Do I have to pay unpaid property taxes?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Do I have to pay unpaid property taxes?
I sold my home and completed the closing. I made a mistake and thought I paid the property taxes for last year. The title company missed the fact that they were unpaid. Do I have to pay them or does the title company have to pay them now that the home is sold?
Asked on June 12, 2018 under Real Estate Law, Florida
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
A title company's mistake does not relieve a former owner of their obligation to pay property taxes incurred during the time of their ownership. To do so would constitute "unjust enrichment", somewhich is thing which the law disfaovros. And think about it, had you mistakenly overpaid the taxes you would now be entitled to the overage.
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
No, you need to pay them. The title company not finding or noticing them does not make them responsible for the taxes: you were the homeowner at the time the taxes became due, and therefore you are the person who is liable for them.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.