LA County Property Tax Payment: How to Pay, When It's Due, and How to Check Your History

You pay LA County property tax to the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, usually online, in two installments: the first is due November 1 and the second is due February 1. Each installment becomes delinquent after 5:00 p.m. on December 10 and April 10, and a 10% penalty applies after that.

The bill covers the fiscal year that runs July 1 through June 30. Below is who you pay, the ways to pay, how to pull your payment history, and what to do if you fall behind.

Who do I pay for LA County property taxes?

The Treasurer and Tax Collector collects the money. The Assessor does not. The two offices do different jobs, and mixing them up is the most common reason people end up on the wrong website.

The Assessor sets the assessed value of your property. The Treasurer and Tax Collector sends the bill, takes the payment, and tracks delinquencies. If you want to dispute a value, that's an Assessor matter (see our breakdown of what the Los Angeles County tax assessor does and doesn't do). If you want to pay or look up a payment, you go to the Treasurer and Tax Collector.

When is the LA County property tax payment due?

For a standard secured property tax bill, the schedule looks like this:

| Installment | Due date | Delinquent after |
|---|---|---|
| First | November 1 | 5:00 p.m., December 10 |
| Second | February 1 | 5:00 p.m., April 10 |

When a due date or delinquency date falls on a weekend or holiday, it generally rolls to the next business day. Check your bill for the exact dates in your tax year.

You don't have to wait for the due date. Bills go out in the fall, and you can pay any time after you receive one. For a deeper look at the calendar, including what happens when you're late, see California property tax due dates.

How do I pay LA County property taxes online?

Online payment is the fastest option and the one most people search for. You'll need your Assessor's Identification Number (AIN), which is printed on your tax bill, or your property address.

The general flow:

1. Go to the Treasurer and Tax Collector's website and open the property tax payment page.
2. Search by AIN or by address and confirm the property.
3. Choose the installment you're paying, or both.
4. Pick a payment method and submit.

Paying from a checking account by electronic check is typically the lowest-cost route. Credit and debit cards are accepted but usually carry a processing fee charged by the payment vendor, so check the fee shown before you confirm. Save the confirmation number. It's your proof of payment and your proof the payment was on time.

Can I pay by mail or in person?

Yes. You can mail a check with the payment stub from your bill. A mailed payment is treated as timely if it's postmarked on or before the delinquency date, but a postmark from a private meter doesn't always count, so use the post office and keep your receipt if you're close to the deadline.

You can also pay in person at the Treasurer and Tax Collector's office, and some banks accept payment as well. In person, bring your bill or at least your AIN.

How do I check my LA County property tax payment history?

Use the property tax lookup on the Treasurer and Tax Collector's site. Search by AIN or by address, and you can see the current-year status of each installment, whether it's paid, and any outstanding balance. Prior-year information is available as well, including whether older years were paid or went into default.

A few practical notes:

• Searching by address works, but the AIN is more reliable because addresses can be formatted several ways.
• Unsecured accounts (business equipment, boats, aircraft) sit in a separate system, with their own bills and their own dates.
• For a formal record, such as proof for a lender or a buyer, ask the office about an official statement or receipt rather than relying on a screenshot.

If you're buying or refinancing, the title company or escrow officer will usually pull this for you. Property owners handling their own books can use it to confirm that a mortgage servicer actually paid from your impound account.

What about unsecured property tax payments?

Unsecured property tax applies to assets that aren't attached to real estate, like business equipment, and it follows a different clock. These bills are generally due upon receipt, and they become delinquent after August 31. After that, a 10% penalty applies, and additional monthly penalties start accruing later in the year.

Business owners sometimes miss these because there's no mortgage servicer sending a reminder. If you run a company with equipment on the books, our monthly bookkeeping and tax planning work can put these dates on a calendar so they don't catch you off guard.

What happens if I miss the deadline?

A missed installment carries a 10% penalty. On the second installment, a small additional cost fee is typically added as well. If the taxes remain unpaid through June 30, the property becomes tax-defaulted, and redemption penalties begin accruing, generally at 1.5% per month.

The county does offer an installment plan for defaulted taxes, with eligibility rules and a required first payment. Call or check with the Treasurer and Tax Collector for the current terms, because they can change. Falling behind on property tax is a different track from federal or state income tax debt. If you also owe the IRS or FTB, our guide to California tax payment plans and our IRS and state tax problem help page cover those separately.

Can I deduct what I pay, and can I lower the bill?

Property tax paid on your home may be deductible if you itemize, subject to the federal cap on state and local tax deductions, and rental or business property is treated differently. Annual limits change, so confirm the current figure. This is general information and not advice for your situation.

On lowering the bill itself, the Assessor handles reassessment questions and the Assessment Appeals Board handles formal disputes. Our guides to Los Angeles property tax appeals and how to lower your property taxes explain when it's worth the effort. For the bigger picture of why your bill is what it is, start with how California property taxes work.

What's the next step?

Pull your AIN from your bill, look up your account, and confirm both installments are paid or scheduled before the delinquency dates. If you have rental property, a business with equipment, or several parcels, put every due date on one calendar.

If you'd like a second set of eyes, SBZ Tax is a walk-in office at 190 Sierra Ct Ste 335, Palmdale, CA 93550, serving the Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, and clients nationwide remotely. Call 818-748-2020 or book a free consultation. If you're in Palmdale, the office is local to you, and our Palmdale tax services page has the details.

This article is general information, not tax advice for your specific situation. Talk to a qualified professional before making decisions.