Due dates, escrow and what happens if you fall behind
When property taxes are typically due, how mortgage escrow handles them, and the consequences of delinquency.
Updated Oct 24, 2026
Due dates vary widely
Some jurisdictions bill once a year, others in two or four installments, on calendar or fiscal-year schedules. Always confirm the dates with your local collector.
Escrow accounts
If you have a mortgage, the servicer often collects one-twelfth of the estimated annual tax with each payment and pays the bill for you. Changes in the tax can cause an escrow shortage or surplus and adjust your monthly payment.
That is why the median tax for owners with a mortgage can differ from owners without one — both are shown on each county page.
Delinquency and liens
Unpaid taxes accrue interest and penalties and become a lien that has priority over most other claims. In many states the lien can be sold or the property eventually forced to sale, so address a shortfall early with the collector.