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| Property
Tax FAQ |
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| Some
important information for property owners |
| Public
Act 123 of 1999 shortens the amount of time property
owners have to pay their delinquent taxes before
losing their property. Property owners with taxes
that are two years delinquent will be foreclosed
and the property will be sold at public auction. |
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| DON'T
WAIT - PAY DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES NOW! |
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| Q:
If I don't pay my taxes, will I really lose my house
and property? |
| A:
YES. Property owners who had delinquent
taxes under the old law lost their property, but
they had more time to pay and more "second
chances". Under the new law, if your taxes
are delinquent for two years, that's it. You've
lost the property. |
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| Q:
What is a delinquent tax? |
| A:
A delinquent tax is a tax that has been forwarded
to the County Treasurer for collection on March
1 of the year after it was due. |
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| Q:
What happens after the property is forwarded to
the County Treasurer for collection? |
| A:
The County Treasurer adds a 4% administration fee
and interest of 1% per month. After one year, the
property is forfeited to the County Treasurer. |
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| Q:
What does it mean for my property to be in forfeiture?
Does that mean I lose my home? |
| A:
NO. Forfeiture is not foreclosure. If your property
is in forfeiture, you have a year before it will
be foreclosed. However, the interest and fees will
be higher. After a property is forfeited, the interest
rates go from 1% per month to 1.5% per month back
to the date taxes became delinquent. A $175 fee
is also added, plus other notification fees. |
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| Q:
What happens after my property is in forfeiture
? |
| A:
After a property has been in forfeiture for one
year it will be foreclosed to the State of Michigan. |
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| Q:
What happens after my property is foreclosed? How
do I get it back? |
| A:
You CANNOT get your property back
after it has been foreclosed. FORECLOSURE
IS FINAL. Property that has been foreclosed
will be sold by the State of Michigan at public
auction. |
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| Q:
What if I can’t come up with all the money
right now? |
| A:
Even if you can’t pay your taxes all at once,
you can still make partial payments. Make your check
payable to St. Joseph County Treasurer. To ensure
your payment is applied to your parcel, please write
your parcel number on your check or money order
and mail to P.O. Box 220, Centreville, MI 49032. |
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| Q:
Will partial payments keep my property from being
foreclosed? |
| A:
NO. The forfeited year must be
paid in full or the property will be foreclosed. |
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