When are property taxes due?
The answer depends on your state and county. In some cases, charges are divided into two or four installments. However, many send a single bill each fall, payable by year end or early the following year. Your county treasurer or tax collector prints the dates that the bill lists.
Property tax due dates by state
| State | When the bill is due | Applies | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Due October 1, delinquent after December 31 | Statewide | revenue.alabama.gov |
| Alaska | Pay in full August 17, or split the payment with the second installment February 16 | Set locally, e.g. Mat-Su Borough | matsu.gov |
| Arizona | Two halves: October 1 and March 1 | Statewide | azleg.gov |
| Arkansas | October 15 | Statewide | portal.arkansas.gov |
| California | Two halves: November 1 and February 1 | Statewide | California State Board of Equalization |
| Colorado | Pay in full April 30, or make two payments at the end of February and June 15 | Statewide | leg.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut | January 1 installment, timely through February 1 | Statewide | cga.ct.gov |
| Delaware | Penalties begin after September 1 (New Castle) and September 30 (Kent, Sussex) | Set locally | delcode.delaware.gov |
| District of Columbia | Two halves: March 31 and September 15 | Statewide | District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue |
| Florida | Delinquent, usually April 1, if unpaid | Statewide | Florida Department of Revenue |
| Georgia | Local options include December 1, November 15, or installments; otherwise, December 20. | Statewide | dor.georgia.gov |
| Hawaii | First installment due August 20 | Set locally, e.g. Honolulu | honolulu.gov |
| Idaho | Due December 20, or in two halves on December 20 and June 20 | Statewide | legislature.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | Delinquent after June 1 and September 1 installments | Statewide | ilga.gov |
| Indiana | Two installments: May 10 and November 10 | Statewide | in.gov |
| Iowa | Two installments: September and March | Statewide | revenue.iowa.gov |
| Kansas | December 20 (full or first half), with the second half May 10 | Statewide | ksrevenue.gov |
| Kentucky | Get a 2% discount by November 1; pay the face amount through December 31 | Statewide | Kentucky Department of Revenue |
| Louisiana | December 31 | Statewide | legis.la.gov |
| Maine | Installments November 15 and May 15 | Set locally, e.g. Union | union.maine.gov |
| Maryland | July 1; overdue October 1; residences may split | Statewide | dat.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts | Four quarterly payments: August 1, November 1, February 1, May 1 | Statewide | Mass.gov |
| Michigan | Summer taxes mid-September; delinquent March 1 | Statewide | michigan.gov |
| Minnesota | Two halves: May 15 and October 15 | Statewide | revenue.state.mn.us |
| Mississippi | On or before February 1 | Statewide | dor.ms.gov |
| Missouri | See the source | Statewide | revisor.mo.gov |
| Montana | Two halves: November 30 and May 31 | Statewide | mca.legmt.gov |
| Nebraska | December 31; split halves become delinquent May 1 and September 1 | Statewide | revenue.nebraska.gov |
| Nevada | The four installments use these dates: the 3rd Monday in August, 1st Mondays in October, January, March. | Statewide | tax.nv.gov |
| New Hampshire | Two bills are often sent: one around July 1 and another near December 1. | Set locally, e.g. Ashland | ashland.nh.gov |
| New York | No single date; set by district and municipality | Set locally | New York State Department of Taxation and Finance |
| North Carolina | September 1, interest from January 6 | Statewide | ncleg.gov |
| North Dakota | Payments are due March 1 and October 15; get a 5% discount by February 15 | Statewide | tax.nd.gov |
| Ohio | Two installments: December 31 and June 20 | Statewide | lsc.ohio.gov |
| Oregon | Three installments: November 15, February 15, May 15 | Statewide | oregon.gov |
| Pennsylvania | Each taxing district sets the date; payments become delinquent after December 31 | Set locally | palegis.us |
| Rhode Island | Payment dates: September 15, December 15, March 15, June 15; four installments. | Statewide | tax.ri.gov |
| South Carolina | Between September 30 and January 15 | Statewide | scstatehouse.gov |
| South Dakota | Two halves: delinquent May 1 and November 1 | Statewide | sdlegislature.gov |
| Tennessee | Due first Monday in October, delinquent March 1 | Statewide | comptroller.tn.gov |
| Texas | January 31, delinquent February 1 | Statewide | Texas Comptroller |
| Utah | November 30 | Statewide | le.utah.gov |
| Vermont | Set by each town; no statewide date | Set locally | tax.vermont.gov |
| Virginia | Set by each locality by ordinance | Set locally | law.lis.virginia.gov |
| Washington | First half April 30, second half October 31 | Statewide | dor.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | Two halves: September 1 and March 1 | Statewide | tax.wv.gov |
| Wisconsin | Two installments: January 31 and July 31 | Statewide | revenue.wi.gov |
| Wyoming | Two halves: November 10 and May 10 | Statewide | wyo-prop-div.wyo.gov |
If you pay through your mortgage
For most homeowners with a mortgage, property tax goes through an escrow account. The lender pays the county when the bill comes due. Each monthly payment also includes one twelfth of the yearly bill. Following its yearly escrow review, the lender increases your monthly payment when the bill rises and may request payment for any shortage.
The point at which a payment becomes late
The day after a tax is due, any unpaid amount is delinquent. Interest and penalties then apply. After a set period, a lien against the home may be recorded by counties, or the home may be sold in a tax sale. Most counties offer payment plans if you ask before that point.
For an estimate of the bill you will pay, use the property tax calculator.