Posted dateMarch 03, 2010 Comment
  • I live in FL and my girlfriend's parents were nice enough to buy us a house. It's totally paid for but the property tax is about $4,000 a year. Money has been tight and we haven't been able to save much. We didn't pay last year's tax. Now this year's is coming and we're looking at $8,000. Obviously we'll be able to get caught up, but it may be years down the line. I just want to know what happens if we can't pay again this year. Can the IRS or state tax collector come and take our house? Any help or links would be greatly appreciated as I'm seriously stressed!


  • I hate to tell you, but this is a problem.

    Most states have rules that state that if you don't pay your taxes within a certain amount of time, the treasurer can enforce a tax lien and get a treasurer's deed on your house. Which, in English, means that you lose your house.

    The amount of time before this occurs can vary by state... some states it's as low as 6 months, some states it's 6 years. I just looked up Florida and the period is 2 years. Now, usually you get a last chance before they go and take your house, but if you haven't paid your property tax in 2 years, you should probably do whatever it takes to at least go and pay off the property tax for the earliest year you owe on. I mean, take out a HELOC, beg mom and dad, do SOMETHING.

    Sorry to break the bad news...


  • It sounds like if you keep putting off paying those taxes, you stand to lose the house to the tax office and might have the house sold from under you. It's like having a car repossessed for non-payments which sort of apply the same way here. You could try to call the IRS in your state and try to work out something or you could try taking out a loan and paying those taxes off. If you plan to keep the house, which may not be in your best interest because of the high expenses, you might have to get some help on getting a budget together so that you are able to pay future taxes.

    Another thing to consider is selling the house to pay the $8,000+ that you owe. If the home has appreciated in value, you will have some money to show for keeping the property and later selling it. With that money, you can buy a smaller property that's easier to maintain, besides being easier on your pocket, tax-wise. Here's a link to a similiar situation like your own:

    http://www.ableinspector.com/News?ID=724...

    Good luck and hope things turn out for the better.


  • It may be sold at a tax auction. I know money can be tight but come on. You have a free house and do not have to pay rent. Property taxes of 4000 means a rent cost of 333 per month. Most people pay much more than that in rent.


  • It won't be the IRS and probably not the state, since property tax is more local than that, but eventually, probably pretty soon if you're up to the third year without making payments, your house WILL be taken and sold because of the back taxes.

    You have a FREE house, and can't even come up with $333 a month to pay the taxes? Sounds like you need to reexamine your spending priorities. If they hadn't bought you the house, and you were paying rent, you'd probably need to spend more than that for the rent - and will if your house is taken.

    Call the tax collector's office and try to make arrangements for a payment plan. That, or call and check on the prices of U-Haul vans to move.


  • can you say bye bye house
    The state will sell it for the property taxes


  • Your house could be sold by the taxing authority to pay your back taxes. Contact them (your local or state tax collector) and find out how long you have before your house is sold.

    The IRS would not take your house unless you owed income taxes.


  • After 2 years of nonpayment, a stranger can pay your tax. If you don't pay for another 3 years, they can go to court to get the deed to your house. If they wait 5 more years (7 total) , they don't have to go to court for the deed..







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