Colusa County Property Tax Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Dates and fees come from Colusa County’s Treasurer-Tax Collector pages and notices, listed under Sources.

For the 2026-27 tax year, Colusa County’s first installment was due November 1, 2026 and becomes delinquent after 5 p.m. on December 10, 2026; the second is due February 1, 2027 and becomes delinquent after 5 p.m. on April 10, 2027. Late payments carry a 10 percent penalty, and the April installment adds a $20 cost. If you sell a Colusa County home with taxes owing, escrow pays the balance out of the proceeds.

Colusa County property tax at a glance

1st installment (2026-27)	Due November 1, 2026; delinquent after 5 p.m. December 10, 2026; 10% penalty
2nd installment (2026-27)	Due February 1, 2027; delinquent after 5 p.m. April 10, 2027; 10% penalty plus $20
Office	547 Market Street, Suite 111, Colusa, CA 95932
Hours	8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone	(530) 458-0440
Phone payments (IVR)	844-905-3241
Online search and pay	common2.mptsweb.com/MBC/Colusa/tax/search
Power to sell	After 5 or more years in default, or 3 or more with a nuisance abatement lien or a city, county or nonprofit request

Due dates and penalties in Colusa County

The county’s notice for this year lays out the two-installment structure. Each installment is due on the first of the month but not treated as late until the tenth day after. Miss December 10 and the first half carries 10 percent.

Miss April 10 and the second half carries 10 percent plus a $20 cost. If you are close to a deadline, the online option or the drop box is a safer bet than a last-minute envelope.

Many homeowners pay both halves in November to get it done. That is allowed; the first-half delinquency date still applies, so the full amount needs to reach the county by December 10 to avoid a penalty on either half.

How to pay Colusa County property taxes

The Tax Collector’s page lists several ways to pay:

• Online at the county’s tax search site. An e-check costs $1.50, a debit card $3.95, and a credit card 2.45 percent with a $2 minimum.
• By phone on the automated line, 844-905-3241.
• Drop box at the outer green door of the office at 547 Market Street.
• In person at Suite 111, open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
• Easy Smart Pay: a monthly plan for bills of at least $250. The fee is 1.99 percent by card and nothing by ACH bank transfer.

What happens if you don’t pay Colusa County property taxes

The penalties come first, then the clock. Taxes unpaid at the end of the fiscal year are declared in default, and the county’s notice describes two deadlines that matter after that. The right to enter an installment plan for a defaulted year ends on the last business day in June. The right to redeem the property, by paying everything owed, lasts until the business day before a tax sale.

The county can sell property after five or more years in default. For some properties the period is three years: those with a nuisance abatement lien, and those that a city, the county or a nonprofit asks to have sold.

The Tax Collector publishes a Notice of Impending Power to Sell before that happens. Our guide to tax-defaulted auctions shows how a sale plays out and what happens to any amount above the debt.

Supplemental and escape bills

A sale, inheritance or new construction can trigger a supplemental assessment, which produces a second bill after the regular one. Buyers should expect it, and sellers should ask the buyer or escrow how the year’s tax is being split. Our report on inherited homes explains how a change in ownership after a death is treated.

Estimate the transfer tax on your Colusa County sale

The calculator applies the statewide county transfer tax of $0.55 per $500. If your property sits inside a city that charges its own tax, the estimate will be low, so ask your escrow officer for the exact figure.

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

Taxes are a lien on the property, so they are cleared before the buyer takes title. That makes the process routine for any title company.

1. Call for a payoff. The Tax Collector at (530) 458-0440 can give the amount due, including penalties, for your closing date.
2. Check where you are in the cycle. If you owe only the current year, paying before the next delinquency date avoids a new penalty. If prior years are open, the payoff is larger.
3. Pass the figure to escrow. The title officer lists unpaid taxes as a payoff from your proceeds.
4. Decide how to sell. A cash buyer purchases as-is, with no repairs, showings or loan approval to wait on. A listing can be worth the wait if the house is in good shape and taxes are current.

We buy houses in Colusa County. See our Colusa County page and our guide to estimating your home’s value.

Questions about your own situation? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Colusa County property tax FAQ

When are Colusa County property taxes due?

November 1 and February 1, with delinquency after 5 p.m. on December 10 and April 10.

What fees apply if I pay my Colusa County taxes online?

An e-check is $1.50, a debit card is $3.95, and a credit card is 2.45 percent with a $2 minimum.

Is there a monthly payment option in Colusa County?

Yes. Easy Smart Pay is available for bills of at least $250, with a 1.99 percent fee by card and none by ACH.

When can Colusa County sell a home for unpaid taxes?

After five or more years in default, or three or more years for properties with a nuisance abatement lien or a city, county or nonprofit request.

Can I sell my Colusa County house with back taxes?

Yes. Escrow pays the county from your proceeds at closing after you get a payoff figure.

Sources

• County of Colusa: Tax Payments
• County of Colusa Treasurer-Tax Collector: 2025-26 secured tax notice and Notice of Impending Power to Sell, published on countyofcolusaca.gov
• Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder fee schedule (statutory $0.55 per $500 under Revenue and Taxation Code 11911)

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Dates, fees and rates can change; confirm your balance with the Colusa County Treasurer-Tax Collector.