify and keep up with it.

How do I sell a house in San Benito 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

• San Benito County Tax Collector: Frequently Asked Questions
• San Benito County Tax Collector: Property Tax Installment Plans
• 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 San Benito County Tax Collector.