Your Resource to Prevent Tax Foreclosure
The summer taxes for many local units of government are in August and September so now is a good time for residents to understand their property tax responsibilities.
As the Kent County Treasurer, it is my job to be a resource to homeowners by communicating their responsibilities when taxes are delinquent (taxes have not been paid and collected), clarifying the delinquent tax and forfeiture process, and helping prevent homeowners or business owners from losing their property to tax foreclosure.
Tax Delinquency
If someone is making property tax payments to the County Treasurer, that means that their parcel is delinquent. At this point, the parcel owner is paying higher costs (fees and interest) than needed. The best way to prevent these penalties, and pay the least amount of property tax, is to make payments to the local unit of government by the due date of receiving the original tax bill. Parcel owners that are delinquent should always pay the oldest tax bill first to prevent foreclosure.
State statute requires that property with delinquent Michigan property taxes be foreclosed after three years of delinquency. For example, if a taxpayer fails to pay 2022 real property taxes (either or both summer & winter taxes), the county treasurer will foreclose the property on April 1, 2025.
Tax Foreclosure
My office does not foreclose on property when it can be avoided. We work tirelessly to help families and property owners avoid tax foreclosure. We do this by:
- providing hardship extensions for those who have lost work, become ill, or are disabled,
- offering payment arrangements for those who actively and consistently pay over time, and we accept partial payments, or
- working with nonprofit agencies and other resources such as Kent County Community Action (KCCA), Area Agency on Aging, MSHDA, Home Repair Services, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, and the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan.
When all else fails, and there is no way to avoid the court's judgment of foreclosure, by law, we must foreclose the property.
Michigan’s Foreclosure Law
Parties that have been foreclosed on can submit a notice of intent to claim an interest in any remaining proceeds from the transfer of sale of a foreclosed property. This process is called Notice of Intent to Claim Interest, 78t, and must be submitted to the County Treasurer by July 1 of the foreclosing year.
Assistance is Available
All in all, most property owners in Kent County pay their property taxes on time. When we connect homeowners with available resources, residents are far more likely to have a positive outcome. In fact, my office prevents 99% of all potential tax foreclosures in Kent County and property owners who work with our office are successful in paying their taxes and redeeming their property.
We welcome the opportunity to work with residents on real property tax laws and to protect their rights. Residents with questions or who need assistance should contact the Kent County Treasurer's Office at (616) 632-7500 or kctreasurer@kentcountymi.gov.
As the County Treasurer, my team and I will go the extra mile to help homeowners avoid foreclosures.
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