San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister is alerting property owners behind on their property taxes that they have less than two weeks to settle their debts. With the deadline fast approaching on July 1, McAllister advises residents to avoid incurring additional late fees that follow the due date. "I want to spread the word as far as possible, and you’re going to hear this same message from me over the next ten days: there is still time to avoid additional penalties if the bills are paid by July 1," McAllister said on his office's website.
Often, property taxes are the unsung financial obligation that keeps coming, regardless of personal circumstances or market tumult. They have become a rising quiet tide, and now San Diego residents are facing a total of $180 million in owed taxes. Notices have gone out to 41,245 property owners who must now reckon with their bills, a looming $33 redemption fee, and a 1.5% monthly penalty. This burden doesn't only threaten individual financial stability. It's a collective fiscal phenomenon that directly affects public service funding. According to the official statement, "Property taxes fund essential county and city services."
Despite the press of late payments, the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office shared some positive news: 98.96% of first installments and 98.19% of second installments have been collected, totaling 98.58% of taxes paid. This is a testament to the fact that many San Diego citizens stay current with their taxes, contributing to public health services.
McAllister's office has provided multiple channels for those who need to pay. Taxpayers can easily pay online using an e-Check, securing an immediate emailed confirmation. This option, alongside mail, phone, and in-person methods, offers flexibility, aiming to swiftly put this fiscal house in order. The deadline for all methods is midnight, July 1, except for in-person payments, which must be done by 5 p.m. at a branch office. Detailed payment options are available on the San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website.
There is also a critical notice for property owners of tax-defaulted property. If a property has been in default for over five years and there is no payment plan or redemption by the end of the fiscal year (June 28, at 5:00 p.m.), it is subject to the Tax Collector's Power to Sell once July 1 strikes.
