Real Estate tax bills are issued two times per year.  In early March you will receive from your Tax Collector the County and Municipality portion of your bill.  In early July, the School tax bill is mailed.  If either bill is unpaid as of December 31st it is turned over to the Tax Claim Bureau by January 15th of the following year.   As an example, unpaid 2020 taxes are turned over to our office by January 15, 2021.   Please note that failure to receive your tax bill does NOT exonerate you from paying the taxes and any penalty, cost, or interest which accrues.   The Tax Claim Bureau collects only real estate taxes. We do not collect any personal or occupational tax.

Interest accrues on the unpaid amount at the rate of 9% per year, or .75% each month, beginning February 1st of the year it’s turned over to us as delinquent.  Interest is then added at the beginning of each month until the delinquent tax has reached $0.

Notices are sent by the Tax Claim Bureau to the property owner in late January or early February.   In recent years we have been sending the initial notice by first class mail because many people are unable to get to the Post Office to pick up certified mail.  By law we are REQUIRED to send notice by certified mail no later than July 31st, so for any tax which remains unpaid we send a certified notice, usually in March or April.

If that notice is not picked up by the property owner, and those taxes are not paid, we are REQUIRED by law to POST a notice of the delinquency on the property in a conspicuous location.  This is NOT done to embarrass anyone; the purpose is to give due process notice of the delinquency to the property owner.

If the tax remains unpaid it will put the property in jeopardy of being sold at an Upset Sale in September of the following year.  Before that happens, at least two more notices will be sent, one by Certified, Restricted Delivery mail to each owner, and another by first class mail to each owner, both of which are required by law.  Other legal requirements include posting a sale notice on the property, and advertisement of the properties in two newspapers. Huntingdon County also places this list on our website.

OPTIONS FOR PAYMENT

We DO accept personal checks or business checks for payment, HOWEVER should (for any reason) a payment be returned we will no longer accept checks for that parcel (should there be multiple parcels associated with that owner, they will not be able to pay with a check for those as well).  We DO accept CASH, if you pay in person.  Please do not ever mail cash!  We also accept Credit or Debit cards (with an additional fee charged), Money Orders, Certified Checks or Cashier’s Checks. You may pay in person at our office;

                Huntingdon Tax Claim Bureau

                233 Penn Street

                Huntingdon, PA 16652

 or you may mail your payment.  You may also pay online or by phone if using the Credit or Debit card option.   For any method of payment you should provide your parcel number to ensure that the proper account is credited, especially if you own multiple properties.  If you mail your payment and desire a receipt you should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

We DO accept PARTIAL PAYMENTS. You may pay as much as you wish, however interest continues to accrue on the unpaid balance.  Payments will be applied to the oldest year’s taxes first.  Making partial payments does NOT remove a property from the sale list.  All taxes which put a property in jeopardy of sale must be paid in full to avoid having the property included on the Upset Sale.  The only exception to that is if you have received a Stay of Sale Agreement.

As the Upset Sale draws closer you may request a Stay of Sale Agreement.  This is done at the option of the Tax Claim Bureau. However, if you have been given a Stay of Sale Agreement in the past, and defaulted on that agreement, we are prohibited by law from giving you another agreement for three years.  For a Stay of Sale Agreement you will be required to make an initial payment equal to at least 25% of the total amount due for all delinquent tax years, and then subsequent monthly payments of a specified amount for approximately 8 or 9 months until the delinquency is satisfied in full. Stay of Sale Agreements are for Owner Occupied parcels, and will NOT be processed the day of a Tax Sale.

NOTE: ONLINE PAYMENTS WILL BE CLOSED THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH FOR PROCCESSING 

PLEASE SIGN FOR ANY CERTIFIED MAIL THAT IS SENT FROM THE TAX CLAIM BUREAU IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS AND FEES!

TIME LINE

January 15: Unpaid taxes are turned over to the Tax Claim Bureau no later than this date. Cost of $45.00 will be added to each parcel

March 1: Notice of the delinquency is sent to the property owner by 1st class mail in early to mid-March.

April 1: Certified notice of the delinquency is sent to the property owner.

July-August: Property will be posted if the certified notice is not picked up and the tax is not paid. Posting Cost of $60.00

May 31 (Year 2): Last day to pay taxes before additional sale preparation costs are added.

July 1 (Year 2): Sale preparation cost of $300.00 is added to each parcel.

July-August (Year 2): Posting cost of $85.00 is added to each parcel.  Properties listed for sale must be posted.

August (Year 2): Advertisement cost of $100.00 is added to each parcel. All properties listed for sale must be advertised.

September (Year 2): Upset Sale will be held for any property with 2 years of delinquent taxes remaining unpaid.

COSTS ARE ADDED AS THEY ARE INCURRED!

Tax Sales:

The Huntingdon County Tax Claim Bureau participates in three kinds of sales on a yearly basis to consolidate the seated lands in the county for delinquent taxes.

In September, the Bureau will conduct an Upset Sale; this is the first sale that a property must go through. At this sale, properties that are two years delinquent in taxes will be auctioned. As a bidder in this sale, you will be responsible for all past due taxes, liens, mortgages, etc.

If the property remains unsold, it will go to the Judicial Sale the following year (generally March). For a Judicial Sale, bid price will start at costs only, property will be sold free and clear (as long as all parties are properly notified).

If the property remains unsold, it will be placed on our Repository List. Each property will have a starting price; $500 for mobile homes, $1000 for residential/vacant properties, and $1500 for a commercial property. The purchaser will take the property free and clear of claims, liens, mortgages, tax claims, charges and estates, however, properties are not cleared from any government liens filed against the property. There is no warranty given, either expressed or implied, as to title to the properties, structure upon the land, boundaries, area or other matters beyond the control of the Bureau. It would be wise for any contemplating purchasing to have careful examination of the record title made by some qualified person prior to the sale. All sales are final. There are no refunds. No warranty is given to any purchaser by the Bureau.

                It is up to each and every bidder to satisfy himself/herself that the properties are free of liens or judgments or are without title defects.

ALL TAX SALES ARE BUYER BEWARE SALES!

To Attend a Tax Sale:

All prospective bidders must register in person with the Huntingdon County Tax Claim Bureau at 233 Penn Street Huntingdon PA when registration is open.

This requires a photo I.D. such as valid driver license or other form of identification that is acceptable to the Tax Claim Bureau. You must be present to bid. Bids may not be assigned.

PAYMENTS ACCEPTED: Cash (no change given during sale), Personal check, certified or cashier's check and money order.

ALL BIDDERS MUST HAVE A BANK VERIFICATION LETTER IF THEY PLAN TO USE A PERSONAL OR BUSINESS CHECK (NO EXCEPTIONS)!

Those that do not provide a Verification Letter will not be permitted to bid at the sale.

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