How to Make Money By Buying a Tax Certificate

Jun 28
09:27

2011

Ace Abbey

Ace Abbey

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A tax certificate is the official document regarding the purchase of a tax lien on a property that has delinquent taxes. This can be a good way to make money.

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When an owner of a piece of real estate doesn't pay their property taxes,How to Make Money By Buying a Tax Certificate Articles the local government won't waste any time selling the tax debt to a third party to recover their losses. Governments need to maintain their services and payrolls, so they must take in all taxes that are due when they are due in order to have a sound budget and fiscal situation. Fortunately, most property owners are able to pay their taxes, but some are not, and if this is the case, they're in for a difficult process. Local governments will take each case of unpaid taxes and process it into a tax certificate, which is then sold for the value of the debt (delinquent taxes) plus any fees. 

While this is not a good situation for the debtor, it can be a good situation for investors. Buying a tax certificate is a great way to make a solid return on your investment. Basically, you pay the delinquent taxes yourself, directly to the government, and in turn, the property owner then owes that money to you. The property owner is legally bound to either repay the debt plus interest (which can be as high as 30 percent, or even higher) directly to you, or they will lose their property. If the redemption period (the specified amount of time for property owner to reclaim their property) has passed, the owner of the tax certificate can begin the foreclosure process. When the lien holder takes possession of the property, they can keep it for their own use, resell it in its current state, or improve it and sell it for a greater profit.

This can prove to be a great way to make money without having to do much work. However, you must be aware that many of the properties that have unpaid taxes are often undesirable or undeveloped parcels of land. Often these properties cannot be further developed, are in a poor location, or are of a less-than-useful shape and condition. But with some good research and guidance, you can find a tax certificate that is up for auction for a nice piece of property. These properties include residential homes or apartment buildings, commercial spaces like stores and restaurants, business spaces like an office buildings, or even undeveloped land in a good location, ready to be developed. This can be a wise investment, and with the right choices, you can end up making a good living. 

If you're interested in buying a tax certificate and making an investment in your government, you can most likely view listings for tax auctions at your local, state, or federal governmental center, whether that be a town hall, county courthouse, state tax bureau, or through the IRS. Contact tax officials in those places to find information regarding current or future tax certificate auctions.