Behind on Property Taxes? Here Are Your Options

Falling behind on property taxes in California does not mean losing the property right away — but there is a real deadline, and it is worth understanding exactly where you stand. This page covers the general timeline and the options available before a county tax sale. It is general information, not legal or tax advice, and the exact dates for your property come from your county tax collector, not this page.

The general timeline

Under California Revenue and Taxation Code § 3691, residential property that has been tax-defaulted for five or more years becomes subject to the county tax collector’s power to sell at public auction. Non-residential commercial property can have a shorter three-year timeline in some counties. The power to sell generally takes effect July 1 following the deadline, unless the property is redeemed or placed on an installment plan before the close of business on the last business day in June. Your specific deadline depends on when your property first went into default — your county tax collector’s notice will have the exact date.

Options before the deadline

• Pay the full redemption amount. All defaulted taxes, penalties, costs, and fees, paid in full, stops the sale.
• Start an installment plan. California law allows a redemption installment plan in many cases, paid over time instead of all at once — ask your county tax collector what plan options exist for your property.
• Sell the property before the deadline. If there is equity, selling before the power-to-sell date can resolve the tax debt through escrow and preserve what is left. This is often the most realistic option for an owner who cannot pay the full redemption amount or qualify for a payment plan.

Once the right of redemption ends — at the close of business before the auction — these options are gone and the property proceeds to auction. If that has already happened for your property, see our Pre-Foreclosure Options guide for related information, or talk to your county tax collector directly about what happens next.

If you’re considering a direct sale

We are a direct property buyer, not a tax professional or attorney, and we do not charge any fee related to your tax default itself. If selling before the deadline looks like the right move, we review the property and give you a straight answer about whether a direct sale works for your timeline, with no obligation and no upfront cost to ask.

Questions people ask

How do I find out exactly when my redemption period ends?

Contact your county tax collector’s office directly. They can tell you the exact default date and deadline for your specific property.

Can I still sell if the property is tax-defaulted?

Generally yes, up until the right of redemption ends. The defaulted taxes are typically paid out of sale proceeds through escrow.

Is an installment plan available to everyone?

Eligibility and terms vary by county. Ask your county tax collector what is available for your property.

What happens to any money left over if the property goes to auction?

California law allows a former owner to claim excess proceeds in some cases after a tax sale. We are not currently publishing detailed guidance on that claim process — contact your county tax collector’s office directly for how it works for your property.

Talk to us

Call or text (510) 417-9089, or send the short form on this page, and tell us the city and your situation.

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Please read this part

This page describes the general California property tax default and power-to-sell timeline (Rev. & Tax. Code § 3691 et seq.) as of publication. Exact dates, county-specific rules, and installment plan eligibility vary — confirm your specific deadline with your county tax collector. Property inquiries through this page go to the property division of Bay Area Services. Notary services on this website are provided separately by Notary Experts. A notary verifies identity and witnesses signatures and cannot give legal advice or take part in a property purchase. Nothing on this page is a promise of an offer or a price. For legal or tax questions about a sale, talk to a California attorney or tax professional.