What if property taxes are not paid

To appeal, you must send a letter to a higher authority, asking for a new decision. It can be a simple letter. Ask someone to help you if you need help. Your written decision from the town should tell you where to send the letter. If it doesn't, call PTLA for help. Next, you will be told when and where and go to an appeal hearing. At the hearing, be prepared to talk about your income and budget. The people who hear your appeal have 60 days total from the date of your letter to make a new decision.

You can appeal the second decision to the Maine Superior Court. You must do this within 30 days after you got the second decision. If you do not receive this second written decision within 60 days, then your appeal is considered denied. In this case, your appeal deadline is 90 days from the date of your hearing.

If you've gotten this far and want to appeal again, call PTLA right away for help. Appeals to the Court are hard to do even if you have a lawyer.

Ask for help before it gets this far. If you don't get an abatement, and don't pay your property taxes, the town can start a property tax foreclosure on your property.

The first step they will take is filing a lien on your property. A property tax foreclosure is an automatic process. This means your town does not have to bring you to court to foreclose on your home. Eighteen months after your town files the tax lien with the registry of deeds the town owns your home.

But, the town must send you certain notices throughout the process. Your town has to send you a notice between 8 to 12 months after your taxes were originally due. That notice will demand payment within 30 days of sending you the notice. Your town can leave the notice at your home, or mail it certified mail return receipt requested. If you fail to pay your taxes within those 30 days then your town can put a lien on your home.

Your town must send you its last notice 30 to 45 days before the foreclosure date. The notice will tell you the exact date of the foreclosure. View Secured Property Tax due dates and penalties for late payment View Unsecured Property Tax due dates and penalties for late payment. To initiate an installment plan: Ask to set up a payment plan by contacting the Property Tax division by submitting a service request.

If eligible, a Redemption Installment Payment Plan Request form will be prepared and sent to you by email. Complete and sign the Plan Request form. Continue to pay current taxes coming due each year on or before the second installment delinquent date. Delinquency on any current taxes will cause the installment plan to default. Power to Sell. Request a Penalty Waiver.

Need Further Assistance? We simplify the law so you can get justice. Worried about doing this on your own? You may be able to get free legal help. Apply Online. Note: Covid is changing many areas of the law. Visit our Covid articles for the latest information. What happens if I don't pay my property taxes?

Displaying information for [ change ]. By Amanda Insalaco on January 20, Last reviewed. Last revised. Tax sale overview The tax sale process typically involves the following steps: 1.

Notice by U. Published notice of delinquent properties Next, the county collector will include your property in a list of properties with delinquent taxes that is published in a local newspaper.

Tax sale If you do not pay the taxes or apply for certificates of error before the date of the annual tax sale, the county may sell your unpaid taxes at a public auction. Redemption period After the unpaid taxes are sold to a tax buyer, you still have the right to redeem the taxes from the county clerk within 30 months.

This includes: Delinquent and current taxes, Interest, and Penalties plus costs. The interest, penalties, and administrative costs can be substantial. Tax deed If you do not redeem the taxes from the county clerk within the month deadline, the tax buyer can ask the court for a tax deed.

Eviction After it has a tax deed, the tax buyer can simply file a motion to evict you from the home in the same case in which it requested the tax deed.

What if I have a mortgage on the property? What if I have already lost my property to a tax buyer? When to apply for an award You must file a petition for indemnity within 10 years of the date the court issued the tax deed. How to apply for an award You must file a petition for indemnity with the court that issued the tax deed.

You should talk to an attorney for help in filing an indemnity petition. Legal Comment Legal Comment. Here is an article with more information. Taxes were sold on Income Property. Redemption period pending. Mortgage company filed for Foreclosure then withdrew, and the Company folded, and did not issue a release of mortgage. Can I quit claim property to a c Company?

The former has been sold.