Quick answer: Ventura County’s annual secured property tax bill is paid in two installments. The first installment for the 2026-27 tax year is due November 1 and becomes delinquent after December 10, 2026, and the second is due February 1 and becomes delinquent after April 10 (in 2027, April 10 falls on a Saturday, so the deadline moves to the next business day). If you bought your home recently, you should also expect one or two separate supplemental tax bills. Those are mailed to you, not your lender, even if you have an impound account.
It’s late fall, so tax bills are showing up in mailboxes across Camarillo, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Simi Valley and the rest of Ventura County. For people who bought this year, that usually brings questions: Which bill is mine? Didn’t escrow already take care of this? Why did I get a second bill? Below is a plain-English guide built on the County of Ventura’s own published rules, with links so you can check every detail yourself.
When are Ventura County property taxes due?
The Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector lays out the schedule for the annual secured tax bill:
- 1st installment: due November 1, delinquent after December 10. It covers July 1 to December 31.
- 2nd installment: due February 1, delinquent after April 10. It covers January 1 to June 30.
- Weekend and holiday rule: when December 10 or April 10 lands on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the delinquency date moves to the next business day.
Each tax year runs on a fiscal year from July 1 to June 30, which is why your bill shows two years (for example, 2026/27).
What happens if I pay late?
According to the County, a 10% penalty is added to an installment that isn’t paid or postmarked by its delinquency date. The second installment also picks up a $30 cost fee. If both installments are still unpaid on June 30, the taxes go into default and more penalties build up every month (see the Secured Taxes page). Not receiving a bill doesn’t excuse a late payment, so if you haven’t seen yours, ask for a copy.
How do I get a copy of my bill or pay online?
You can look up and pay your bill through the County’s online tax payment system. You can also contact the Tax Collector’s office through its FAQ page. The County says the outside payment processor charges a convenience fee for card payments. Only full installment amounts are accepted.
I just bought a home. Which tax bills are actually mine?
This is where most new owners get confused. There are usually two kinds of bills:
- The annual bill. Depending on when your purchase was recorded, the annual bill may still be mailed to the previous owner or come straight to you. Property taxes are normally prorated between buyer and seller in escrow, and your closing statement shows what was credited or paid. Even so, the County’s “Understanding Property Taxes” guide says getting a bill is your responsibility. If an installment is still unpaid and you never received a bill, contact the Tax Collector.
- The supplemental bill (or bills). When a home changes hands, California law requires it to be reassessed. If the new value is higher than the old one, you’ll get a supplemental bill for the difference.
What is a supplemental tax bill, and why did I get one?
The Ventura County Assessor explains that a supplemental assessment puts a reappraisal from a change in ownership or completed new construction into effect right away. The Assessor finds the current market value, subtracts the property’s prior assessed value, and the difference is the supplemental assessment. You’ll get a Notice of Supplemental Assessment first. After that, the Tax Collector mails the supplemental tax bill or bills. If the value went down instead, you get a supplemental refund.
Why do some buyers get two supplemental bills?
Timing is everything. Here’s how the County’s supplemental billing illustration puts it:
- If you bought between June 1 and December 31, expect one supplemental bill.
- If you bought between January 1 and May 31, expect two. One covers the rest of the current tax year, and the other covers the full next tax year, because that year’s annual roll was set on January 1 using the old value.
When will my supplemental bill arrive?
Supplemental bills are mailed all year long. The Tax Collector says it typically takes six months to a year after the purchase or completed construction for a supplemental bill to be created. Each bill comes with its own due dates. If you don’t pay a supplemental installment on time, the same penalties apply as for a late annual bill.
Will my lender pay the supplemental bill from my impound account?
Don’t count on it. The Assessor’s Supplemental Notices page says supplemental bills are mailed directly to the owner, and lenders don’t get the original or a copy. Even if your lender normally pays your annual taxes through an impound account, the supplemental bill is your responsibility. If you’d like your lender to handle it, call them, but keep an eye on the due dates yourself.
Can I estimate my supplemental bill ahead of time?
Yes. The Tax Collector’s WebTax system has a Supplemental Tax Calculator. Search your parcel number or address in the online tax system and click the calculator link. Setting that money aside early means the bill won’t catch you off guard a few months after you move in.
How do new owners claim the Homeowners’ Exemption?
If the home is your main residence, you can claim California’s Homeowners’ Exemption. It takes up to $7,000 off your assessed value, which the Ventura County Assessor says saves about $70 a year. It’s small, but it’s free money, and you only file once. Here are the key rules from the Assessor:
- Living in the home on January 1: file by 5:00 p.m. on February 15 to get the full exemption for that year. A claim filed between February 16 and December 10 gets 80%.
- Bought after January 1 and moved in (or plan to) within 90 days: the exemption can be applied to your supplemental assessment if you file by 5 p.m. on the 30th day after the date printed on your Notice of Supplemental Assessment.
- Rentals, vacant homes and second homes don’t qualify.
The Assessor’s New Homeowners page says a claim form is usually mailed about three to four months after your deed records. If you haven’t received one, contact the Assessor. The state version of the claim form is BOE-266, described on the California State Board of Equalization site.
What if I think my new assessed value is too high?
You can start by talking to the Assessor’s office. The County’s property tax guide says appeals of a supplemental assessment must be filed no later than 60 days from the mailing date of the supplemental assessment notice. Appeals of regular annual assessments have a separate yearly filing window. Read the notice carefully and keep the envelope and mailing date.
A simple checklist for Ventura County buyers this winter
- Check your closing statement to see how property taxes were prorated in escrow.
- Look up your parcel online and confirm whether the first installment is paid. It’s delinquent after December 10, 2026.
- Note the second installment deadline. It’s due February 1 and delinquent after April 10, with the weekend rule applying in 2027.
- Run the Supplemental Tax Calculator and set money aside.
- Watch your mail for a Notice of Supplemental Assessment and the supplemental bill or bills. These come to you, not your lender.
- File for the Homeowners’ Exemption if the home is your primary residence.
Selling instead of buying? Your tax picture works differently. If you’re 55 or older and thinking about moving, read our guide to keeping your low property tax base under Prop 19. And if you’re wondering what your home is worth today, get a free home value estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Is the December 10 deadline a postmark deadline?
Yes. The County says the first installment is delinquent if it isn’t received or postmarked by December 10. Be careful, though: the Tax Collector doesn’t accept every kind of postmark. Metered-mail postmarks and dates from automated postal kiosks don’t count, so paying online or mailing early is safer.
Can I pay both installments at once?
Yes. The Tax Collector accepts one check for both installments or for several parcels. Partial installment payments aren’t accepted.
I sold my home. Do I still owe a supplemental bill?
Possibly a prorated share for the months you owned it. The Tax Collector asks owners in that situation to contact its office to request a proration.
Does the County offer a senior discount on property taxes?
The Tax Collector says there is no senior discount. The State Controller does run a separate Property Tax Postponement program for qualifying homeowners, and the Assessor’s office can explain the exemptions available.
Is this tax or legal advice?
No. This article summarizes the County of Ventura’s published information as of October 2026. For your specific situation, check with the Assessor, the Tax Collector, or a tax professional.
Buying or selling in Ventura County? Let’s talk.
Property taxes are one of many costs that surprise first-time and move-up buyers. I’m happy to walk you through the full cost of owning a home in Camarillo and the rest of Ventura County before you make an offer. Get started with my free First Time Homebuyer’s Guide, or get pre-qualified so you know your numbers.
Mark Patton, Mark Patton Real Estate Group
Broker Associate, Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist (CPRES)
Call or text: 805-386-9778
Email: [email protected]
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