Orange 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 Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector and Clerk-Recorder and from the California State Board of Equalization; sources are listed at the end.

Orange County property tax is 1 percent of your home’s assessed value plus voter-approved debt rates, due in two installments that go late after December 10 and April 10. A late first installment costs a 10 percent penalty, and a late second installment costs 10 percent plus a $23 collection fee.

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

Orange County property tax at a glance

When are Orange County property taxes due?

The first installment is due November 1 and the last day to pay it is December 10. The second is due February 1, with April 10 as the last day. If a date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. For the 2026-27 bill, the first deadline is Thursday, December 10, 2026, and because April 10, 2027 falls on a Saturday, the second moves to Monday, April 12, 2027.

• Payments are timely if they are postmarked by the due date, received at the office, or submitted online by midnight on the due date.
• Secured taxes are prorated for the period you owned the property.
• New-owner secured bills are mailed throughout the year as the Assessor updates ownership.
• Delinquency notices are mailed in January for unpaid first installments and in May for unpaid first and second installments.

How much is property tax in Orange County?

The base is 1 percent of taxable value, plus 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. Owners in Irvine, Anaheim and Huntington Beach can all see different bills for similar houses because of purchase date and local debt rates.

An owner-occupied home may qualify for the Homeowners’ Exemption, a $7,000 reduction in taxable value that is claimed once with the county Assessor.

Orange County property tax late-payment calculator

Enter an unpaid installment to see the 10 percent penalty, the second-installment fee and default charges after July 1. Use the figures from your own bill.

How do I pay my Orange County property taxes?

Pay online through the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website, by mail with the payment stub, or in person at the Tax Collector’s office at 601 N. Ross Street in Santa Ana. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Customer service representatives answer the main line, (714) 834-3411, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and an automated information line runs around the clock.

If your lender pays from an impound account, you still get an owner’s copy of the bill. Check that the lender’s payment posted before the deadline.

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

The county calendar is specific. A late first installment gets a 10 percent penalty after December 10, and a late second installment gets 10 percent plus a $23.00 collection fee after April 10. On July 1, delinquent secured taxes enter default, and penalties start to accrue at 1.5 percent a month, plus a $15.00 redemption fee.

Do the math on a $3,500 installment: the first penalty is $350, and every month in default adds $52.50. A year in default adds $630 in monthly charges before the redemption fee. Notices follow the calendar: delinquent notices for the prior year go out in August, and notices for unpaid first and second installments go out in May.

The county also offers a five-year payment plan for eligible delinquent secured taxes, and lists June 30 as the last day to start one. The terms and payment amounts are not on the calendar page, so ask the Tax Collector at (714) 834-3411 for the exact redemption figure and plan rules before you decide.

What is a supplemental tax bill in Orange County?

A supplemental bill is an extra bill issued after a sale or new construction triggers reassessment. The State Board of Equalization explains that a prorated supplemental assessment covers the rest of the fiscal year, so a higher value produces a bill and a lower value produces a refund. The Orange County calendar says supplemental bills are mailed three to four times a year.

Buyers and heirs are the ones surprised by it. If you inherited the house, read how we buy houses in Orange County for heirs and executors.

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

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

1. Get your payoff figure. Call the Tax Collector at (714) 834-3411. Defaulted amounts grow each month, so ask for the amount due in your closing month.
2. Expect proration. Secured taxes are prorated by the period of ownership, so you and the buyer each cover your share of the year.
3. Budget for recording and transfer tax. The Recorder’s fee schedule lists a $12.00 first-page fee, $3.00 for each added page and a $75.00 SB 2 fee plus $1.00 per title unless exempt, and it lists a documentary transfer tax charged per $500. Confirm the transfer tax amount with the Recorder before closing, because the contract sets who pays.
4. Watch the calendar. Closing before December 10 or April 10 avoids the penalty on that installment, and before July 1 avoids default charges.

A cash sale helps when time is short. There is no loan approval to wait for, so closing can be set ahead of a deadline, whether the house is in Anaheim, Santa Ana or Irvine. See how we buy houses in Orange County.

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

Orange County property tax FAQ

When are Orange County property taxes late?

After December 10 for the first installment and after April 10 for the second. The second also carries a $23.00 collection fee.

What is the Orange County penalty for late property taxes?

Ten percent on a late installment. Taxes still unpaid on July 1 enter default and accrue 1.5 percent a month plus a $15.00 redemption fee.

When are Orange County supplemental tax bills mailed?

The county says supplemental bills are mailed three to four times a year, while new-owner secured bills go out year-round as ownership is updated.

Can I start an Orange County five-year payment plan?

The county lists June 30 as the last day to start one for eligible delinquent secured taxes. Call the Tax Collector at (714) 834-3411 for terms.

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

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

Sources

• Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Important Dates
• Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Contact
• Orange County Clerk-Recorder: Fee Schedule
• 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 Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector.