How to See If Taxes Are Owed on a Property
Confirm a property's financial standing by reviewing its tax payment history. Learn how to access and understand official records to prevent unforeseen costs.
Verifying a property’s tax status is important when purchasing a new home, inheriting real estate, or conducting a routine check on your own holdings. Unpaid property taxes can lead to financial penalties and, in severe cases, place the property itself at risk. A clear picture of the tax situation allows for informed decisions and prevents the assumption of unexpected financial obligations.
Information Needed to Check Property Tax Status
To determine if taxes are owed, you must gather the full property address and its unique identifier, known as the Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN). The APN is the most accurate way to identify a parcel for tax purposes because it is a distinct code assigned by the local county assessor’s office to each piece of real estate. This number eliminates confusion that can arise from similar street names or address changes.
The APN, which may also be called a Parcel ID (PID) or Tax ID, can be found on several key documents. The property deed will have the APN listed within its legal description. A previous property tax bill or an annual valuation notice from the assessor’s office will also prominently display the number.
Methods for Checking Property Tax Records
Once you have the Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) or the full property address, you can check the tax records. The most direct method is using the online portal provided by the local government agency responsible for property tax collection, which is typically the county tax collector or treasurer’s office. These websites allow you to search their records to see a property’s tax history and current status.
To perform an online search, navigate to the official county government website and find the department labeled “Tax Collector” or “Treasurer.” Within this section, look for a link for a “Property Tax Search.” The system will prompt you to enter either the APN or the property address. If you do not have the APN from other documents, you can often use the address search on these portals to find it before viewing the tax details.
An alternative method is to contact the county tax office directly. You can find the phone number on the county’s main government website. When you call, be prepared to provide the APN or property address to the clerk, who can look up the record and confirm the current tax status. For official documentation, you can also visit the office in person to request a printed statement of the tax account.
Interpreting the Property Tax Record
The tax record will show the “assessed value,” which is the value of the property used for tax calculation purposes, often broken down by land and improvements. You will also see the tax rate, sometimes expressed as a millage rate, which is applied to the assessed value to determine the total annual tax. The most immediate figure to look for is the “current balance” or “total amount due.”
A zero balance means the account is current. If there is an amount due, the record will specify payment deadlines, which are often split into two installments. Terms like “delinquent” or “past due” signify that a payment deadline has been missed. When taxes are delinquent, the record will show additional charges for penalties and interest that have been added to the original tax amount.
If taxes remain unpaid for a significant period, the county government can place a lien on the property, which is a legal claim against it for the unpaid debt. The tax record may state “tax lien” or show a delinquent balance that has been carried over for more than a year. This lien must be paid before the property can be sold or refinanced with a clear title.
Checking for Other Tax Liens and Professional Searches
Beyond local property taxes, other tax liens can be attached to a property. A common example is a federal tax lien, which the IRS can file for unpaid federal income taxes. The IRS files a “Notice of Federal Tax Lien” in the county where the property is located. State tax agencies can also place liens for unpaid state taxes, though the filing location varies between the county level and a centralized state registry.
You can search for federal and state tax liens by the taxpayer’s name through the county recorder’s office or the appropriate Secretary of State’s office. For questions about an existing federal tax lien, you can contact the IRS Centralized Lien Unit at 800-913-6050.
For real estate transactions, the most thorough method for uncovering all potential claims is to engage a professional title search company. A title company conducts an examination of public records for issues that could affect ownership, including unpaid property taxes, federal and state tax liens, mortgages, and other encumbrances. This process ensures that financial claims against the property are identified and resolved before the sale is finalized, protecting both the buyer and the lender.