If you have received a letter in the mail about the annual tax lien sale or you fear your property may be eligible for the lien sale, you have options! Please read the following information or call our office at (614) 462-3431 for help.

Your Home is Still Your Home

One point must be made clear, the Treasurer’s Office is not selling your home. This office is selling the tax lien (or the right to collect the delinquent taxes). The school districts, fire and police protection and other agencies then receive the tax support they need. Although the possibility for foreclosure is greater, you still own the property.

If the property is my residence, what are my options?

To avoid the sale, you must pay your delinquent taxes or enter into a Payment Plan agreement to pay your taxes.

Call our office at (614) 462-3431, to find out how much you owe and how you can make payments.

First time applicants for a residential payment plan must make monthly payments on the delinquent tax balance and must also pre-pay future taxes during the period of the agreement.

Can I get on a Payment Plan if I have been on one before?

You should contact the Treasurer’s office to discuss whether your previous payment history makes you eligible for a second payment plan.

Will it mean I have to pay more money?

Yes. If your tax lien is sold, fees and additional interest (of up to 18%) will be added to your tax bill. Because the tax lien is sold for three years, that could mean three years worth of additional interest.

What if I'm a landlord, or the property is agricultural, commercial or industrial?

In order for a non-owner occupied property to be eligible for a payment plan, the following requirements must be met:

1. The property is delinquent only in the current year’s taxes and/or taxes from the immediately preceding year.
2. In addition to making a monthly payment on your delinquent taxes, you must also enter into a pre-pay agreement for future taxes.
3. If the total tax due on any single parcel exceeds $10,000, you must provide the treasurer with evidence of a letter of credit in the amount of the total tax due.
4. You cannot have defaulted on any previous payment plan on the parcel.

If you feel your property would meet the preceding requirements please call (614) 462-3431 for further information in obtaining a payment plan.

What happens if my lien is sold?

If your lien is sold, you will have 12 months to pay in full before the lien holder can begin foreclosure actions.

Twelve months after the sale date, the buyer has the right to foreclose on your property. The buyer also has the option to wait until the end of the three-year lien period, allow the interest to accumulate and foreclose at the end of the three-year period.

If foreclosure occurs, Ohio law allows the lien holder to use private attorneys or the County Prosecutor’s Office to handle the foreclosure. The process is the same as that used for any foreclosure involving the failure to pay delinquent taxes.

Any questions relating to the sale of a specific tax lien should be directed to the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office at (614) 462-3431 or by e-mail at taxlien@franklincountyohio.gov.