Delinquent Property Owners Get Final Warning Before Tax Sale
(Washington, DC) The Office of Tax and Revenue’s (OTR) annual Tax Sale auction will begin on July 10. In an effort to collect outstanding taxes before properties are sold at auction, OTR is mailing final notices to real property owners who are delinquent in paying their property taxes. The notices list real property tax delinquencies from tax year 2005.
Under District law, old liens must be satisfied before payment is accepted for the current real property tax bill. Property owners have until June 12 to pay their taxes in full, including penalties and interest, to prevent their property from being advertised for auction.
“We are making every effort to ensure that taxpayers are informed of all their liabilities and that they have ample opportunity to become current,” said Sherryl Hobbs Newman, deputy chief financial officer for tax and revenue. “Tax revenue is vital to supporting District services, and every property owner is responsible for paying what is owed.”
If a property is sold at the Tax Sale, the owner has up to the time of a court ordered tax deed to pay their back taxes and redeem the property. If the original owner redeems the property, the Tax Sale buyer will be reimbursed the purchase amount plus any additional costs.
