San Diego County property tax payment
San Diego County property tax payment for 2026-27
- For 2026-27, the first installment is due November 1 and late after December 10, 2026; the second is due February 1 and late after April 12, 2027.
- The Treasurer-Tax Collector adds a 10 percent penalty to each late installment, plus a $10 fee on a late second installment.
- E-check payments at sdttc.com are free, and the card company adds a 2.19 percent fee to each credit card payment.
Owners make each San Diego County property tax payment to the Treasurer-Tax Collector, which mailed 975,199 secured bills for 2025-26 and mails the 2026-27 bills in October. It charges penalties even when an owner didn't receive the bill.
California property tax due dates in San Diego County
| Installment | Due (2026-27) | Late after (2026-27) |
|---|---|---|
| First | November 1, 2026 | December 10, 2026 |
| Second | February 1, 2027 | April 12, 2027 |
The San Diego property tax due dates are the statewide ones, with penalties after December 10 and April 10. When a late date is a weekend or holiday, owners have until the close of the next business day, and April 10, 2027 is a Saturday.
Owners with a mortgage impound account check whether the lender pays the bill before paying it themselves, to avoid paying twice and waiting for a refund.
How to pay the San Diego County Tax Collector
| Method | Cost | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Online at sdttc.com | E-check free; credit card 2.19 percent | Routing and account numbers from a check |
| Phone, 855-829-3773 | E-check free; credit card 2.19 percent | Secured and unsecured bills |
| Postage | Postmarked by the late date, in the return envelope the Treasurer-Tax Collector provides with the bill | |
| Office | None | Cash at the downtown office; checks, cashier's checks and money orders at the branches |
| Drop box | None | At each office and at the closed Kearny Mesa office, 9225 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard |
The four offices are:
- Downtown: County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 162
- Santee: 10144 Mission Gorge Road
- Chula Vista: 590 Third Avenue
- San Marcos: 141 East Carmel Street
To pay property tax, San Diego County owners without a bill can print a free copy from the bill search or buy a $1 duplicate at any office.
San Diego property tax late penalties and default
The Treasurer-Tax Collector adds a 10 percent penalty to each San Diego County property tax payment an owner makes after the late date. It also charges a $10 fee on a late second installment.
Owners who haven't paid both installments by June 30 go into tax default. From July 1, the Treasurer-Tax Collector adds 1.5 percent a month, or 18 percent a year, and charges a $33 redemption fee when the owner pays off the default.
Owners in default for less than five years who are current on this year's taxes can ask for a five-year payment plan:
- A down payment of at least 20 percent of the amount owed, plus current taxes and an $89 fee
- At least 20 percent of the amount owed plus interest each year by April 10, and an $85 maintenance fee
- Interest of 1.5 percent a month on the unpaid balance
After five years in default, the Treasurer-Tax Collector can sell the property at its annual tax sale.
Late penalty on a $9,000 property tax bill
An owner with a $9,000 bill for 2026-27 pays the first $4,500 on time and the second $4,500 on May 15, 2027:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Second installment | $4,500.00 |
| 10 percent penalty | $450.00 |
| Fee on a late second installment | $10.00 |
| Paid on May 15, 2027 | $4,960.00 |
If the owner hasn't paid by June 30, 2027, the Treasurer-Tax Collector adds 1.5 percent a month from July 1, plus the $33 redemption fee at payoff.
When an owner needs a CPA for back taxes
An owner three years into default, or an heir who found an unpaid bill in a parent's estate, is choosing between a five-year plan and a lump sum with interest. Start with how to choose a CPA.