If you own a home in Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish or Snoqualmie, put Monday, November 2, 2026, on your calendar. King County’s usual second-half property tax date is October 31. This year that falls on a Saturday, so the county’s published next-business-day rule moves the deadline to November 2. The Treasury FAQ explains the rule, and the county holiday calendar shows no November 2 closure.
The date matters, but the more useful question is who will actually make the payment. A mortgage statement, a closing statement and the county’s tax account can all describe different parts of the same transaction. Put them together before sending money or assuming the bill is covered.
Start with the parcel and the payment responsibility
Look up the exact tax account and the balance due. Match the parcel to your home, then check whether the full year was already paid. King County provides payment history through its online tax system. The county also cautions that payments take time to appear, including payments submitted by mortgage lenders. A balance on the screen today does not, by itself, establish that a scheduled payment failed.
If your mortgage includes escrow for taxes, confirm the planned disbursement with the servicer. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that the servicer uses this account to pay designated property expenses from money collected with your mortgage payment. Having money in escrow and having the county receive its payment are separate steps.
I would keep the confirmation number, the amount, the tax account number and the expected payment date together. If something does not match, those details make the conversation with the servicer or Treasury much more productive. Confirm the status before making a second payment.
A fall closing needs one coordinated answer
For a purchase or sale near the deadline, ask the closing professional to explain the actual tax disbursement and the buyer-seller adjustment on the settlement statement. Which amount is being sent to the county? Who is sending it? Has the seller’s mortgage servicer already scheduled a payment? What happens if the closing date changes?
A credit between buyer and seller should not be treated as proof that the county has been paid. Ask for the payment plan in writing and retain the final statement. The point is to resolve responsibility while everyone is still working on the transaction, rather than reconstruct it after the keys change hands.
For sellers, keep this property tax item distinct from the transaction costs discussed in what you keep from a Washington home sale. For buyers, include it in the closing checklist. Before November 2, you want a clear record of the amount, the payer and the confirmation you will use to verify completion.
AI-generated editorial illustration of household paperwork; no actual tax bill or property is shown.
Sources checked October 20, 2026.
