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Delinquent land tax can quickly become a serious situation. To help you avoid a lien on your property, follow these steps.
Step 1 – Pay Your Delinquent Land Tax
The only way to stop a lien on your land for nonpayment of taxes is to pay the amount of the taxes due. Contact your county taxing authority (their phone number is on the notice or on your tax bill) and make arrangements to pay. Many county tax collectors websites are able to take payments via credit card. Or you may prefer to pay in person at the tax collector’s office. Make sure to get your receipt.
Step 2 – File an Appeal or Reduction Request
This is a process you can undertake if you have evidence to support overtaxing of your land. The downside of this is that it is a long process and if you haven’t paid your delinquent land tax by now, it may be too late to stop the lien for nonpayment of taxes. Call the county treasurer’s office or taxing authority to get more information on when/how to file an appeal or reduction request.
Step 3 – Request an Extension
You can prevent a lien against your property by requesting an extension from the taxing authority. But you are still liable for the taxes, so you’ll need to make arrangements to pay what’s due.
Step 4 – Notify Taxing Authority if You Haven’t Received Your Tax Bill
If you didn’t receive your tax bill, contact the taxing authority to request a substitute bill. While this won’t eliminate your requirement to pay your delinquent tax, it may help you if you’re requesting an extension.
Step 5 – Find Out When Delinquent Land Tax Becomes Tax Defaulted
Contact the county taxing authority to find out all due dates for taxes and when delinquent taxes become tax defaulted property subject to power of sale. This period of time varies according to state. In California, for example, the land or property owner has 5 years for the taxes in delinquency before it goes into a tax default status. You may be able to apply for a continuation, if available in your taxing authority, during certain time periods (for example, by June 30 of the fifth year of delinquency).
Step 1 – Pay Your Delinquent Land Tax
The only way to stop a lien on your land for nonpayment of taxes is to pay the amount of the taxes due. Contact your county taxing authority (their phone number is on the notice or on your tax bill) and make arrangements to pay. Many county tax collectors websites are able to take payments via credit card. Or you may prefer to pay in person at the tax collector’s office. Make sure to get your receipt.
Step 2 – File an Appeal or Reduction Request
This is a process you can undertake if you have evidence to support overtaxing of your land. The downside of this is that it is a long process and if you haven’t paid your delinquent land tax by now, it may be too late to stop the lien for nonpayment of taxes. Call the county treasurer’s office or taxing authority to get more information on when/how to file an appeal or reduction request.
Step 3 – Request an Extension
You can prevent a lien against your property by requesting an extension from the taxing authority. But you are still liable for the taxes, so you’ll need to make arrangements to pay what’s due.
Step 4 – Notify Taxing Authority if You Haven’t Received Your Tax Bill
If you didn’t receive your tax bill, contact the taxing authority to request a substitute bill. While this won’t eliminate your requirement to pay your delinquent tax, it may help you if you’re requesting an extension.
Step 5 – Find Out When Delinquent Land Tax Becomes Tax Defaulted
Contact the county taxing authority to find out all due dates for taxes and when delinquent taxes become tax defaulted property subject to power of sale. This period of time varies according to state. In California, for example, the land or property owner has 5 years for the taxes in delinquency before it goes into a tax default status. You may be able to apply for a continuation, if available in your taxing authority, during certain time periods (for example, by June 30 of the fifth year of delinquency).
