Are payment plans available for overdue property taxes?
Yes, for certain eligible bills. San Diego County offers a five-year installment plan for qualifying prior-year defaulted secured property taxes and a separate four-year plan for some escape tax bills. The five-year plan does not cover current-year taxes simply because they are late. Review the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s official Payment Plans page and confirm which option applies to your bill.
Check eligibility for the five-year plan
The five-year plan generally applies to prior-year secured taxes that have been in default for less than five years. Enrollment is not available once the property is subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell. A plan that defaulted cannot be restarted in the same fiscal year.
The published enrollment deadline is 5 p.m. on the last business day of the fifth fiscal year after the property originally became tax-defaulted. Ask the office to confirm your original default date and exact deadline.
Understand the payments, interest and fees
To start the five-year plan, you must complete, sign and return the required contract, pay at least 20% of the defaulted total due for the month of enrollment, pay all unpaid current-year taxes, and pay the required setup and redemption costs.
In subsequent years, the annual plan payment is at least 20% of the original redemption amount, plus accrued interest and the annual maintenance fee, due by April 10. The percentage is based on the original amount, not the remaining balance. Current-year taxes are separate and must also be paid on time; the plan does not extend their regular payment deadlines.
Interest continues at 1.5% per month on the unpaid plan balance. The property remains on the defaulted tax roll until the balance is paid in full. Check the official instructions for current fees and your required payment amount.
Ask about the four-year escape bill plan
Some escape tax bills for a previous fiscal year may qualify for a separate four-year plan if the total due is greater than $500. Enrollment requires a signed agreement, an initial payment of at least 20%, payment of other taxes currently due, and a setup fee.
The application deadline is April 10 or the extension date printed on the payment coupon, whichever is later. Annual payments and maintenance fees apply afterward. Review the four-year plan instructions on the official Payment Plans page before applying.
Confirm enrollment and keep the plan in good standing
Call Tax Collection at 877-829-4732 or use the official contact page. Have your parcel or bill number available, and ask about eligibility, required forms, the initial payment, fees and deadlines. Confirm that the plan has been established.
Missing required payments or failing to pay current taxes can cause the plan to default. If a five-year plan defaults, penalties are recalculated from the original tax-default date. A County payment plan also does not stop foreclosure by a mortgage lender or certain special-assessment bondholders.