Kern County Property Tax Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Figures come from Kern County official pages; sources are listed at the end.

Kern County secured property tax is paid in two installments: the first is due November 1 and the last day to pay without penalty is December 10; the second installment’s last day is April 10. A 10 percent penalty applies after 5 p.m. on the deadline. If you plan to sell a Kern County home with unpaid taxes, the escrow company pays them from your proceeds at closing.

Kern County property tax at a glance

First installment	Due November 1; last day to pay without penalty is December 10 (10% penalty after 5 p.m.)
Second installment	Last day to pay without penalty is April 10
Next tax sale	Scheduled for November 16 to 18, 2026 for properties already in the tax-defaulted sale process
Pay online	kcttc.co.kern.ca.us: 2.19% fee on card payments (minimum $2.00); e-check is free
Pay by mail	PO Box 541004, Los Angeles, CA 90054-1004
Pay in person	1115 Truxtun Avenue, 2nd Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Contact	(661) 868-3490; ttc@kerncounty.com

When are Kern County property taxes due?

The Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector publishes the due dates for each tax year on its calendar. The first installment is due November 1 and becomes delinquent after 5 p.m. on December 10. The second installment’s last day to pay without penalty is April 10. When a deadline falls on a weekend, check the Tax Collector’s calendar for the exact day, because the posted date is the one that counts.

• Look up your bill online by parcel number at the Tax Collector’s website.
• If a lender pays from an impound account, confirm with the lender that the payment posted.
• Not receiving a bill does not remove a penalty, so call (661) 868-3490 if yours is missing.

How do I pay my Kern County property taxes?

Online payment is available at the Tax Collector’s website. Card payments carry a 2.19 percent fee with a $2.00 minimum, and e-check payments are free. By mail, send payment to PO Box 541004, Los Angeles, CA 90054-1004. In person, go to 1115 Truxtun Avenue, 2nd Floor, in Bakersfield. Questions can go to ttc@kerncounty.com or (661) 868-3490.

What happens if I miss a Kern County tax deadline?

Missing the December 10 deadline adds a 10 percent penalty to the first installment. Taxes that stay unpaid are eventually treated as tax-defaulted, and the county can offer the property at a public tax sale.

The Kern County Tax Collector’s next scheduled sale is November 16 to 18, 2026, which shows how final the process becomes once a property is in it.

Reach the Tax Collector at (661) 868-3490 for the exact amount needed to bring your parcel current, since the redemption total depends on your years of delinquency.

To learn how often owners lose homes statewide, see our California foreclosure report.

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

You can sell a house in Kern County with unpaid property taxes. Taxes are a lien on the property, so escrow pays what is owed from your proceeds and the buyer receives the home free of that lien.

1. Get a payoff figure. Call the Tax Collector at (661) 868-3490 with your parcel number and expected closing date.
2. Give it to escrow. Escrow pays the taxes and any other liens before you receive the balance.
3. Watch the calendar. Closing before December 10 or April 10 avoids a new installment penalty.
4. Ask about transfer tax. The County Recorder (1530 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield) collects documentary transfer tax at recording, and escrow will quote the amount.

A cash sale helps when time is the problem. There is no loan approval to wait for, so closing can be set ahead of a tax deadline. See how we buy houses in Kern County or our local page for Bakersfield.

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

Kern County property tax FAQ

When is the Kern County property tax deadline?

December 10 for the first installment and April 10 for the second, with a 10 percent penalty after 5 p.m. on the first deadline.

How can I pay Kern County property taxes online?

Through the Tax Collector’s website. Card payments have a 2.19 percent fee with a $2.00 minimum, and e-check is free.

Where is the Kern County Tax Collector’s office?

1115 Truxtun Avenue, 2nd Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301. The phone number is (661) 868-3490.

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

Get the payoff from the Tax Collector and give it to escrow. The taxes are paid from your proceeds at closing.

Sources

• Kern County: first installment due date
• Kern County: second installment deadline
• Kern County: tax sale notice
• Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Dates and fees can change; confirm amounts with the Kern County Tax Collector.