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Delinquent Property Taxes

The number of Palm Beach County property owners who are delinquent on their property taxes has grown by 83 percent during the past two years. More than 42,000 property owners did not pay their 2007 tax bills by the April 1 deadline compared with 23,000 who failed to pay their 2005 tax bills on time.

Tax Collector Anne Gannon explains that her office does not analyze the delinquency rate, but said the recent increase is likely the result of the faltering economy. “I just think people don’t have the money right now,” Tax Collector Gannon said. “It is tough economically.”

The Tax Collector must advertise the delinquent taxes in the Daily Business Review which was chosen by the Board of County Commissioners. The advertisement is printed weekly, three times prior to the tax certificate sale. The advertisement contains a listing of each parcel showing the delinquent tax amount, the property owner's name, and the property control number. The parcels are consecutively numbered for reference during the sale. The delinquent tax amount (certificate's face amount) consists of the sum of the following: real estate tax and non-ad valorem assessment amount, interest (4.5% for months of April, May and June), Tax Collector commission (5%), newspaper and internet advertising charges and a fee for the cost associated with the sale of tax certificates on the internet

Anyone may participate in the sale and must register with the Tax Collector's office via the BidPBTC.com web site. A bidder number is assigned for identification purposes during the sale.

The property owner has 2 years to satisfy the payment of delinquent taxes prior to the tax deed sale (public auction of property.) Tax deed sales are conducted by the Clerk & Comptroller, Palm Beach County