DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTION-FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS
WALLOWA COUNTY
FIRST THREE YEARS OF DELINQUENCY
Property taxes may be paid in three installments, on November 15 of the current tax year, February 15, and May 15. Any real property tax amount remaining unpaid on May 16th is delinquent.
For example, property taxes can be paid in full by November 15th or in three installments: November 15th, February 15th, and May 15th. Any tax remaining unpaid as of May 16th are delinquent.
May 15th of the following year they are one year delinquent;
May 15th of the next year they are two years delinquent;
May 15th of the year after they are three years delinquent.
The property would be subject to foreclosure when the taxes are three years delinquent.
You will receive notices to tell you about the foreclosure process.
1. The tax statement you get each year shows delinquent taxes, and the current years taxes. Also on the statement is the delinquent year which causes the property to be subject to foreclosure.
2. If the tax on your property is unpaid after May 15th of any year, you will get a delinquency notice telling you the date after which foreclosure proceedings will begin.
NOTIFICATION PROCESS
1st Notice - 5/16 Delinquency notice
After the property becomes (3) three years delinquent, the foreclosure notification process begins.
2nd Notice - 6/16 Courtesy notice with required payment dates to avoid publication
3rd Notice - 7/10 Required notice prior to publication - all properties with 3 years delinquent tax are notified.
Dates vary from year to year
August 1st is the last day to pay taxes with a personal check.
Payments made after this date must be in the form of cash, money order, or cashier’s check. No personal or business checks will be accepted.
This is the last day to pay to avoid publication of a delinquent tax in a paper of general circulation.
You can avoid publication by paying the full tax and interest of the taxes delinquent for 3 or more years.
Last day to pay to avoid the 5% penalty. The payment must be received in our office not postmarked. The property will still be published unless actually received.
After the foreclosure list is given to the newspaper for publication, you can remove your property from the foreclosure list by paying the full tax and interest for taxes delinquent for three or more years, plus the 5% penalty.
If you believe your property should not be part of the foreclosure process, you must file your reasons with the court within 30 days of publication.
Judgment will be taken 30 days after the publication.
2 YEAR REDEMPTION PERIOD
Once Judgment and Decree is granted by the circuit court the two year redemption period commences. To get your property back during this period you must pay all taxes and interest for all years shown on the judgment and decree, the 5 percent penalty, 9% interest on the judgment, plus a $50.00 lien holder fee is assessed in the first year of redemption. Partial payments are not accepted. Only the following persons can redeem the property:
1. A person with recorded legal interest in the property at the date of judgment and decree,
2. An heir or devisee of a person with a legal interest in the property,
3. A holder of a lien of record on the property, such as a mortgage company,
4. A municipal corporation with a lien on the property, such as a city or sewer district.
Not later than one year before the redemption period expires, notification is sent by regular and certified mail that the period of redemption will end. The tax collector is responsible for providing this notice.
The taxpayer keeps possession of the property up to the time the tax collector deeds the property to the county. If the property is damaged or destroyed in any way during the period of redemption, it may be immediately acquired by the tax collector.
COUNTY ACQUIRES DEED
At the end of the redemption period the tax collector deeds the property to the county. All taxes are canceled and the property is removed from the tax roll. The taxpayer’s ownership rights are terminated at this point. The taxpayer may ask the county commissioners to sell the property back at a private sale. The board may do so, but does not have to.
The property becomes part of the county’s lands and can be sold at public auction to the highest bidder. Wallowa County rarely has homes that reach the point of the county acquiring the deed. The type of property normally acquired are small strips or property that has some other problem which diminishes use and value.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TAX FORECLOSED PROPERTY
TIME AND DATES OF AUCTIONS.
If an auction is to be held, it will be held in July or August of each year, if there is enough property to warrant a sale. The Wallowa County Sheriff holds the auction.
WHERE AND WHEN THE AUCTIONS ARE ADVERTISED
Auctions will be advertised in the Wallowa County Chieftain, for four (4) consecutive weeks prior to the sale.
DO I HAVE TO BE PRESENT AT THE AUCTION?
In order to bid at the auction you or someone representing you must be present.
TYPE OF PAYMENT REQUIRED.
Cash or certified check, the day of the sale. The county does not have financing available. In addition to the sale price there will be a separate fee for recording the Deed.
ARE ALL LIENS CLEARED FROM THE PROPERTY?
The County shall not warrant or defend the fee simple title of real property offered for sale to be free of defects of encumbrances, but will only sell and convey such title as the County has acquired by foreclosure. Conveyance is subject to recorded easements of the United States or Government Agency thereof.
DOES THE COUNTY KEEP A MAILING LIST OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN PROPERTY?
The County does not keep a mailing list. If you are interested in property you may call each June or July to see if an auction is being held or you may subscribe to the Wallowa County Chieftain.
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