Pay, Find or Fix a Butte County Tax Bill
Pay or print a property tax bill, check current 2026 deadlines, compare payment fees, reach the Oroville office and decide whether your problem belongs with the Tax Collector or Assessor.
Current-year alerts come before the payment steps so you do not mistake a future secured bill, an August unsecured deadline, a supplemental bill or an older defaulted balance for the wrong account.
530-552-3720
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Next Tax Deadline?
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25 County Center Dr., Suite 125
Property Tax Penalty & Interest Calculator
State-specific penalty rates • Interest accrual • Tax lien deadline • Cost-of-waiting breakdown
| Original Tax Amount | $0.00 |
| Initial Penalty— | $0.00 |
| Monthly Interest— | $0.00 |
| Fixed Fees— | $0.00 |
| Total Due | $0.00 |
Daily Accrual Rate
Interest and penalties are adding this much to your balance every single day
Tax Lien Warning
| If You Pay On | Days Late | Penalty | Interest | Total Owed | Extra Cost |
|---|
Mon–Fri · 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free
August 31, 2026
Choose the tax problem you need to solve
Use the Tax Collector portal and identify the current roll, assessment or fee parcel before choosing an installment.
Use the Assessor parcel search. It shows assessed-value information, not the current payoff amount.
Get the current payoff and the correct payment-plan or penalty-relief instructions before sending money.
Secured, unsecured, supplemental or defaulted: which bill do you have?
Before searching or paying, identify the bill type. Butte County uses different deadlines, collection routes and payment-plan rules depending on what is being taxed.
| Bill type | Usually covers | Key timing | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular secured | Real property such as land and improvements | 1st installment due Nov. 1 / delinquent after Dec. 10; 2nd due Feb. 1 / delinquent after Apr. 10 | Current roll in Tax Collector portal |
| Unsecured | Property not secured by real estate, including many business/personal-property accounts | 2026/27 bills due Aug. 31, 2026 | Unsecured account / Property Tax Division; Central Collections if delinquent |
| Supplemental | Extra tax after change of ownership or completed new construction | Due dates vary by the individual supplemental bill | Supplemental bill in portal; do not assume escrow will pay it |
| Defaulted secured | Prior-year secured taxes unpaid after fiscal-year close | Payoff increases monthly; redemption / power-to-sell rules can apply | Defaulted tab and current payoff from Property Tax Division |
How Butte County turns assessed value into the tax bill
A common mistake is asking one office to change every part of the bill. Butte County explains that three county functions work together: the Assessor establishes taxable value, the Auditor-Controller applies the tax rates and direct charges, and the Treasurer-Tax Collector issues and collects the resulting bill.
Locates taxable property, establishes assessed value, maintains ownership/parcel records and applies qualifying exemptions.
Call this office when: value, APN, ownership, exemption or mailing-address data is wrong.
Applies the general levy, voter-approved obligations and direct/special assessments to the assessed value to calculate the tax amount.
Important: a bill can be higher than a simple 1% calculation because location-specific charges can be added.
Prepares/collects the tax bill, posts payments and handles delinquency, payoff, redemption and tax-sale collection matters.
Call this office when: balance, payment, penalty, receipt or payoff is the problem.
How to pay Butte County property taxes online safely
The county-linked MBC portal can show current and delinquent fiscal-year assessments, but the search method matters. Use the current roll for current payment information and verify the bill type before checkout.
