Foreclosure and failure to pay property taxes is not uncommon during times of economic turmoil. Many homeowners fall behind on housing obligations, which can lead to an increasing tax bill. Property taxes are typically assessed annually or semi-annually and are based on the total value of a property. The county or city tax assessor is responsible for evaluating and assigning a value to properties within a specified district. Once the value is assessed, the homeowner is notified of the annual tax amount. You can find information on back property taxes even if you don't own the home.
Step 1
Gather information about the property, including the address, neighborhood and sub-neighborhood and ward, if required.
Step 2
Contact the board of revenue or department of assessment and taxation for the locality. Provide the property information and request the amount of taxes owed. Many departments of assessment also provide an online database to access this information. Ask the representative for the Web address and inquire about the accuracy of the online information.
Step 3
Call the county or city assessor's office to request an updated valuation and tax account record. The assessor is responsible for the annual valuation of the property, which determines the amount of taxes paid to the government.
Step 4
Contact the delinquent tax bureau or board and request an updated accounting of the property. You may need to provide information about yourself in addition to the property address.