| Question: |
When are property taxes in Arizona due? |
| Answer: |
Property taxes are billed in September and are payable in two installments. The first installment is due on October 1, delinquent after November 1, and the second installment is due on March 1 of the next calendar year, delinquent after May 1st. |
|
| Question: |
What happens when property taxes become delinquent? |
| Answer: |
Delinquent property taxes accrue interest at an annual rate of 16% simple interest prorated monthly. In addition, when a property tax lien is listed for sale there are advertising fees ($5.00 or 5% whichever is greater) plus sale fees. |
|
| Question: |
Where can I get a list of delinquent taxes? |
| Answer: |
Contact the County Treasurer for a list of delinquent taxes. |
|
| Question: |
What are tax lien certificates? |
| Answer: |
They are a first lien on the real estate. Buyers are provided a listing of all certificates purchased. |
|
| Question: |
How does someone acquire a tax lien certificate? |
| Answer: |
At the public auction conducted each February. The auction is called a Tax Lien Certificate Sale. |
|
| Question: |
When is the Tax Sale and where will the sale be held? |
| Answer: |
Contact the County Treasurer for specific dates and places each year. |
|
| Question: |
Who may participate in the Tax Certificate Sale? |
| Answer: |
Anyone. To participate in the sale a bidder must register with the Treasurer’s office. A person must visit the office and complete a Bidder Information card. The Office requires your legal name, the name of a contact person, a valid mailing address, current phone number, email address, and Tax ID number. |
|
| Question: |
Will your office research parcel information for me? |
| Answer: |
No, the tax lien holder is responsible for their own due diligence. We recommend you utilize Parcel Inquiry through the County Treasurer’s web page or Assessor’s web page for parcel information. |
|
| Question: |
Where may I obtain copies of the Arizona Revised Statutes that pertain to the tax liens? |
| Answer: |
Statutes are available online (Title 42, Chapter 18, beginning with Article 3) http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=25 |
|
| Question: |
How does the holder of the certificate receive the interest income? |
| Answer: |
The Treasurer remits the principal (face amount of certificate) and the interest earnings if the property taxes are paid by the owner or an agent. |
|
| Question: |
Can interest rates be changed after the bid? |
| Answer: |
If a certificate should be cancelled or reduced, the interest earned will be 10% per year, simple interest or the rate of interest bid at the tax certificate sale, whichever is less on the cancelled or reduced amount. Bankruptcy rulings may also affect interest rates. |
|
| Question: |
Why would a certificate be cancelled or reduced? |
| Answer: |
To correct errors, omissions, or double assessments and when ordered by a court. |
|
| Question: |
Are tax sale certificates transferable? |
| Answer: |
Certificates may be transferred by completing an endorsement form and paying the applicable fee prior to redemption. |
|
| Question: |
What about tax certificates issued to the state? |
| Answer: |
State held tax certificates, may be acquired by individuals after the close of the tax sale. The Treasurer’s Office will announce the date(s) these certificates become available on the main page of our website. |
|
| Question: |
What is the life of a tax certificate? |
| Answer: |
Certificates are dated as of the date the purchase was made. Ten years later, if the purchaser has taken no additional action to foreclose the tax lien, the lien expires and is voided. No payments will be made to the purchaser. A purchaser may initiate a Judicial Foreclosure action after three years from the initial purchase date. |
|
| Question: |
What is the tax deed process? |
| Answer: |
Any certificate holder including the County may file an Action to Foreclose in the Superior Court Maricopa County three years from the date of the sale. |
|
| Question: |
How do we find out what tax liens were not purchased? |
| Answer: |
The STATE CP REPORT will be available for public viewing in our customer service area or you can purchase a CD containing this list for $50.00 after the sale. |
|
| Question: |
How are we notified when liens have been redeemed? |
| Answer: |
You should receive a Monthly Activity Statement from the County Treasurer’s office on the third business day of each month and to ONLY those buyers that have activity in that month. For those paperless buyers, the Treasurer’s Office usually processes the refund check the same day or following business day. Contact the County Treasurer directly for more specific information. |
|
| Question: |
Who can redeem a tax lien? |
| Answer: |
The owner of the property or any other person or entity that has an interest in the property can redeem prior to the issuance of the Treasurer’s Deed? |
|
| Question: |
How long does a tax lien foreclosure take? |
| Answer: |
The foreclosure process can take anywhere from three months to two years to complete. It all depends on the specific details of the parcel. Some things that effect the duration include number of interested parties, whether we are able to locate the parties and the time parameters of the court. |
|
| Question: |
How much will a tax lien foreclosure cost? |
| Answer: |
The cost to foreclose varies with each parcel. There are specific amounts that are set, i.e. filing fees, recording fees and Deed fees; however, service of process fees and publication fees vary. In a simple, one owner case, costs typically are estimated to be around $1,000.00. Attorney’s fees vary according to time spent on each case. In a routine, non-complicated lawsuit, attorney’s fees are estimated to be around $2,500.00. |
|
| Question: |
How can I initiate foreclosure on my tax liens? |
| Answer: |
Contact Carolyn at (cmurphy@bkdpblaw.com).
|