Imperial County Property Tax Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Dates, penalties and fees come from the Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector; sources are listed at the end.

Imperial County gives you two deadlines a year, December 10 and April 10, and a missed one costs a 10 percent penalty. The second deadline adds a $10.00 delinquent cost. Anything still unpaid at 5 p.m. on June 30 is defaulted and starts collecting 1.5 percent a month. Whatever you owe at the time of a sale is paid from your proceeds at closing, so the house can be sold even when taxes are behind.

Imperial County property tax at a glance

How much is property tax in Imperial County?

California limits the base tax to 1 percent of assessed value under Proposition 13, then adds any voter-approved bonds and direct charges that sit on your parcel.

Assessed value begins at the price paid and rises no more than 2 percent a year, so two similar houses in El Centro or Brawley can have very different bills depending on when each was bought.

The Imperial County Assessor, at (442) 265-1300, is the office to call if the assessment looks wrong or you have sold a property that still shows your name.

When are Imperial County property taxes due?

The county’s secured tax page sets the first installment deadline at 5 p.m. on December 10 and the second at 5 p.m. on April 10. A payment that is neither made nor postmarked by then is late. When a date lands on a weekend or holiday, the cutoff shifts to 5 p.m. on the next business day.

• Supplemental installments carry the same penalties and charges as regular secured taxes.
• If the property is unsecured, such as a boat or business equipment, the tax follows the owner on January 1 of the assessed year, and the Treasurer-Tax Collector answers questions at (442) 265-1257.
• A lender may or may not pay supplemental bills for you. The county tells owners to ask their lender rather than assume.

Imperial County property tax calculators

Work out a yearly bill, the price of paying late and the transfer tax on a sale. Replace the sample numbers with the ones on your bill.

How do I pay my Imperial County property tax bill?

The county points owners to its online View or Pay Taxes section, and it accepts payment by mail at the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s El Centro address. Mail early and keep the postmark in mind, since the postmark date is what proves a payment was on time.

For questions about a balance, a plan or the redemption amount, the office phone numbers are (442) 265-1260 for redemption estimates and (442) 265-1270 for general payment plans. The email address the county gives is taxcollector@co.imperial.ca.us.

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

The first missed deadline costs 10 percent of the installment. Miss April 10 and you also owe the $10.00 delinquent cost. On June 30 any remaining balance is declared defaulted, a $15.00 redemption fee is attached, and 1.5 percent of the unpaid tax is added every month. On $3,000 of unpaid tax that is $45 a month, or $540 over a year, on top of the earlier penalty.

Each delinquent year cannot be paid off alone. The county combines every defaulted year into one redemption amount. The clock runs for up to five years from the default date. After that, the property can be sold at public auction or acquired by a public agency, so a balance left to age does not simply sit there.

Imperial County does offer an installment plan of redemption. It is open to properties that are not yet subject to power of sale, and you can start one after the June 30 default date.

You pay at least 20 percent of the redemption amount, the current year’s taxes and a $20.00 setup fee. Then you pay at least 20 percent each year by April 10 for five years, plus interest of 1.5 percent a month on the unpaid balance. Current-year taxes are separate and must stay on time, or the plan defaults.

What is a supplemental tax bill in Imperial County?

A supplemental bill comes from a change the Assessor adds to the roll, most often a sale or new construction. It covers the time from the change date to the end of the fiscal year, so it is prorated rather than a full year.

Bills are mailed to the property owner. A buyer who just closed should expect one even when escrow already paid the regular bill. If you inherit and then sell, read our page on selling a house in Imperial County for how that timeline works.

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

You can sell with unpaid taxes. The lien comes out of your proceeds through escrow, and the buyer takes title with the taxes paid.

1. Ask for the redemption amount. Call (442) 265-1260 with the parcel number or address and the date you plan to close. The figure changes monthly while taxes are in default.
2. Confirm which years are open. Defaulted years are combined, so the payoff covers all of them together.
3. Plan for transfer tax. California charges $0.55 per $500 of value when the deed is recorded, which is $330 on a $300,000 sale. The contract decides who pays.
4. Pick a closing date that helps. Closing before April 10 or before June 30 prevents new penalties from attaching. If you are close to five years in default, the sale must close before the county’s sale.

A cash buyer can close on your timeline because there is no lender approval. See how we buy houses in Imperial County, or read our transfer tax report.

Behind on Imperial County property taxes and weighing a sale? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. It is free and there is no obligation.

Imperial County property tax FAQ

When is the Imperial County property tax deadline?

The first installment deadline is 5 p.m. on December 10 and the second is 5 p.m. on April 10, moving to the next business day when either falls on a weekend or holiday.

What is the late penalty in Imperial County?

A late installment gets a 10 percent penalty, and a late second installment also gets a $10.00 cost. Unpaid taxes at June 30 add a $15.00 redemption fee and 1.5 percent per month.

Does Imperial County have a payment plan for back taxes?

Yes, for defaulted taxes. The installment plan of redemption needs at least 20 percent of the redemption amount, current-year taxes and a $20.00 setup fee, then yearly payments by April 10.

Can Imperial County sell my house for unpaid taxes?

After five years in default the property can be sold at public auction or acquired by a public agency, unless the taxes are paid first.

Can I sell my Imperial County house if I owe back taxes?

Yes. Get the redemption amount from the Treasurer-Tax Collector and escrow pays it from your sale proceeds at closing.

Sources

• Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Taxes

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Dates and fees can change; confirm the amount on your own bill with the Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector.