Tax Claim Bureau

The Tax Claim Bureau conducts upset, judicial and private sales of unpaid real-estate tax properties during the year.

    Upset Sale: Properties exposed at the upset sale are offered together with any mortgages, judgments or non-tax liens. Properties offered are sold at a bid equal to or higher than the amount of outstanding taxes, bureau costs and any municipal liens. An upset sale becomes final after confirmation by the Court of Common Pleas.

    Judicial Sale: Properties not sold at the upset sale become eligible for judicial sale. The Bureau makes a current owner title search. All known holders of mortgages, judgments or liens are notified that, by order of the Court of Common Pleas, the property will be offered for sale divested of all mortgages, judgments and liens.

    Repository Sale: Properties not sold at judicial sale are placed in a "repository" status. This in effect is a bank of unsold properties. The Bureau may host a sale of these properties at the discretion of our Solicitor.

All sales will be advertised on the website.
 

Unpaid taxes are filed in the Tax Claim Bureau Jan. 15 of each year. Once taxes are filed with the Bureau, partial payments can be paid. If a tax is unpaid after two years with the Bureau and three years after it was issued, the property is exposed to the annual upset sale.

In order to stay the sale of owner occupied property, the owner can enter into an agreement with the Tax Claim Bureau. The owner would pay 25% down in cash, followed by three (3) additional payments.

In order to assure that property owners are aware of the potential sale of their real estate, the Bureau sends certified restricted notification, posts the premises and advertises the properties in local papers.
 

  What are real estate taxes?

    Real estate taxes are imposed by three taxing authorities: 1) by your local Township/Borough Government; 2) by your local School District; and 3) by the County of Greene. Taxes are calculated by Property Assessment Value X Current year's Tax Millage Rate determined by each taxing authority. Bills are issued in early April for County & Township taxes, then early August for School District taxes.

  What does it mean to have a lien on my property?

    Basically, if the property is sold or financed, the tax debt will be paid from the proceeds before any other debt of the owner is satisfied. A tax lien is imposed when county; township or school district real estate taxes were unpaid as of January 1 of the year after they were billed. The lien is automatic but is not filed in the office of the prothonotary as is the case with mechianic's liens and such. The lien is a matter of public record; therefore, anyone can inquire about the liens outstanding regarding owner's name(s) and address, amount due, years liened, etc. In Pennsylvania, the property can be sold by the Bureau if the lien remains unpaid after 2 years. The lien is removed automatically upon payment in full.

   Can I make payment arrangements?

    The Bureau accepts partial payments in any denomination. Payments can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card online. Make your check payable to Greene County Tax Claim Bureau, note your control # in the memo portion of your check. No written payment plan is needed to make partial payments. There is a $25 fee imposed for checks returned for insufficient funds.

    An AGREEMENT TO STAY SALE is available for properties that are in jeopardy of tax sale. The Agreement is a legal contract between the owner(s) of a property and the Bureau whereby the owner(s) agree to make four (4) payments, nine (9) weeks apart to pay all delinquent taxes in full. The property is protected from the sale process as long as the agreement remains in good standing.

   I paid my taxes to my tax collector last year?

    Your tax collector reported your taxes as unpaid as of December 31 of the billing year. Please contact him/her if you have a valid receipt of payment.

   My escrow statement shows that my mortgage company paid my taxes. Why have I been liened?

    When taxes are escrowed by your mortgage company, the property owner is responsible for sending the tax bill to the mortgage company for payment. If you believe your liened taxes were paid through an escrow account, contact your mortgage company to obtain a copy of the receipt. Most often, there was an oversight, .e.g the funds were taken from the escrow account but the payment was not made to the tax collector. Mortgage companies normally rectify the situation quickly and pay for the additional interest and fees incurred due to their oversight.

   Will this lien affect my credit rating?

    The Tax Claim Bureau does not report to any consumer credit agency but it is important to note that all liens are public record.

  Can anyone else pay my taxes?

    Pennsylvania real estate law directs the Bureau to accept payment from any "party of interest" to the property. A Party of Interest is a person or entity named on the deed as having at least partial ownership of the property. Payments can also be accepted from a designated agent for a Party of Interest.