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Press release from the Humboldt County Joint Information Center:

Deadline for Second Installment of Property Taxes is April 10

The Penalty waiver process will begin after April 10 for COVID-19 related hardships

California County Treasurer - Tax Collectors are responsible for protecting the financial viability of county agencies, schools and essential services by meeting near- and long-term financial obligations. The services counties provide to local residents are dependent on the twice-yearly remittance of local property taxes. 

County Tax Collectors have a long history of working with taxpayers in times of emergency, disaster and individual hardships, including during recent wildfires and floods. The COVID-19 crisis is no exception. After April 10, Tax Collectors will begin the process of waiving late payment penalties based on reasonable cause and individual circumstances including illness or quarantine as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Unlike income taxes which are paid on an ongoing basis through payroll deductions, property taxes are received in the days before the two payment deadlines of December 10 and April 10. These deadlines are set in state law and must be adhered to in order to avoid catastrophic impact on local funding of county public health departments, public hospitals and health systems, school districts, and general funds that pay for public safety and public works.  

 “At times like these we all need to help each other and therefore we urge everyone who is in a position to pay property taxes on time to do so, as required by state law. Humboldt County citizens rely on services provided by teachers, fire fighters, public health and safety officers, and other county services. Property tax revenues are vital to keeping their agencies, departments, and schools funded and services uninterrupted,” said Humboldt County Treasurer-Tax Collector John Bartholomew. 

“As always, we will work with taxpayers who are facing hardships as a result of this crisis while continuing to protect the stability of our county finances and services.”

 After April 10, 2020 information on applying for penalty waivers will be posted at: https://humboldtgov.org/2088/Property-Tax-Information