Orange County, California property tax: due dates and new owner bills
Updated . By Landen Chu, Co-founder of OakTend. How we research
Dates and rules come from the Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector. This is general information, not tax advice.
When are Orange County property taxes due?
The county tax year runs July 1 to June 30. Property tax bills are mailed in September and October, and you pay in two installments:
- First installment: due November 1. The last day to pay is December 10, then a 10 percent penalty applies.
- Second installment: due February 1. The last day to pay is April 10, then a 10 percent penalty plus a $23.00 collection fee applies.
A payment is on time if it is postmarked by the deadline, received at the Treasurer's office, or made online by midnight. If a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. The 2026-27 dates below already account for that.
Put the 2026-27 dates in your calendar
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- November 1, 2026 (a Sunday, so Monday, November 2): First installment due
- December 10, 2026: Last day to pay the first installment
- February 1, 2027: Second installment due
- February 15, 2027 (a holiday, so Tuesday, February 16): Homeowners' exemption deadline
- April 10, 2027 (a Saturday, so Monday, April 12): Last day to pay the second installment
Do you want all the homeowner dates on one page? Print our Orange County homeowner deadlines sheet.
If you live in the home, the homeowners' exemption lowers the bill. See our homeowners' exemption guide.
What is a supplemental tax bill?
It is generally a one-time bill issued when a property changes hands. New construction can also lead to one. The amount is the difference between the new assessed value and the previous one. You normally get it within one year of buying, and some owners get more than one.
The Treasurer says mortgage companies do not usually pay it, so it is yours to cover, and late penalties on it are not waived. For questions about the new assessed value, call the Assessor at 714-834-2727. If you think that value is too high, see our property tax appeal guide.
What is Mello-Roos and how do I find it on my bill?
Mello-Roos is the everyday name for a special tax that pays off bonds a local government issued for public facilities. It is billed on the property tax bill, under "Special Assessment Charges." Only properties inside a Mello-Roos district have one.
To check an address, use the county's tax map, which shows the regular tax and any special charges on an address, Mello-Roos included. New Mello-Roos bonds need a vote of the property owners in the district.
Who pays the tax when a home is sold?
Property taxes are split by how long each owner had the home. If you sell before a supplemental bill arrives, you still owe your share up to the sale date. How the split is settled is between you and the buyer.
OakTend builds a free maintenance plan for your home and reminds you when each job is due.
Start your free home planSee what is typical for homes in Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, or browse every city on the Orange County hub.
As of October 2026. The Treasurer's pages are the final word on dates and amounts. The first-year picture is in our new homeowner checklist.
Sources
- Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector: important dates
The tax year runs July 1 to June 30; the lien date is January 1; secured bills are mailed in September and October; the first installment is due November 1 and the last day to pay is December 10, with a 10 percent penalty after; the second is due February 1 and the last day is April 10, with a 10 percent penalty plus a $23.00 collection fee; a payment is on time if postmarked, received in the office or made online by midnight; a due date on a weekend or holiday is the next business day; secured taxes are pro-rated based on time of ownership. - Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector: new home buyers
A supplemental bill is generally a one-time bill when ownership transfers, and can follow new construction; it is the difference between the new and previous assessed value; it normally arrives within one year of buying, and some owners get more than one; mortgage companies do not usually pay it; late penalties on it are not waived; questions about the new value go to the Assessor at 714-834-2727; if you sell before receiving one you still owe the proration to the date sold, which is between the parties. - Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Mello-Roos
The Community Facilities District Act of 1982, commonly called Mello-Roos, lets local governments issue bonds for facilities; the bonds are secured by special taxes billed on the property tax bill, under Special Assessment Charges; the bill description now uses the bond's district name to match the CDIAC report; new bonds need a vote of the property owners in the district. - County of Orange: Mello-Roos tax map
The map shows the base levy and special assessments on properties, including Mello-Roos, community facilities districts and PACE loans, searchable by address or map. - Orange County Assessor: Homeowners' Exemption
The deadline for the full $7,000 exemption is February 15 at 5:00 p.m. - Orange County Assessor: Dates To Remember
February 15 is the last day to file a timely claim for most exemptions, or the next business day if the date falls on a holiday or weekend.