Is this in every state?
Not every state has this problem. States, and even counties, has different rules. Some are better, some are even worse. We’re starting on helping people owed money, but our advocacy cannot stop there. We will work for tax sale fairness everywhere it is needed. In some states for example, owners are never owed any refund, because the state just keeps all the equity in the property for itself. If a homeowner owed $10 in taxes, and the house sold for hundreds of thousands, the state just pockets the difference. But for some good news, the US Supreme court just ruled for the homeowner in a case similar to the example above, saying it was unfair of the state. We’ll be waiting to see how states respond to this important ruling.
How many people are in this situation?
No one knows – but a lot! Forbes called it “The Other Mortgage Crisis”, and we think they’re right. For just one example, Fulton County, GA owes over a thousand people $500 or more. And that’s just one county. We’re crowdsourcing a project to survey every county in the US – all 3143 of them.
I'm busy, but I have 30 minutes - can I help?
Yes! Whether you have 30 minutes or a few hours, you can make a difference! A great place to start is our a survey of each county in the country. We will use that information to target our work, and also to raise community awareness. Could you call your county for us? We have a form for what to ask, so it’s easy. A few minutes of your time would be a big help!
My mortgage company pays my taxes - didn't theirs?
Many mortgage companies pay your property taxes for you – they wrap it into your monthly bill. But many older, and ‘sub-prime’ mortgages don’t.
Is my donation tax deductable?
Yes! We are a registered nonprofit charitable organization with the 501(c)(3) IRS designation, so your generous contributions are tax deductible.
What exactly is a tax sale?
When a homeowner doesn’t pay their property taxes, the county usually takes the house and sells it at auction. Then they pay any liens owed: the back taxes, any mortgage etc. It’s the excess money left over that is the issue. It’s essentially the equity the person had in their house.
Why didn't the county contact them?
Every county is different. Some may not have the budget. Maybe they added a note into a bill that never got opened, or they sent a letter to the last known address – which was the house they just sold! Should they be doing more? Yes! That’s why we need to raise community awareness, and create effective pressure campaigns.
Can they use a 'find your money' website?
Unfortunately not. These funds are held by the county, so they almost never show up on the ‘find your money’ websites, which are state-run. This is one of our priorities for reform. States could require that counties do this reporting.
Isn't this something that counties should pay for?
Absolutely, but they’re not! We’re a relatively new organization, and we need your help to get us going. When we have a track record, we will get as much of our income as possible from grants through counties and states, as well as private foundations. But the help of good people like you will always be an important part of our ability to do this work. So thank you.