PLACERVILLE, Calif. —
El Dorado County officials are alerting residents to a significant change in U.S. Postal Service procedures that could impact whether property tax payments are considered on time.
Sean M. Coppola, the county’s Treasurer-Tax Collector, announced that effective Dec. 24, 2025, the United States Postal Service revised its definition of a postmark. Under the new rule, a postmark reflects the date a piece of mail is first processed by USPS automated equipment—not the date it is dropped off at a post office or placed in a mailbox.
Previously, postmarks generally corresponded with the date of mailing, offering taxpayers a clearer safeguard when submitting payments close to deadlines.
“This change means taxpayers mailing payments near the deadline could risk being late,” Coppola said in a statement. “It is highly recommended if making payments near the delinquency date that taxpayers take the envelope to a post office counter and request a manual postmark from the clerk. This service is free of charge.”
The advisory comes as the second installment of secured property taxes for El Dorado County remains payable without penalty until April 10, 2026. Payments received after that date will incur a 10 percent penalty, as mandated by California law.
County officials emphasize that relying on last-minute mailing—once a common practice—now carries increased risk under the updated USPS policy. Delays in processing, even by a day, could result in penalties regardless of when the payment was physically mailed.
Taxpayers are encouraged to plan ahead by mailing payments early, requesting a hand-cancelled postmark at the counter, or using online payment options available through the county.
Payments, account information, and copies of tax bills can be accessed through the county’s official website:
https://www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov/Services/My-Property/Pay-Your-Property-Taxes
For additional assistance, residents may contact the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office at (530) 621-5800 or by email at taxcollector@edcgov.us
