Your bill will be considered delinquent if you have not paid by Oct. 1.

If you have unpaid taxes, pay the bill plus any late fees to avoid tax sale.

State law permits real property taxes on owner-occupied residences and some small business to be paid in two equal installments, the first payment due in July and the last payment before January 1. A small service fee is added to the second installment.

Because real property tax bills are issued each year, a property owner is responsible for knowing that taxes are due and for paying them - even if the owner does not receive a bill in the mail.

Can’t pay your property taxes?

After your bill is delinquent, the city will mail you a final bill and legal notice of tax sale by February of the next year.

By March, the tax sale list will be published to www.bidbaltimore.com

Your last chance to pay taxes (plus any late fees) before the tax sale is April 30th.

Call this number to find out when your bill is due:

Note: you only have to get your balance down to $750!

The tax sale list is published to www.bidbaltimore.com.

The amounts included in the second notice are due and valid until April 30 (the last day to pay all of the outstanding taxes and charges owed to the City to avoid tax sale).

Tax Sale occurs in May for properties with delinquent property tax debt from the prior tax year.

until four months into the redemption period.

If you fail to redeem your property, the City will auction it. Sixty days after the tax sale, the city must send a notice to the original owner that a "certificate" for the property was sold.

The redemption process starts as soon as the tax sale occurs.

In the first 4 months following tax sale (May-Aug), you can redeem your property and keep your house by paying taxes, late fees, and interest. Interest is 12% on owner-occupied properties and 18% on non-owner-occupied properties. This can be paid to the City.

This updated tax amount will be added to the original redemption amount (aka bid amount) that must be repaid.

Four months post tax sale (September to November), the redemption process changes and 2 payments must be made instead of 1 payment.

Payment 1: Pay the certificate purchaser. You must also pay 12% interest, legal fees ($1200 or more), and expenses (postage, lien sheet, title search, etc.).

Payment 2: Pay City the original lien amount.

Both payments must be made for redemption. The certificate purchaser and lawyer can be the same person or entity. No disclosure is required.

No other fees and costs can be added to the redemption amount until after 6 months post tax sale.

Six months post tax sale, the certificate purchaser can file a lawsuit to foreclose on the owner's right to redeem (right to pay).

Nine months post tax sale judgement "foreclosing the right to redeem", the certificate holder can take ownership of the property. If the certificate purchaser takes the title, the owner faces eviction or conversion to rent payment.

This means that:

• The property loses equity.
• You can apply for excess funds.
• You are entitled to a refund of any legal fees paid during the 2-stage redemption process.

Certificate Purchaser loses right to file to foreclose the right to redeem.

The owner is responsible for the original tax lien and any subsequent tax debts. The tax sale process repeats if the tax lien and added costs are not paid. This can occur even if you don't reside in the property anymore.