This coming June 6, 2023, Washington County, MD will conduct a tax sale for properties with unpaid and delinquent property taxes. The local government will sell real estate properties to recover these unpaid taxes. If you are an investor who wants to gain profit from tax liens or back taxes, then the sale is an opportunity you do not want to miss.
LewisMcDaniels shares information about the tax sale process as well as the reasons why you should work with a Maryland tax sale attorney. That way, you can approach the bidding with confidence and avoid common pitfalls. Keep reading to learn more!
How the Tax Sale Works
While there are two types of tax sales, Washington County will mostly focus on tax lien sales. The local government will sell these liens — a legal claim for a property — to the highest bidder who will pay the taxes and other fees themselves. Alternatively, the property owner can pay the bidder who owns the lien to take back full ownership of the house.
Registration
To become a bidder, you must pre-register at the Washington County Treasurer’s Office. You’ll need to submit a complete Tax Sale Bidder Registration Application and your IRS Form W-9. The deadline is at 4:00 PM on the last Friday before the sale. Late applications will not be accepted.
Bidding and Auction
This year’s auction and sale will take place at the Washington County Office Building on June 6, the first Tuesday of the month. Registered bidders must arrive before 9:00 AM to join the bidding process. Then, the tax lien certificates will be given to the highest bidders. Those who won a property must make payments within the set deadline to avoid being removed from the auction.
Certificate of Sale
Once a bidder or purchaser has paid the Collector, the latter will send a certificate of sale. This is the proof that the tax lien has been sold. In addition, the certificate will contain the interest rate for redemption by the property owner.
How a Maryland Tax Lien Attorney Can Help
A tax sale is a complex legal proceeding, and there are many pitfalls that could result in financial loss — one of the most common is an invalid or void sale. This can happen if there are transfer errors on the records, if the property owner filed for bankruptcy before the sale, or for several other reasons.
A Maryland tax lien attorney, like one of our lawyers at LewisMcDaniels, will help you avoid these issues. We keep a close eye on the entire process, ensure that you stay in compliance with the law, and provide other legal services that help you get the highest ROI for your investment.
Schedule a Consultation
If you’re considering investing in a tax lien sale at Washington County’s upcoming tax sale, let LewisMcDaniels provide legal counsel and services. We’re your trusted Maryland tax sales attorneys that are dedicated to helping you get good returns. Contact us today!
