Indiana splits your annual property tax bill into two equal installments. You already cleared the spring deadline back on May 11. The second half — the fall installment — is due November 10, 2026, statewide. Missing it is more expensive and more consequential than most homeowners realize, and the clock toward a tax sale starts ticking from there.
This guide covers the fall installment specifically: the deadline, the penalty math, partial payments, escrow handling, and the path that delinquency takes if the bill goes unpaid.
The Two-Installment System
Indiana mails one tax statement that lists both installments. The amounts are typically split evenly between spring and fall, both drawn from the same annual liability.
| Installment | 2026 Due Date | Typical share of annual bill |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | May 11, 2026 | Half |
| Fall | November 10, 2026 | Half |
A common and costly misconception is that paying the spring half "covers you for the year." It does not. The fall installment is a separate obligation with its own deadline and its own penalty structure. For the full calendar and how the dates are set, see when Indiana property taxes are due.
The November 10 Deadline
The fall installment is due November 10, 2026. Payment must be received or postmarked by that date. Counties accept payment several ways — in person, by mail, online, and via drop boxes — but the responsibility to meet the deadline is yours regardless of method.
Warning
Do not assume a payment is "in" just because you mailed it. A late postmark is a late payment. If November 10 is close, pay online or in person and keep the confirmation. The penalty applies the day after the deadline, not at the end of some grace month.
The 5% / 10% Penalty Structure
Indiana's late penalty is not a flat fee — it depends on how late you are and your parcel's recent payment history.
- 5% penalty applies if you pay the overdue installment within 30 days of the due date and there is no prior delinquency on the parcel.
- 10% penalty applies otherwise — meaning you paid more than 30 days late, or the parcel already carried a delinquency.
So the practical takeaways are: if you miss November 10, paying within the following 30 days on an otherwise-clean parcel limits the damage to 5%. Let it slide past 30 days, or already owe from a prior period, and the penalty doubles to 10%.
A quick comparison
| Scenario | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Paid within 30 days, no prior delinquency | 5% |
| Paid after 30 days | 10% |
| Parcel already delinquent | 10% |
These penalties stack on top of the tax owed and accrue against the parcel, not just the person.
Partial Payments
Counties generally accept partial payments toward what you owe. A partial payment does not erase the deadline or stop penalties on the unpaid balance, but it does reduce the principal that penalties are calculated against and shrinks the amount that could eventually be certified to a tax sale. If you cannot pay the full fall installment, paying what you can is materially better than paying nothing. Contact your county treasurer about arrangements before the deadline.
What Leads to a Tax Sale
Penalties are the first consequence, not the last. Continued non-payment moves a parcel toward Indiana's tax sale process. Delinquent parcels can be certified to the county tax sale, where the tax lien is offered to satisfy the unpaid amount. This does not happen overnight, and there are redemption rights along the way, but it is the destination of an ignored balance.
The full mechanics — certification, the sale itself, the redemption period, and how to get out — are laid out in our Indiana tax sale process guide. If you are behind, read it before the situation escalates.
Escrow and Mortgage Handling
If you have a mortgage with an escrow account, your servicer typically pays both installments directly from escrow, and you should not pay the county yourself — doing so can create a double payment. But "typically" is not "always."
- Confirm the payment posted. Check your county treasurer's online record after November 10 to verify the fall installment shows as paid.
- Watch the first year after a refinance or sale, when escrow accounts are most prone to gaps.
- If escrow failed to pay, the penalty still lands on the parcel. Contact your servicer immediately and document everything.
Your tax statement shows whether a mortgage company is the billed party. If you are unsure how to read it, our guide on how to read your Indiana property tax bill breaks down every line.
Find Your Property
The fastest way to confirm what you owe and whether it has been paid is to look up your parcel. Start at the Indiana property explorer or open your county directly — for example, Marion County — to see assessed value and tax detail.
Our property lookup tool pulls your parcel record in seconds, and if your bill is high because your assessment is wrong, our tax appeal service can address the root cause rather than just the deadline.
For the official statewide due-date reference, see the DLGF property tax due dates page.