Treasurer

Address: Office Hours:

319 Court street Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm (except holidays)

Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

Phone:

906-635-6308

Treasurer:

Marjorie Hank

mhank@chippewacountymi.gov

*All tax information must be obtained over the phone, not through email.

Personal Property Taxes Guide

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Overview

Elected to a four-year term, the County Treasurer serves as the custodian of all County funds, and as such is responsible for receipting, recording and investing all money deposited with the County. The Treasurer is also responsible for maintaining debt service accounts for all the bonded indebtedness of the County.

Beginning March 1st of each year the Treasurer collects delinquent real property taxes and following an extensive notification title work process a court order is issued which allows for the sale of properties which are more than 24 months delinquent. The County Treasurer also serves as the agent of the delinquent tax revolving fund, through which the County is able to forward to local units the amount of delinquent taxes due and owing on real property.

The Treasurer is responsible for the certification of deeds and other real estate title transfers prior to recording the documents.

The Treasurer is a member of the Plat Board, the Elections Commission, the County Apportionment Commission and the County Economic Development Corporation.

What Every Property Owner Should Know

Public Act 123 of 1999 shortens the amount of time property owners have to pay their delinquent taxes before losing their property. Property owners with taxes that are two years old go into forfeiture, which means the additional fees and higher rate of interest apply. When the tax is 3 years old, the property is foreclosed on and will be sold at public auction.

For example, people who fail to pay their 2006 property taxes will lose their property to foreclosure in March, 2009.

With this new act, the amount of time to pay taxes has been reduced from approximately five years to approximately two and a half years.

Property owners face high interest and fees for not paying their taxes. Taxes that are delinquent for more than one year will have a substantially higher interest rate (1.5% per month, as opposed to the current 1%). After one year, taxes will have a $175 forfeiture fee and additional administrative fees added to them.

FAQs

Public Act 123 Questions and Answers

Q.    If I don't pay my taxes, will I really lose my house and property?

A.    YES. Property owners who had delinquent taxes under the old
       law could also lose their property, but they had more time to pay and
       more "second chances." Under the new law, if your taxes are delinquent for
       two years, that's it. You've lost the property.

Q.    What is a delinquent tax?

A.    A delinquent tax is a tax that has been forwarded to the county treasurer for
       collection on March 1 of the year after it was due. For example, taxes
       that are billed by your city or township treasurer in 2005 were turned
       over as delinquent to the county treasurer on March 1, 2006.

Q.    What happens after the property is forwarded to the county treasurer for
       collection?

A.    The county treasurer adds a 4% administration fee and interest of 1% per
       month. After one year, the property is forfeited to the Chippewa
       County Treasurer. For example, the 2004 taxes that are still unpaid as of
       March 1, 2005 will be in forfeiture as of March 1, 2006.

Q.    What does it mean for my property to be in forfeiture? Does that mean I
       lose my property?

A.    NO. Forfeiture is not foreclosure. If your property is in forfeiture, you still
       have a year before it will be foreclosed. However, the interest and fees
       will be higher. When a property is forfeited, the interest rate goes from 1%
       per month to 1.5% per month, back to the date the taxes became delinquent.
       A $175 title search fee is added along with other notice fees.

Q.    What happens after my property is in forfeiture?

A.    After property has been in forfeiture for one year, it will be foreclosed.
       The 2004 property taxes will be foreclosed in March 31, 2007.

Q.    What happens after my property is foreclosed? How do I get it back?

A.    You CANNOT get your property back after it has been foreclosed.
       FORECLOSURE IS FINAL. Property that has been foreclosed will be SOLD
       at public auction.

Q.    What if I can't come up with all the money right now?

A.    Even if you can't pay your taxes all at once, you can still make partial payments.
       For a tax in forfeiture, the first payment must be a minimum of $350.00. All
       payments after that can be determined by the taxpayer, but must be paid in
       full before March 31st, or the property will go to foreclosure and sold for any
       unpaid balance. To ensure your payment is applied to your parcel, please write
       the parcel number on your payment with the year tax you intend to pay. Please
       make payable to and mail to: Chippewa County Treasurer, 319 Court Street,
       Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.

Q.    Will I receive any notification before my property is foreclosed?

A.    YES. At least five (5) notifications will be made. Two (2) will be by First Class
       Mail, two (2) by Certified Mail and the last notification will be made by
       personal service. In addition to these notifications, names and addresses
       of delinquent property owners may be published in a newspaper of general
       circulation within your community.

PROPERTY FORECLOSURE TIME LINE
JULY & DECEMBER 2006
2006 property taxes billed by City, Village, or Township Treasurer.

MARCH 1, 2007
Unpaid 2006 property taxes are forwarded to the County Treasurer for collection. The County Treasurer adds a 4% administration fee and 1% per month interest.

OCTOBER 1, 2007
The County Treasurer adds a $15.00 mail notice fee (cost of sale) to each delinquent parcel.

MARCH, 2008
Property is forfeited to the County Treasurer. The County Treasurer adds a $175.00 Title Search fee, a $20.00 Recording Fee and a $45 site inspection fee. Interest increased from 1% per month to 1.5% per month back to the date the taxes became delinquent.

OCTOBER, 2008
Property visit fee added.

DECEMBER, 2008
A $50 publication fee is added.
Unpaid properties are published in the newspaper.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2009
Show Cause Administrative hearing is held .

MARCH, 2009
Final judicial foreclosure hearing
Judgment entered and filed.

MARCH 31, 2009
Last day to pay taxes to avoid foreclosure.

APRIL, 2009
Treasurer takes title to foreclosed properties.

JUNE/JULY, 2009
Advertise office notice of Minimum Bid Auction.

AUGUST, 2009
Minimum Bid Auction.

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