Real Estate tax sales in Southeastern Pennsylvania counties (other than Philadelphia) are held in September of each year. Unpaid real estate taxes become delinquent on January 1st of the year following the year when the taxes are due (for example, 1999 taxes became delinquent on January 1, 2000). The taxing authorities return a claim for unpaid taxes to the County Tax Claim Bureau by April 1st. The Tax Claim Bureau acts as the agent for the taxing authorities in a county. Delinquent taxes can be paid only to the Tax Claim Bureau, not to the local tax collectors. Interest is charged at the rate of 9 percent per year.
A notice of the tax claim is sent to the owner by certified mail by July 31st of the year after the taxes are due. The tax claim becomes absolute on the following January 1st, but may be discharged until July 1st of the following year. The redemption period runs until the property is sold at the public sale in September.
The Tax Sale
Upset tax sales are scheduled in September at the county courthouse for unpaid township or borough, county and school district real estate taxes. The sales in 2000 will usually be for unpaid 1998 taxes. Notice of the sale is given by publication in a legal publication and in two papers of general circulation at least 30 days prior to the sale. The Tax Claim Bureau gives written notice to each owner by certified mail. The property must be posted at least ten days prior to the sale. Mortgagees and other lienholders do not receive personal notice of either the tax claim or the tax sale. A tax sale will not divest prior unpaid liens of record, such as mortgages and judgments. The sale will, however, divest liens of all taxes and municipal claims which are included in the upset price. There is no right of redemption after the property is sold at tax sale.
Removal From Sale
The owner or any lien creditor may, prior to the sale, pay the delinquent taxes in full to discharge the tax claim. Alternately, the owner or any lien creditor may enter into an agreement with the Tax Claim Bureau to pay the taxes, charges and interest in installments. The terms of an installment agreement require an initial payment of twenty-five percent of the amount due on tax claims filed and an agreement to pay the balance in three subsequent installments, all within one year.
Upset Tax Sale
The upset price is the minimum price for which the property may be sold. It includes the claim for delinquent real estate taxes, corporation tax claims of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, municipal claims and costs of notice and sale. Real estate taxes for the current year will usually be added. Property may be sold at or above the upset price at a public auction sale conducted by the Tax Claim Bureau.
The purchaser must pay the entire purchase price on the day of the sale. There are no restrictions concerning who may bid at the public sale. The purchaser is required to pay real estate transfer taxes on the Tax Claim deed based on the fair market value of the property.
Within thirty days after the sale, the Tax Claim Bureau sends written notice of the sale to the owner. Within sixty days of the sale, the Bureau files a petition for confirmation of the sales by the court. The owner may file objections to the confirmation of sale within thirty days following confirmation. The objections may question the regularity or legality of the sale, including notice of the sale, but may not raise the legality of the taxes. After the court has confirmed the sale, the Tax Claim Bureau executes and records a deed for the property to the successful bidder. While Tax Claim deeds are valid, some title insurance companies will not insure them, so it may be necessary for the purchaser to file an action to quiet title against the former owner to get insurable title.
Federal Tax Liens
If there are federal tax liens against the property, there are important considerations which must be addressed prior to the tax sale concerning the rights of the Internal Revenue Service.
Warning to Mortgagees
If a mortgagee purchases the mortgaged property at a tax sale, there may also be an issue whether the acceptance of a Tax Claim deed has the effect of extinguishing the mortgage because the mortgage may be merged in the new tax claim deed. The mortgagee should clearly express its intention not to merge the mortgage into the tax title.
Dates of Sales
The dates for this year's upset tax sales in the Southeastern Pennsylvania counties are as follows:
Berks County (Reading), Sept. 26 - 9:30 a.m.
Bucks County (Doylestown), Sept. 19 - 10:00 a.m.
Chester County (West Chester), Sept. 28 - 10:00 a.m.
Delaware County (Media), Sept. 11 - 10:00 a.m.
Lancaster County (Lancaster), Sept. 18 - 10:00 a.m.
Lehigh County (Allentown), Sept. 13 - 10:00 a.m.
Montgomery County (Norristown), Sept. 18 - 8:30 a.m.
Northampton County (Easton), Oct. 30 - 2:00 p.m.
The statements contained in this Update are intended for general information and do not constitute legal advice
This Update was prepared by Miles H. Shore, Esquire, a partner in the Litigation Department. If you have any questions , or would like additional information about real estate tax sales, please contact Miles H. Shore at (215) 972-7764 or email: mshore@saul.com.
Pennsylvania Real Estate Upset Tax Sales Bill
This article was edited and reviewed by FindLaw Attorney Writers | Last reviewed March 26, 2008
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