Tax bills due by August 31 to avoid penalty

Owners of taxable unsecured business or personal property must pay their tax bills by August 31st this year to avoid a 10% penalty.

California law requires the County Tax Collector to collect taxes on certain business property, such as equipment and fixtures, and certain personal property, such as boats and airplanes. Each year, the County Assessor sets the values for such property on January 1st for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from July 1st to June 30th.

The County Auditor calculates the taxes due by multiplying the assessed values by the tax rates.

The Tax Collector then issues tax bills in July and collects the taxes.

The obligation to pay unsecured property taxes belongs to the owner of the unsecured property as of January 1st when the values are set. The January 1st owner is responsible even if the property is sold, removed from the County, or destroyed after that date. The only exception comes when a signed agreement by the new owner to pay the taxes has been submitted to the Tax Collector at the close of escrow.

Monthly Payment Option Available for Current Year Tax Bills

The San Luis Obispo County Tax Collector's Office announced a new program to help taxpayers divide up their tax payments into smaller installments. 

Easy Smart Pay allows taxpayers to divide their property tax bill into monthly installments that are easier to handle, and the monies are distributed to the County when they are due. 

Now is the best time to sign up with Easy Smart Pay to get the lowest monthly payments. By joining now, property taxpayers can spread payments out over the most months possible before the tax bill is due.

Start making partial payments on your property tax bills by signing up for Easy Smart Pay at https://www.easysmartpay.net/.