Sacramento, California – A deadline that can be easy to overlook is approaching for thousands of Sacramento County property owners. Unlike regular real estate taxes, unsecured property taxes cover items that are not tied to land, including boats, aircraft and certain business equipment.
For owners who received a bill this summer, Aug. 31 is the key date. Missing it can quickly turn an ordinary tax payment into a larger balance with penalties, collection costs and, in some cases, complications involving watercraft registration.
Sacramento County mailed its annual unsecured personal property tax bills for the 2026-2027 fiscal year on July 17, 2026. The bills may be paid without delinquent penalties through Aug. 31, 2026.
Unsecured property tax bills are sent each July to people and businesses that owned qualifying property in the county as of the annual lien date. That includes residents who owned a boat or aircraft on Jan. 1, 2026, as well as businesses that owned or leased fixtures, machinery or other equipment.
Anyone who owned this type of property in Sacramento County but does not receive a bill by Aug. 8 should contact the Sacramento County Tax Collector’s Unsecured Property Tax Unit. The unit can be reached at (916) 874-7833 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
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County officials stress that not receiving a bill does not remove the obligation to pay. It also does not allow the Tax Collector to cancel penalties or collection costs once the account becomes delinquent.
To meet the deadline, payment must reach the Tax Collector’s Office by 5 p.m. on Aug. 31. Payments sent by mail must carry a postmark dated no later than Aug. 31, 2026.
The cost of waiting can rise in stages. A bill unpaid after the deadline will receive a 10% penalty along with a collection cost. For watercraft owners, the Department of Motor Vehicles may withhold registration when delinquent unsecured taxes are reported.
The balance becomes more expensive if it remains unpaid beyond Oct. 31, 2026. At that point, additional collection costs will apply, along with monthly penalties of 1.5% calculated on the base tax.
Payments may be mailed or delivered in person to the Sacramento County Tax Collector’s Office at 700 H Street, Room 1710, Sacramento, CA 95814. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays. Credit card, debit card and eCheck payments are also available through the Sacramento County Tax Collector’s website.
With penalties beginning immediately after the deadline, property owners are encouraged to locate their bill early, confirm the amount owed and choose a payment method before the final day.