Assessment number, fee parcel or street address: which search should you use?
| Search route | Best for | Important limitation | Practical check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment number | Viewing one specific assessment | This may not display every outstanding assessment | Use Fee Parcel if you need a broader outstanding-account summary. |
| Fee Parcel | Summary of current/delinquent fiscal-year assessments | Enter the portal’s required parcel characters accurately | Verify each bill before selecting payment. |
| Street address | Finding a property when you lack the number | Recorded abbreviations can block an exact match | Omit Street/Road/Drive/Lane and use N/E/S/W instead of spelling directional words. |
| Assessor APN lookup | Parcel value, APN, map and exemption data | Not a tax-payment balance | Return to the Tax Collector portal to pay. |
Butte County e-check, card, phone and monthly-payment fees
| Method | Published cost | Useful when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular online e-check | Free | Lowest-cost normal online payment | Use the county portal instead of bank bill pay. |
| Regular online credit card | 2.30% | Card convenience | Fee rises with the payment amount. |
| Regular online debit card | $3.49 per transaction | Flat-fee debit option | Verify the exact bill because online payments cannot be reversed. |
| Easy Smart Pay monthly e-check | Free | Budgeting secured taxes monthly | Separate vendor; not the defaulted-tax installment plan. |
| Easy Smart Pay monthly card | 1.99% | Monthly card budgeting | Does not apply to supplemental property tax. |
| Live-agent phone debit | Vendor terms apply | Non-urgent phone payment | County lists 866-658-4533, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern. |
| 24-hour automated credit card | Vendor terms apply | Automated phone card payment | County lists 844-882-3391 and warns to dial carefully. |
Mailing a Butte County tax payment? Protect the postmark
For ordinary installment deadlines, mailed payments generally rely on a timely U.S. Postal Service postmark. Butte County warns that payments can receive a later processing postmark than the date you simply place the envelope in a mailbox.
- Make the check payable to Butte County Tax Collector.
- Write the assessment number on the check.
- Include the payment stub when available.
- Take deadline-day mail to a USPS retail counter.
- Ask for a manual USPS postmark.
- Keep your check and mailing evidence.
The June fiscal-year-end deadline is different. Delinquent current-year secured taxes must be received by the Treasurer-Tax Collector by the applicable 5 p.m. cutoff.
A June 30 postmark is not enough.
Butte County Tax Collector phone number, address and hours
Suite 125
Oroville, CA 95965
Bottom floor of the Butte County Administration building.
Property tax: 530-552-3720
Email: taxes@buttecounty.ca.gov
Central Collections: 530-552-3710
| Day | Hours | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Bring the tax bill or assessment information. |
| Tuesday | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Call first for defaulted-tax or penalty-relief questions. |
| Wednesday | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Standard lobby hours. |
| Thursday | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Standard lobby hours. |
| Friday | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Avoid arriving at the last minute on statutory deadlines. |
What to bring before you drive from Chico, Paradise, Gridley or elsewhere
Butte County secured property-tax due dates and penalties
Regular secured property taxes follow California’s two-installment calendar. The due date and delinquency date are different, so do not confuse “due” with the final day to avoid penalty.
Unsecured property taxes: August 31, 2026 is the key date
Butte County says 2026/2027 unsecured tax bills are mailed by the end of July and are due August 31, 2026. Unsecured taxes can apply to taxable property that is not secured by real estate, including many business/personal-property accounts.
Selling unsecured property after the January 1 lien date does not automatically eliminate the tax liability.
County due-date guidance lists a 10% penalty after 5 p.m., then 1.5% monthly interest plus lien-process fees including a $41 courtesy lien notice and $15 per recorded lien notice.
Monthly property-tax payments vs. a defaulted-tax payment plan
Butte County launched an Easy Smart Pay monthly option in 2026. This budgeting service is not the same as the statutory installment plan used for tax-defaulted secured property.
- Designed for regular secured property tax.
- Does not apply to supplemental property tax.
- Free e-check.
- 1.99% debit/credit-card payment fee.
- The provider is a private company working with the county and is not a lender or bank.
- Can be available for qualifying secured property with fewer than five years of defaulted taxes before statutory cutoffs.
- Current taxes and billed supplemental taxes must stay current.
- The annual plan payment includes at least 20% plus applicable interest.
- Installment-plan payments cannot be made electronically.
New owner, recent transfer or supplemental tax bill
A purchase can create more than one tax task. The annual bill may still go to the prior owner while records are updating, and supplemental bills can arrive separately.
What happens after a Butte County property tax becomes delinquent
Prior-year secured payoff amounts increase with time, so an old notice can be wrong even when the assessment number is correct. Always use the current defaulted account or request a payoff.
| Status | County rule | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Missed Dec. 10 first installment | 10% penalty added | Use the current bill/payment portal and verify the amount. |
| Missed Apr. 10 second installment | 10% penalty plus additional delinquent charge | Verify the full account before paying. |
| Still unpaid at fiscal-year end | June deadline requires actual receipt, not a June 30 postmark | Call before the cutoff if mailing time is uncertain. |
| Defaulted after July 1 | 1.5% monthly penalty on prior-year balance plus $15 redemption fee | Use the defaulted tab / request a current payoff. |
| Approaching power to sell | Certain property can become subject to tax sale after statutory default periods | Ask immediately about redemption or an eligible installment plan. |
When Butte County may—and may not—cancel a late penalty
Penalty cancellation is narrow. Butte County’s 2026 request form ties relief to California Revenue and Taxation Code rules and requires facts showing a qualifying circumstance; it is not a courtesy waiver simply because the payment was late.
- Financial hardship or inability to pay on time.
- You normally pay your taxes on time.
- You were confused about the due date.
- You were on vacation/out of the country and forgot.
- The paper bill was not received.
- Theft or mishandling of the payment while within USPS control.
- Death of an immediate family member on the last day to pay.
- A medical emergency involving the taxpayer on the last day to pay.
- A specified County error that fits the applicable statute.
Payment evidence matters before you file
After you understand the standard above, use the county’s current form rather than a third-party penalty-abatement template.
Butte County Tax Assessor property search: APN, address and assessed value
The Assessor’s parcel tool is the correct route for parcel identity and assessed-value information. It is not the same as the Tax Collector’s live bill balance.
| Field / tool | What it helps with | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| APN search | Locate a parcel directly by Assessor’s Parcel Number | Does not prove current taxes are paid. |
| Street-address search | Find many improved properties without the APN | Vacant land may have no street address and require the APN. |
| Parcel detail | APN, status, situs address and abbreviated legal description | Confirm legal/recorded matters with original county records. |
| Values | Land value, improvement value, exemption amount and total assessed value | Assessed value is not a delinquent payoff. |
| Parcel maps | Map book/page/parcel reference | Maps are maintained for tax purposes and should not replace a survey. |
Lobby: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Phones: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Holidays excluded.
Homeowner exemption, 2026 low-value rule and assessment appeals
If you own and occupy the home as your principal residence on January 1, Butte County says the exemption reduces the annual tax bill by about $70. It does not automatically transfer when you move.
On June 23, 2026, the Board of Supervisors raised the low-value property-tax exemption threshold from $2,000 to $5,000 for covered secured and unsecured roll property, subject to statutory exceptions.
Property tax generally starts with 1% of assessed value plus voter-approved obligations and direct/special assessments that vary by location.
New owner and supplemental Homeowners’ Exemption
If a newly acquired or constructed home did not receive the exemption on the annual roll, county guidance says you may apply for it on the supplemental roll when eligibility rules are met. Qualifying occupancy must occur within 90 days of the new construction completion or ownership change, and the county advises applying within 30 days after receiving the Notice of Supplemental Assessment.
If the assessed value looks wrong
Mobile-home tax clearance: exact documents and submission routes
If a mobile home is on Butte County’s tax roll, California HCD title or ownership changes can require a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Treasurer-Tax Collector. The county recommends starting with HCD so you know which documents are needed before the 60-day clearance certificate starts running.
- All current and delinquent taxes must be paid.
- Estimated next-year taxes may be collected when warranted.
- The initial county certificate has no fee.
- The certificate is valid for 60 days.
- A reissued certificate costs $26.
- Mobile-home and parcel assessment numbers.
