San Bernardino County officials are giving residents a friendly heads-up, as the second installment of property taxes comes due, urging property owners to be extra careful about how they submit their payments.
Ensen Mason, the county’s Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector, says the warning comes after multiple reports of mailed property tax checks being stolen, altered, and fraudulently cashed. Similar cases were recently highlighted by ABC7 in Santa Clara County, where homeowners discovered their checks had been intercepted and changed before being deposited by thieves. In those cases, neither the banks nor the county reimbursed the victims. San Bernardino County has received reports of comparable activity.
When this happens, the consequences can be serious. Homeowners may not receive credit for their payment and are still responsible for the original tax bill, along with any penalties and added fees. Even when fraud is suspected, recovering funds from an altered check can be extremely difficult.
With deadlines approaching, Mason is encouraging residents to consider online payment options instead of mailing checks. “Mailing a check carries risk,” he said, noting there is no guarantee it will arrive safely. If a payment is lost or stolen, taxpayers may face penalties and interest on top of the financial loss. Paying online, he added, is both safer and more convenient.
While the U.S. Postal Service is generally reliable, mailed payments—especially those dropped in unsecured mailboxes or blue collection boxes—can be vulnerable to theft. Fraud isn’t the only concern; mail can occasionally be delayed or lost altogether.
For timing, the second installment of property taxes was technically due February 1, but residents have until April 10 to pay without penalty. Payments received after 5:00 p.m., on April 10, will incur a 10% penalty, plus a $10 cost.
If you’re weighing your options, here’s a quick checklist of why the county recommends paying online:
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Free when paid directly from a bank account (credit and debit cards may include a fee)
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Secure, encrypted payment processing
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Immediate confirmation and receipt
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No risk of mail theft or delivery delays
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Available 24/7 from a computer or mobile device
Secure online payments, along with answers to common questions, are available through the county’s tax collector website, www.sbcountyatc.gov, operated by the San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector.
County officials say their goal is to protect taxpayers while making the process as straightforward as possible. “We have worked hard to provide a secure, easy-to-use system that protects taxpayers and makes paying your tax bill a little less taxing,” ATC Ensen Mason added. “Our highest priority is protecting public assets while delivering the best possible service to the public.”
As the deadline nears, residents are encouraged to choose the method that best fits their situation and gives them peace of mind.