Ventura County Property Tax Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Figures come from the Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector, the California State Board of Equalization and California Revenue and Taxation Code section 11911; sources are listed at the end.

Ventura County property tax is limited to 1 percent of assessed value plus voter-approved bonds and direct assessments, billed in two installments that go late after December 10 and April 10. A late first installment costs a 10 percent penalty; a late second installment adds a $30 cost.

If you sell, unpaid taxes are paid from your proceeds at closing. This guide covers the Ventura County deadlines, penalties and how to sell a house in Ventura County when you owe taxes.

Ventura County property tax at a glance

When are Ventura County property taxes due?

The first installment is due November 1 and is delinquent if not received or postmarked by December 10. The second is due February 1 and is delinquent after April 10. When either date falls on a weekend or holiday, taxes are not delinquent until the close of 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.

• The county notes that a standard postmark dated after the due date is considered late.
• If you do not receive a bill, call the Tax Collector at (805) 654-3744.

How much is property tax in Ventura County?

The county explains that Proposition 13 limits the rate to 1 percent of a property’s current assessed value, plus voter-approved bonds and direct assessments. Assessed value cannot rise more than 2 percent a year, but the property is reassessed whenever it changes owners or has new construction. A home held for decades can carry a bill far below what a new buyer will pay.

Ventura County property tax late-payment calculator

Enter an unpaid installment to see the 10 percent penalty and the second-installment cost. Use the figures from your own bill.

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

A late first installment carries a 10 percent penalty. A late second installment carries the 10 percent penalty plus a $30 administrative charge, so a $3,000 second installment becomes $3,330. Supplemental bills carry the same penalties.

If any delinquent tax is unpaid at the close of business on June 30, the property becomes tax defaulted, a $15 redemption fee is added and 1.5 percent a month accrues.

Taxes can stay unpaid for a maximum of five years after the first default, after which the property becomes subject to the power of sale and may be sold at public auction. The county offers a 5-year payment plan for eligible defaulted taxes.

Call (805) 654-3744 for a payoff estimate; have your Assessor’s Parcel Number or address and the date you plan to pay.

What is a supplemental tax bill in Ventura County?

A supplemental bill is an extra secured bill issued after a sale or new construction triggers reassessment. The county says that when the bill is created between July 1 and October 30, the installments go delinquent on December 10 and April 10.

For bills created between November 1 and June 30, the first installment is delinquent at the end of the business day on the last day of the month after the bill was mailed, and the second four months after that. If you inherited a home, read how we buy houses in Ventura County.

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

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

1. Get your payoff figure. Call (805) 654-3744 and ask for the amount owed in the month you expect to close.
2. Expect proration. The current year’s bill is split between you and the buyer by the closing date.
3. Budget for transfer tax. State law sets the county documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value; on a $400,000 sale that is $440.00. Some cities charge their own tax on top, so confirm with escrow.

A direct cash sale avoids a buyer’s loan and lets you set the closing date, so it can land ahead of a tax deadline. See how we buy houses in Ventura County.

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

Estimate your transfer tax when you sell

Ventura County property tax FAQ

When are Ventura County property taxes late?

After December 10 for the first installment (10 percent penalty) and after April 10 for the second (10 percent penalty plus a $30 cost).

When do Ventura County taxes go into default?

If any delinquent tax is unpaid at the close of business on June 30, the property becomes tax defaulted, with a $15 redemption fee and 1.5 percent a month.

How long can Ventura County taxes stay unpaid?

A maximum of five years after the first default, when the property becomes subject to the power of sale.

Does Ventura County have a payment plan for defaulted taxes?

Yes. The county lists a 5-year payment plan for eligible defaulted taxes; call (805) 654-3744 for details.

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

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

Sources

• Ventura County: Secured Taxes
• Ventura County: Redemption
• Ventura County: Tax Collection FAQs
• Ventura County: Secured Supplemental Property Tax
• California State Board of Equalization: California Property Tax, An Overview
• California Revenue and Taxation Code section 11911

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 Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector.