BIDDING WILL BE CONDUCTED AUG. 24
Around 90 properties are on the Platte County Delinquent Tax Sale list and will be up for sale on Monday, Aug. 24.
The list of properties is published in The Landmark this week, the final edition of its three-week run. Each year, newspapers within the county submit a bid on printing of the three-week notice.
Platte County Collector Sheila Palmer says this year’s sale will begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 24 and continue from day-to-day thereafter until all property interests are offered.
The published list of lands, lots, etc. includes the names of all record owners or the names of all owners appearing on the land tax book of Platte County.
Palmer points out that “the Platte County Collector does not make nor does she imply any guarantees regarding title, liens or encumbrances on any of the properties offered for sale.”
Properties with taxes delinquent for two or more years go through a process. The county serves notice to publicly recorded owners and lienholders. A list of properties is published in a local newspaper for three consecutive weeks prior to the sale.
At the sale, the opening bid generally covers the back taxes, penalties and sales costs. Buyers must be present to bid.
Buyer must provide Missouri resident identification and sign an affidavit stating that he/she is not currently delinquent on any tax payments on any property. Failure to sign such affidavit, as well as signing a false affidavit, may invalidate the property purchase.
The successful bidder receives a certificate of purchase. The total purchase price must be paid to the collector’s office immediately at the close of the sale. According to the county collector’s website, cashier’s check, personal check and credit cards are accepted.
The purchaser is essentially purchasing a tax lien on the property. The purchaser does not have ownership rights, nor can the purchaser gain immediate possession of the property.
If the bid amount is not paid immediately following the sale, a penalty of 25 percent of the bid amount plus a prosecuting attorney’s fee may be assessed against the bidder.
Any tax sale bid amount which resulted in a surplus amount above the delinquent taxes and sale costs paid by the certificate of purchase holder is available for the publicly recorded owner or owners of record at the time of sale. The surplus amount is deposited in a separate fund in the Platte County Treasurer’s Office.
The collector issues, records and mails a certificate of purchase to the buyer. The certificate of purchase must be retained to be surrendered if the property is redeemed or if a collector’s deed is issued.
The original property owner may redeem a first or second offering property any time within one year from the sale date. The original owner may redeem a third offering property at any time until a collector’s deed has been issued.
Liens against the property are not extinguished at the time of sale or during any period of the redemption.
The purchaser will receive current tax statements each year on the property until it is redeemed or collector’s deed has been issued; failure to keep the taxes current may result in the property being sold again at another tax certificate sale, resulting in the original certificate of purchase holder losing their interest in the property.
“Be sure to research very carefully the properties you wish to bid on. There may be some properties in Platte County with federal or state tax liens, hazardous conditions or that are considered common area. It is up to the buyer to research the property fully and understand how those conditions may impact your purchase,” according to the Platte County Collector’s website.
The collector’s website emphasizes that this is provided as general information only. Bidders should contact a legal professional for any legal advice.
Property sold at the Platte County Delinquent Tax Sale may be redeemed within one year from the date of the tax sale or until such time the purchaser acquires the deed, or upon 18 months, when the lien evidenced by the certificate of purchase expires.
Properties may be redeemed by the owner of record, or any person holding a publicly recorded deed of trust, mortgage lien, or claim upon the property.
