San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (ATC) Ensen Mason today pointed out that the recent extension of the 
personal income tax filing deadline by the federal and California state governments to May 17, 2021, does not apply to County property tax payments.
“California state law sets the penalty deadline for payment of the second installment of property taxes as April 10 of each year, extended to April 12 this year because April 10 falls on a weekend,” explained Mason. “This deadline remains unchanged, and property taxes due must be paid by April 12, 2021, or a financial penalty will be imposed pursuant to law. I have no power to extend the April 12, 2021, property tax deadline and must comply with the law as written.”
Mason has created and implemented the most taxpayer friendly tax payment program in the state of California in the last year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have always encouraged payment by mail, phone, and especially online for ease and convenience of payment,” noted Mason. “With new health and safety considerations brought about by COVID-19, we are emphasizing remote payment even more, while taking important steps in onsite customer service for those who desire to pay their property taxes in person. We now have computerized customer self-service kiosks and are placing them outside our building beginning Thursday, April 1, 2021. Taxpayers can look up their tax status, print a duplicate bill, pay it electronically on the spot, and then have the option of completing a customer service questionnaire at the end to rate our service and make suggestions for improvement, all on kiosks outside of our building, featuring instant and contactless service. We also have an express line so taxpayers whose payments are ready to go can simply place them in a drop box staffed by one of our customer service ambassadors at the street curb without even getting out of their cars.”
ATC is located at 268 W. Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please visit www.MyTaxCollector.com and follow ATC on social media, @SanBernardinoCountyATC, for the most up-to-date information.