- Manufacturer and year of manufacture.
- License/decal and serial number(s).
- Sales price when applicable.
- Current registered owner/seller and buyer information.
- Current and new mobile-home location when applicable.
- Escrow/attorney information if involved.
- A copy of the Certificate of Title.
How the current form can be submitted
| Route | Current form instruction | What to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Butte County Tax Collector, 25 County Center Dr., Suite 125, Oroville, CA 95965 | Copy of form, title and mailing proof. | |
| Fax | 530-538-6450 | Fax confirmation plus the submitted pages. |
| taxes@buttecounty.net | Sent message and attachments. | |
| Questions | 530-552-3720 | Name/date of any instruction that affects payoff or timing. |
Military relief and California Property Tax Postponement
Butte County lists a military tax-relief application among its Treasurer-Tax Collector forms. Eligibility is fact-specific; use the current county application and required service/residency documentation instead of assuming all active-duty taxpayers qualify.
This is a California State Controller program—not a county discount. It can defer current-year property taxes for qualifying homeowners who are seniors, blind or disabled, but the postponed amount is secured by a lien/security agreement and must eventually be repaid.
Current timing: the last posted 2025–26 filing period closed February 10, 2026. The State Controller says applications are generally accepted October 1 through February 10 each year; verify the next cycle when it is published rather than using the expired application.
Final Butte County tax-payment safety check
Use these sources when you are ready to act
Butte County Tax Collector FAQs
How do I pay Butte County property taxes online?
Use the Butte County-linked property tax search and payment portal. Select the current roll year, identify the assessment or fee parcel, verify the bill type and installment, review the payment fee, submit the payment and save the confirmation. Online payments post immediately and cannot be reversed.
What is the Butte County Tax Collector phone number?
For property-tax questions, call the Butte County Property Tax Division at 530-552-3720. Central Collections is 530-552-3710 for delinquent unsecured collection questions.
Where is the Butte County Tax Collector office and what are its hours?
The Property Tax Division is at 25 County Center Drive, Suite 125, Oroville, CA 95965, on the bottom floor of the County Administration building. Published lobby hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., excluding holidays.
When are Butte County secured property taxes due?
The first secured installment is due November 1 and becomes delinquent after December 10. The second installment is due February 1 and becomes delinquent after April 10. Ordinary weekend/holiday rules can move a final due date, but the fiscal-year-end receipt deadline is different.
When are Butte County unsecured property taxes due in 2026?
For the 2026/27 fiscal year, Butte County says unsecured tax bills are mailed by the end of July and are due August 31, 2026. A 10% penalty and additional charges can apply after the deadline.
What fees apply to Butte County online property-tax payments?
Butte County lists free e-checks through its regular Treasurer-Tax Collector online payment system, a 2.30% credit-card service fee and a $3.49 debit-card fee. Easy Smart Pay monthly payments list free e-check and 1.99% debit/credit-card payments.
Why does my 2026/27 secured tax account show zero dollars?
As of August 20, 2026, Butte County says 2026/27 secured tax amounts are expected online near the end of September and bills are mailed in mid-October. Until the roll is created, the new secured amount may display as zero.
How do I search Butte County Assessor property records?
Use the Butte County Assessor parcel search by APN or street address. The parcel-detail screen can show APN, property status, situs address, abbreviated legal description, land value, improvement value, exemptions and total assessed value. Vacant land may require an APN.
Will my mortgage company pay a Butte County supplemental tax bill?
Do not assume it will. Butte County says supplemental bills are mailed to the property owner of record rather than the lender, and in most cases lenders do not pay supplemental bills from an impound account. Contact your lender before the supplemental due date.
Should I contact the Butte County Tax Collector or Assessor?
Use the Treasurer-Tax Collector for bills, payments, receipts, due dates, penalties, delinquency, payment plans and tax-sale matters. Use the Assessor for assessed value, ownership records, parcel information, exemptions, address changes and assessment questions.