1. If I don't pay my taxes, will I really lose my house and property?

YES. If your taxes are delinquent for three years, the property will be foreclosed and title will transfer to the County. (example: 2016 delinquent tax is foreclosed March 31, 2019)

2. What is a delinquent tax?

A delinquent tax is a tax that has been turned over to the County Treasurer for collection on March 1 of the year after it was due (example: 2018 summer tax billed July 1st, and 2018 winter tax billed December 1st, will be turned over to County Treasurer on March 1st 2019)

3. What happens after the property is forwarded to the County Treasurer for collection?

The County Treasurer adds a 4% administration fee and interest of 1% per month. After one year, the property is forfeited to the County Treasurer.

4. What does it mean for my property to be in forfeiture?

Forfeiture is not foreclosure. If your property is in forfeiture, you still have a year before it will be foreclosed. However, the interest and fees will be substantially higher. When a property is forfeited, the interest rate goes from 1% per month to 1.5% per month, back to the date the taxes became delinquent. A $175 fee is also added.

5. What happens after my property is foreclosed? How do I get it back?

YOU CANNOT GET YOUR PROPERTY BACK AFTER IT HAS BEEN FORECLOSED. FORECLOSURE IS FINAL. PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN FORECLOSED WILL BE SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION.

6. Will I receive any notification before my property is foreclosed?

Yes. Five notifications will be made. Two will be by first class mail, two by certified mail and the last notification will be made by personal visit to the property. In addition to these notifications, names and addresses of delinquent property owners may be published in the newspaper.

7. If I don't pay my 2006 taxes, I guess I really don't have to worry about losing my property until 2009. Why not wait and pay my taxes then?

DON'T WAIT!
Forfeiture and foreclosure fees are significant. Other means of financing will probably be less costly. Delays only make paying delinquent taxes extremely burdensome.