Tax Help

Welcome… We hope the information contained here will help you come up with a solution concerning your delinquent tax situation. To be clear, what follows is in no way legal advice; and the information contained herein was found through personal experience and on the county websites. 

We will recommend solutions which might steer you in the right direction; but in no way is it conclusive. And, if need be, don’t hesitate to call or email us with comments or questions. 

How does a Tax Deed Sale work in Clermont or Hamilton Counties:

• Any time after one year of not paying property taxes, the county’s Prosecuting Attorney begins the foreclosure process.
• After the complaint is filed, a summons is delivered to the taxpayer by certified mail which the taxpayer has 28 days to respond.
• If the taxpayer does not respond in the 28-day period, a judgment is filed.
• If the situation remains unresolved, an order of sale is placed on the house by the Sheriff, who schedules a sale date.
• The local newspaper will advertise the sale date three consecutive weeks prior to the sale. 
• If no action is taken by the taxpayer before and up to the date of sale, an auction takes place and the highest bidder is awarded the house. Any mortgages, liens, etc. are wiped out.
• After your house is sold at a foreclosure auction, you will be evicted.

However, after the Tax Deed Sale,  there is a Redemption Period up to 90 Days
Note: Interest and penalties continue to add up the longer the taxes go unpaid. (The sheriff must inform the court within 60 days of the sale. The court then has 30 days to confirm the sale.) This process could take anywhere from a couple of days to the full 90 days. The time between the sale and the court’s confirmation is called the redemption period. During the redemption period, you have the legal right to buy your home back for the sale price plus any fees incurred during the foreclosure process.

Although you have up to 90 days to reclaim ownership,  just be aware that the court controls the time; so tax sale foreclosures work faster than bank foreclosures and more than likely the court will confirm the sale faster…then the redemptive period is over.

How does a Tax Deed Sale work in Hamilton County:

Tax Deed Sales work almost the same way as in Clermont County with one exception: during the waiting period of one year before a foreclosure begins, the county has a Tax Lien Sale to keep generating income from property taxes. What this means is the tax lien on the property is assigned to a buyer of said lien who is paid interest. The buyer can hold the tax lien for up to three years until it is paid off by the homeowner or the property is sold by the sheriff.

To understand this process, click the link above, which will take you to the Hamilton County Treasures webpage.

Remedies Available Before the Tax Deed Sale in Clermont County 

• Delinquent Contracts Ohio Revised Code Section 323.31 outlines provisions for a Delinquent Tax Contract which may be established by the Clermont County Treasurer, enabling a taxpayer to make scheduled delinquent installments on real property tax and permits a minimum of two years to pay off the prior delinquency. 

Voiding a Delinquent Tax Contract may subject the property back to foreclosure proceedings; so click the link above to understand the requirements on the Treasury’s website.

• Save the Dream Ohio – Utility Assistance Plus provides eligible Ohio homeowners experiencing pandemic-related financial hardship up to $10,000 in assistance to prevent utility service disconnection and/or prevent defaults on non-escrowed property taxes or homeowner fees. Who is eligible for utility assistance? If you think you might qualify, click the link above to understand the program in detail.

• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy also known as a wage earner’s plan, is a federal law that allows people with regular income to restructure their debts and pay them off over time. It’s intended for people who have enough financial resources to make full or partial payments to creditors, but can’t afford to pay their debts in full. Chapter 13 can help debtors keep their property and avoid foreclosure, wage garnishment, and lawsuits from creditors. If you think you might need time to reorganize your affairs but need time in doing so and want the court’s protection, click the link above and find how Chapter 13 works.

• Last Ditch Effort – You can sell your property. If you list it with a Realtor, you must factor in the high commissions, the fix up-costs, the in-convenient of multiple showings, and most importantly… the time it takes to sell.

     If you sell to a Private Investor for a quick sale, you don’t have to worry about the repair costs, the delinquent taxes, behind payments, and multi showings. 

Call or email if you want or need help in any way. All communication will be confidential and there is no obligation.