Property tax payments must be received or postmarked by the last payment date to avoid late penalties. If a payment is received after the delinquency date, with no postmark, the payment is considered late and penalties will be imposed, in accordance with State law. A penalty of 10% of the taxes due will be imposed after the 1st installment due date and a penalty of 10% plus a $23 cost will be imposed after the 2nd installment due date. For example, if the amount due for the 1st installment is $2,000, a 10% penalty of $200 will be imposed. If the amount due for the 2nd installment is $2,000, a 10% penalty of $200 and a $23 cost (total $223) will be imposed.
POSTMARKS are imprints on letters, flats, and parcels that show the name of the United States Postal Service (USPS) office that accepted custody of the mail, along with the state, the zip code, and the date of mailing. The postmark is generally applied, either by machine or by hand, with cancellation bars to indicate that the postage cannot be reused.
Taxpayers who send their payments by mail are cautioned that the USPS only postmarks certain mail depending on the type of postage used, and may not postmark mail on the same day deposited by a taxpayer. We highly recommend that you obtain a hand-stamped postmark from the post office if you wait until the last week prior to the deadline to mail your payment.
Postage that is postmarked:
STANDARD POSTAGE STAMPS: Stamps purchased and affixed to mail as evidence of the payment of postage.
Postage that is not postmarked:
METERED MAIL: Mail on which postage is printed directly on an envelope or label by a postage machine licensed by the USPS. Many private companies use these types of postage machines.
PRE-CANCELED STAMP: Stamps sold through a private vendor, such as stamps.com®.
AUTOMATED POSTAL CENTER (APC) STAMPS: Stamps, with or without a date, purchased from self-service machines or kiosks located within a USPS lobby, such as Forever Stamps.
PERMIT IMPRINT: Pre-sorted mail used by bill pay services, such as online home banking.
If you use these types of postage, the USPS will not postmark your mail. You will be charged a 10% penalty and a $23 cost, if applicable, if we do not receive your mailed payment by the delinquency date. Please note that the USPS offers alternative services that will signify the date of mailing for these non-postmark options that would provide the proof of mailing required on your payment.
Other options:
Purchase and complete a CERTIFICATE OF MAILING from the USPS, which is a receipt that provides evidence of the date that your mail was presented to the USPS for mailing. It can only be purchased at the time of mailing through the USPS. The USPS charges a fee for this service.
Purchase a POSTAGE VALIDATED IMPRINT (PVI) Label from a USPS retail counter or window. The PVI is applied to a piece of mail by personnel at the retail counter or window when postage has been paid to mail that item. The item is retained in USPS custody and is not handed back to the customer. The date printed on the PVI label is the date of mailing.
SAVE MONEY! SAVE TIME! PAY ONLINE!
Pay online for free using your checking or savings account and the Assessor Parcel Number (APN) from your bill. To make a payment, go to ocgov.com/octaxbill.
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There is no charge for eCheck payments.
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You may also pay online with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express). A 2.29% service fee, with a minimum charge of $1.95, will be charged for credit card payments.
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Electronic payments can be made 24/7 – Payments are accepted up until midnight on the last timely payment date.
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Don't forget to pay on time! Sign up to receive a reminder email of the property tax due dates at ocgov.com/taxreminder.
