SAN DIEGO (CNS) – San Diego County Treasurer and Tax Collector Dan McAllister began sending 42,037 reminder messages Thursday to property owners who had not paid all of their property taxes for the 2020-2021 period.
“On July 1st, any unpaid bill will be defaulted and an additional 1.5% penalty will be imposed every month,” McAllister said. “This penalty is 18% per year. I want to save people this huge fine and encourage them to pay their bills as soon as possible.”
Property owners can pay their bills instantly online at sdttc.com. McAllister advised starting an online payment well in advance of June 30th at midnight to ensure payment is on time.
Property taxes are due in two installments – the first in December and the second in April. There was already a 10% penalty for each late installment, plus a $ 10 fee if the second installment was late.
The late taxes amount to $ 138 million. The Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office sent 1,482 fewer reminders this year than last year when property tax was due prior to June 30 of $ 166 million.
So far, the TTC has collected 99% of the first and 97.5% of the second installments.
“We know most San Diegans take responsibility for paying their taxes seriously,” said McAllister. “We want to give the small number of those who no longer have a chance a chance.”
Increased fines aren’t the only incentive for people to pay their taxes. Under California law, TTC can sell properties that have been in arrears for five years.