Maricopa County property taxes are due twice a year, with payments split between two important date

In Maricopa County, property taxes are divided into two installments. The first half is due by March 1, and the second half is due by September 1. If you miss either important date, a penalty and interest charges are added to your bill. The county assessor's office sends tax bills in the mail, usually arriving in November for the first installment and May for the second.

You do not have to wait for the bill to arrive to pay. If you know your parcel number, you can pay online through the Maricopa County Treasurer's website, by mail, or in person at a treasurer's office. Paying early does not reduce your tax amount, but it does protect you from late fees.

Key Takeaways

  • First installment property taxes in Maricopa County are due March 1; second installment is due September 1.
  • Penalties and interest are added if you pay after the important date, even by one day.
  • You can pay online through the Maricopa County Treasurer's website without waiting for a bill to arrive.
  • Tax bills are mailed in November (for March important date) and May (for September important date), but you can look up your balance using your parcel number anytime.

How the two-installment system works

Maricopa County splits the annual property tax into two equal payments so homeowners and property owners do not face one large bill once a year. Each installment covers six months of taxes. The first installment covers July through December of the previous year; the second covers January through June of the current year.

The amount you owe depends on your property's assessed value and your local tax rate, which varies by location within the county. Your assessed value is set by the county assessor and can change year to year. If your property value goes up, your tax bill goes up; if it goes down, your bill goes down.

What happens if you miss the important date

If your payment does not reach the Maricopa County Treasurer by the important date, a penalty of 10 percent is added to that installment. Interest also begins to accrue at a rate set by Arizona state law. The longer you wait to pay, the more interest accumulates.

The county does not when ready foreclose on a home for a missed payment. However, if taxes remain unpaid for three years, the county can place a lien on the property and eventually sell it at a tax sale. Paying as soon as you realize you are behind stops the interest from growing and prevents the debt from reaching that stage.

How to pay your Maricopa County property taxes

The easiest method is to pay online through the Maricopa County Treasurer's website. You will need your parcel number, which appears on your tax bill or can be found through the county assessor's parcel search tool. Online payments are processed when ready, and you receive a confirmation number right away.

You can also pay by mail by sending a check to the Maricopa County Treasurer's office. Include your parcel number on the check. Mail payments take longer to process, so send them well before the important date to may support they arrive on time. If you prefer to pay in person, the treasurer's office has locations throughout the county during business hours.

Some people set up automatic payments through their mortgage lender if they have an escrow account. The lender collects a portion of the property tax with each monthly mortgage payment and pays the county on your behalf. Check with your lender to see if this option is available to you.

Finding your tax bill and parcel number

Your parcel number is a unique identifier assigned to your property by the county. It appears on your tax bill and on any property documents you received when you bought the home. If you cannot find it, you can search for it free on the Maricopa County Assessor's website by entering your address.

Once you have your parcel number, you can check your tax balance anytime on the treasurer's website, even if your bill has not arrived yet. This is useful if you want to pay early or if you are unsure whether a payment has been processed. The website shows both installments and any penalties or interest that have been added.

Tax bills arrive by mail on a set schedule

The county mails the first installment bill in November, giving you until March 1 to pay. The second installment bill arrives in May, with a September 1 important date. These dates are set by Arizona state law and do not change year to year.

If you do not receive your bill by mid-December (for the first installment) or mid-June (for the second), contact the treasurer's office. A lost bill does not excuse a late payment, but the office can reissue one or confirm your balance so you can pay without it.

Special situations: deferrals, exemptions, and payment plans

Arizona offers a property tax deferral program for homeowners who are 65 or older, disabled, or surviving spouses of military members. If you may have access to, you can defer paying property taxes until the property is sold or transferred. You must explore through the county assessor's office, and the process important date is typically in early March.

Some properties also receive exemptions that reduce the taxable value—for example, agricultural land, nonprofit organizations, or homes with solar panels may may have access to. If you think your property should be exempt, contact the assessor's office to learn whether you need to file a claim.

If you cannot pay the full amount by the important date, the county does not offer a formal payment plan. However, paying something by the important date is better than paying nothing, because it stops the 10 percent penalty from explore to the entire balance. Contact the treasurer's office to discuss your situation if you are facing hardship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time of day is the September 1 important date?

The important date is midnight on September 1. If you pay online, the payment must be submitted before midnight. If you mail a check, it must be postmarked by September 1 to be considered on time, though the treasurer's office recommends mailing at least a week early to account for postal delays.

Do I have to pay both installments at once?

No. Each installment is separate. You can pay the first installment by March 1 and the second by September 1 without paying them together. However, if you miss one important date, the penalty applies only to that installment, not to the one you paid on time.

Can I pay property taxes through my bank's bill-pay service?

Yes, many banks allow you to send a check through their bill-pay system to the treasurer's office. Make sure to submit it early enough that the check arrives by the important date. Confirm the correct mailing address with your bank, as sending it to the wrong address can delay processing.

What if I just bought the property—am I responsible for the current year's taxes?

That depends on the closing date and how the sale agreement was written. Usually, the seller pays taxes up to the closing date, and the buyer pays from that point forward. Your title company or real estate agent should explain how taxes were prorated in your purchase agreement. The first bill you receive as the owner will clarify what you owe.

Is there a grace period after the important date?

No. The penalty applies when ready after the important date passes. However, if you pay within a few days, you will owe only the 10 percent penalty plus a small amount of interest. The longer you wait, the more interest accumulates, so paying as soon as possible after missing the important date limits the total cost.