If you do not pay the first installment of your annual tax bill at the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office by the end of the business day on December 10,* or payment is not postmarked by that date, that installment becomes delinquent, and a 10% delinquent penalty is incurred. If you fail to pay the second installment at the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office by the end of the business day on April 10,* or payment is not postmarked by that date, it becomes delinquent, and a 10% penalty on the unpaid taxes, as well as an administrative charge of $30, is added. Likewise, if you fail to pay any supplemental tax bill installments by the applicable delinquency date, the same penalties and charges accrue as for delinquent annual taxes.

If there are ANY unpaid delinquent taxes as of the close of the business day of June 30**, then the property becomes tax defaulted. Once the property has become tax defaulted, a redemption fee of $15 is added and additional penalties begin to accrue at the rate of 1 1/2% per month on the unpaid taxes. This monthly penalty is added at the close of the business day of the last day of each month (or following business day if the last day of the month falls on a weekend).

* If either December 10 or April 10 falls on a weekend or holiday, taxes are not delinquent until the close of the next business day.
** If June 30 falls on a weekend or holiday, taxes must be paid by the close of business the preceding day or the property will be tax defaulted.

Your taxes can remain unpaid for a maximum of five years following the first default, at which time your property becomes subject to the power of sale. This means that your property may be sold at public auction or acquired by a public agency if you do not pay the taxes before the date on which the property is offered for sale or acquisition.

To obtain an estimate of the amount required to redeem your property, you should contact the Ventura County Treasurer Tax Collector’s Office at (805) 654-3744.

You will need to provide the Assessor’s Identification Number (consisting of the map book, page, and parcel number), which you can find on a previous tax bill, or the address. Also, be sure to specify the date on which you wish to redeem so that the penalty can be calculated properly.

For information on 5-year plans please visit our 5-year plan page. A link is provided in the top navigation bar under Property Tax> Property Tax> Redemption – 5 Year Plan.