First Property Tax Payment Due Today by Mail or in Person

Today is the payment deadline for the first installment of this fiscal year’s property taxes in Orange County.

Property owners can take payments to the tax collector’s office at 12 Civic Center Plaza, Room G-58, Santa Ana, by 6 p.m., but there will probably be long lines all day. An alternative is to mail the payment in time to get a Dec. 10 postmark.

Doing neither could be costly--late payers are assessed a 10% penalty. And those who don’t pay the taxes, penalties and interest for five years risk having the county auction off their property.

Orange County collects about $2.4 billion in property taxes annually. Today alone, the county expects to take in about $300 million, said Gary Cowan, assistant tax collector. (Cowan himself waited until the last day to make his payment.)

Two-thirds of property-tax revenue goes to schools, and the rest is split among cities, the county and special districts.

About 11% of property owners will pay the entire property tax bill today. The others will have to come up with the balance before the next deadline: April 10.