More than 6,100 commercial and residential properties with outstanding tax liens will be up for public auction beginning Sept. 20 during the city’s annual tax sale.
Last year, during the mandated annual event, 1,068 liens were sold, and a total of $8.2 million in delinquent tax revenue was collected.
According to the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR), from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and from 1 to 4 p.m., members of the public can bid on property until all properties advertised for that day are sold.
However, to be eligible for the sale, interested persons must register, beginning Sept. 13 until the last day of the auction. For registration, prospective bidders must make a deposit of at least 20 percent of their total bid and a $150 tax sale fee will be added to each property at the time of the sale.
Purchasers are also required to complete a Combined Business Tax Registration Application, Form FR-500, prior to registering. The form can be found on OTR’s Website at www.taxpayerservicecenter.com under “Tax Forms/Publications.”
To increase public understanding, OTR is conducting free seminars to explain the tax sale procedures, Sept. 1-2, 9:30 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4:40 p.m. at 1101 Fourth St., S.W., second floor, Training Room 1. The sale will also take place at that location.
Property owners with unpaid taxes have until the date of the auction to pay the taxes due to avoid having their properties sold. To pay or inquire about the status of a delinquent property, call the OTR Customer Service Center at (202) 727-4TAX (4829) or visit the Customer Service Walk-In Center at 1101 Fourth St., S.W., Suite 270W.
For more information on the Tax Sale process, visit the Real Property Service Center (www.taxpayerservicecenter.com) under “Tax Sale.”