Kings 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 Kings County Tax Collector; sources are listed at the end.

Kings County secured property tax bills are mailed around November 1, and each installment is late if unpaid after 5 p.m. on December 10 or April 10. The first late installment adds a 10 percent penalty, the second adds 10 percent plus a $20 cost, and anything still unpaid after June 30 goes into default with a $30 redemption fee and 1.5 percent a month. If you sell, unpaid taxes are paid from your proceeds at closing.

Kings County property tax at a glance

Bills mailed	Around November 1 each year. Call (559) 852-2479 if yours has not arrived by November 10
First installment	Late after 5 p.m. on December 10: 10% penalty
Second installment	Late after 5 p.m. on April 10: 10% penalty plus a $20.00 cost
After June 30	Tax-defaulted: $30.00 redemption fee plus 1.5% a month (18% a year)
Tax sale	Taxes can stay unpaid up to five years after default, then the Tax Collector can sell the property
Payment plan	Five-year installment plan: at least 20% down and a $65 setup fee
Tax Collector	1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford, CA 93230 (Government Center, Bldg. 7). (559) 852-2479
Office hours	Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to noon

When are Kings County property taxes due?

The county mails one annual bill with two installments. Payments must reach the county before 5 p.m. on December 10 for the first and April 10 for the second, and a postmark on or before the deadline counts as on time. When June 30 falls on a weekend or holiday, you must pay by 5 p.m. the prior business day to avoid default.

• A missing bill does not cancel a penalty, so call (559) 852-2479 with your parcel number if nothing arrives by mid-November.
• You can pay both installments at once, which avoids a second deadline.
• If a lender pays from an impound account, check with the lender that the payment posted.

How do I pay my Kings County property taxes?

The Tax Collector accepts cash, check, money order, cashier’s check, e-check, ACH or wire, and debit or credit cards (Visa, Discover, American Express and Mastercard). Online card payments carry a merchant convenience fee. Make checks payable to “Kings County Tax Collector.” Payments of $50,000 or more must go by electronic funds transfer, and checks are not accepted for amounts that large.

You can also pay in person at 1400 W. Lacey Blvd. in Hanford during office hours, which run shorter on Fridays. Email questions to the office at kctax@co.kings.ca.us.

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

The penalties come in stages. A late first installment gets 10 percent, and a late second installment gets 10 percent plus a $20 cost. If taxes are still unpaid at 5 p.m. on June 30, the property becomes tax-defaulted. A $30 redemption fee is added, and 1.5 percent of the unpaid taxes is added at 5 p.m. on the last day of each month.

The county puts a hard limit on how long this can go on. It states that taxes can remain unpaid for a maximum of five years after default. After that the property is subject to the Tax Collector’s power of sale, meaning it can be auctioned or acquired by a public agency if you have not redeemed it first. Properties five or more years delinquent may face additional fees.

How do I redeem delinquent Kings County taxes or set up a payment plan?

The county does not allow you to redeem a single delinquent year. To redeem, you pay all delinquent years together: the unpaid taxes, a 10 percent penalty, a $20 administrative charge for each delinquent year, the monthly penalties and the $30 fee.

If you cannot pay that in one payment, an installment plan is available after the June 30 default and within five years of it. It requires an initial payment of at least 20 percent of the redemption amount and a one-time $65 setup fee, and you must keep current-year taxes paid on time.

The plan runs five years, with one payment each fiscal year, due by April 10, of at least 20 percent of the original redemption amount, plus 1.5 percent monthly interest on the unpaid balance.

While the plan is in good standing the property is not subject to the power of sale, and you can pay it off early with no penalty. A missed payment, or current taxes unpaid by April 10, puts the plan in default.

To get a redemption estimate, call (559) 852-2479 with the parcel number or address and the date you plan to pay. See also our California foreclosure report for how often owners lose homes statewide.

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

You can sell a house in Kings County with unpaid property taxes. Taxes are a lien on the property, so the escrow company pays what is owed from your proceeds at closing and the buyer receives the home with taxes cleared.

1. Get a payoff estimate. Call the Tax Collector at (559) 852-2479 with the parcel number and your expected closing date. Defaulted amounts grow every month.
2. Give the figure to escrow. Escrow pays the taxes, penalties and any other liens before you receive the balance.
3. Plan around the calendar. Closing before December 10 or April 10 avoids a new installment penalty, and closing before June 30 avoids default charges.
4. Allow for transfer tax. The Recorder collects documentary transfer tax when the deed is recorded. Ask escrow for the exact amount, or call the Kings County Clerk-Recorder at (559) 852-2470.

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

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

Kings County property tax FAQ

What is the penalty for paying Kings County property taxes late?

Ten percent on a late first installment, and ten percent plus a $20 cost on a late second installment. After June 30, a $30 redemption fee and 1.5 percent a month apply.

How long can property taxes go unpaid in Kings County?

A maximum of five years after default. After that the property is subject to the Tax Collector’s power of sale.

Can I pay one delinquent year at a time in Kings County?

No. The county requires all delinquent years to be redeemed together, though a five-year installment plan can spread the cost.

Where do I pay Kings County property taxes in person?

At the Tax Collector’s office, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford, open Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to noon.

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

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

Sources

• Kings County Tax Collector: Secured Taxes
• Kings County Tax Collector: Delinquent Taxes
• Kings County Tax Collector: Payments

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 Kings County Tax Collector.