Tax Claim Bureau
Director, Rebecca S. Wescott, Welcomes You!
Please hit your REFRESH button on each page due to frequent updates.
Susquehanna County’s Tax Claim Bureau collects delinquent real estate taxes for the County, the 6 school districts in the county and the 40 townships and boroughs in the county. Your taxes are considered delinquent on January 1st of each year after they are due to the local tax collectors. Unpaid taxes are returned to the tax claim bureau during the month of January with an additional charge of $15.00 per taxing district returned. A taxing district is county, municipality and school district. Beginning in February of the year of delinquency interest begins to accrue at 9 percent annually. Delinquent real estate taxes may be paid to the bureau at any time prior to the 2nd year of delinquency.
Title Companies: Lien Certifications are $15.00 per parcel
Pay Delinquent Taxes On-Line
• Delinquent 2022-2023 taxes may be paid on-line beginning in February 1st of 2024 until Aug 15, 2024. -We Will NOT accept your 2023 payment with this service.
• After June 10th, 2024 UNPAID 2022 or PRIOR TAXES MUST be paid with CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK OR MONEY ORDER
• We cannot collect current (2024) year taxes. They must be paid to your tax collector until 12/31/2024. Franklin, Harford, Harmony, Hallstead Borough, Great Bend and New Milford Townships may pay current year taxes online by clicking below.
Credit and Debit Card Service Available: Visa, MC, Amex, Discover
Susquehanna County Tax Sales
All Properties Are Sold Under The Rule Of Caveat Emptor, Or Let The Buyer Beware And Are Governed By Act No. 542 Of 1947 Also Known As The Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax Sale Law.
If You Wish To Purchase Property From Any Of Our Sales We Strongly Recommend You Consult An Attorney For A Title Search
Upset Sales
Upset sales are usually conducted in Mid-September of each year. Mid-End of August, a list of delinquent properties is also advertised in two local papers and the Susquehanna County Legal Journal. The list is between 300 and 400 properties.
Papers are COUNTY INDEPENDENT-570-278-NEWS; FOREST CITY NEWS-570-785-3800; COUNTY TRANSCRIPT-570-853-3134.
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY TAX CLAIM BUREAU SALE OF LAND
*SALE DATE: To Be Decided at 10:00am- Susquehanna County Courthouse
**NEW** REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO BID AT ALL SALES To be received in our office NOT LESS THAN 10 BUSINESS DAYS prior each sale
**NEW** IF REGISTERING UNDER A BUSINESS NAME, CORPORATE PAPERWORK IS REQUIRED
**NEW** IF USING A PROXY BIDDER, THE PROXY MUST ALSO COMPLETE ALL BIDDER PAPERWORK, AS WELL AS HAVE A PROXY FORM COMPLETED
****REGISTRATION TO BID AT THE 2024 UPSET TAX SALE IS NOW CLOSED****
****$25.00 Bidder Registration Fee****
Judicial Sales
Judicial Sales are held after the Upset Sale for properties not sold at September’s Upset Sale. Judicial Sales are ordered by the court of common pleas of Susquehanna County and are also referred to as the “Free & Clear” sale since filed tax and municipal liens are discharged as well as mortgages and other filed liens. “Free & Clear” is a misnomer as there may be liens filed after the filed discharges. Judicial Sales are generally held in October or later, of the year following the Upset Sale for the same property. The Judicial Sale List is usually published one time in
September before the sale. Liens are NOT discharged before the court ordered sale. A private sale will include liens.
**NEW** REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO BID AT ALL SALES To be received IN PERSON in our office.
**NEW** IF REGISTERING UNDER A BUSINESS NAME, CORPORATE PAPERWORK IS REQUIRED
**NEW** IF USING A PROXY BIDDER, THE PROXY MUST ALSO COMPLETE ALL BIDDER PAPERWORK, AS WELL AS HAVE A PROXY FORM COMPLETED
Sale Date: TBD at the Susquehanna County Courthouse, 31 Lake Ave, Montrose, PA 18801
**NOTE: LAND BANKS AND THE SUSQUEHANNA HOUSING AUTHORITY maintain the right to bid as a priority bidder**
Private Sales
Private Sales may be held any time after any property has been exposed to public sale and such property was not sold because no bid was made equal to the upset price. Notice of the proposed sale, stating the price and the property proposed to be sold, shall be given to each such taxing district and to the owner of the property. Notice shall also be given by publication at least two (2) times, with approximately ten (10) days intervening between each publication, in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation published in the county where the property is located. The notice of publication shall set forth the location of the property, the date and place of sale, the price and terms of sale, and the provision that the property will be sold free and clear of all tax claims and tax judgments. The corporate authorities of any taxing district having any tax claims or tax judgments against the property which is to be sold, the owner, an interested party, or a person interested in purchasing the property may, if not satisfied that the sale price approved by the bureau is sufficient, within forty-five (45) days after notice of proposed sale, petition the court of common pleas of the county to disapprove the sale. The court shall, in such case, after notice to each such taxing district, the owner, the bureau, the purchaser and any other person who has joined in the petition, hear all parties. After such hearing, the court may either confirm or disapprove the sale as appears just and proper. If the sale is disapproved, the court shall at the same time fix a price below which such property shall not be sold and order that, if no private sale can be arranged, the property be sold at public judicial sale under this act (Act 542 of 1947). If more than one party agrees to pay the minimum price set by court, the court shall direct the bureau to conduct an auction style bid of the property among the parties to the
proceedings. If only one party agrees to pay the minimum price set by the court, the bureau shall sell the property to that party without the necessity of an auction. Deeds, when the price for the private sale of any said property has been finally approved or confirmed, shall be in the name of the bureau, as trustee grantor and shall be executed and duly acknowledged before the prothonotary. Such deed shall convey title to the purchaser free, clear, and discharged of all tax claims and tax judgments, whether or not returned, filed or entered, as provided by this or any other act.
Repository Sale
Repository Sale properties are those not purchased at the Judicial Sale. Repository Sales are held at the discretion of the Tax Claim Bureau.
Repository Sales are not currently be conducted. No sales will be conducted August 1, 2024 – September 30, 2024. Susquehanna county reserves the right to withhold any property from being listed in Repository Sale
REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO BID AT ALL SALES To be received in our office NOT LESS THAN 10 BUSINESS DAYS prior each sale with registration period to be posted in 3 newspapers, and a legal journal prior to sale.
Verification, signed by each purchaser and a deed form for each property on which you intend to bid.
** NEW ** CORPORATE PAPERWORK IS REQUIRED FOR BIDDERS REGISTERING UNDER A BUSINESS NAME
**NEW** IF USING A PROXY BIDDER, THE PROXY MUST ALSO COMPLETE ALL BIDDER PAPERWORK, AS WELL AS HAVE A PROXY FORM COMPLETED
Contact Information
Tax Claim Bureau
Susquehanna County Treasurer
31 Lake Avenue (PO Box 218)
Montrose, PA 18801
Telephone: (570) 278-4600
Fax: (570) 278-3372
Rebecca Wescott, Director
Wesley Campbell - Ext. 4081
Sandy - Ext. 4083
Office Hours
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday