Either way, the outcome was a bit - harsh.
Posted on 11/08/2019 5:53:39 PM PST by Tired of Taxes
If you get notices, don’t ignore them. Hard to believe he didn’t know he owed $8.41 on his delinquent property tax notice.
Except that he’s in his 80s. Maybe he wasn’t even opening his mail for a decade.
Something is fishy or he’s totally ignorant
Either way, the outcome was a bit - harsh.
He only told us and his mom about it after it was a done deal. I'm not sure if he was too embarrassed or what. His mom and us told him we would pay the back taxes so he could keep it. “Oh - it's too late for that anyway. I'll just get a small apartment and rent.”
We implored him to talk to a lawyer, etc. But he didn't want to be bothered with it. I can't imagine walking away from his home that he owned.
But like they say - don't pay your property taxes and see who really owns your house.
Yet he went ahead and paid the full amount in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
I think this shows his intent to do the right thing. This sounds like malicious law practice on the part of the county.
It may be legal but definitely BS.
I suppose after this, everybody should visit the tax collector after paying taxes, and ask, on video and audio, “do I owe ANYTHING more”?
Maybe but Oakland County has provided proof he was notified on the amount needed to cure the arrear.
His lawyers have the burden of proof of showing the MI Supreme Court he never saw them.
They mailed him stuff. They didn't mention whether they mailed it to the correct address.
If the property tax authorities mail stuff to the wrong address it's YOUR problem, not theirs.
I had the property tax authorities do that to me once upon a time.
I often feel like I should do that.
FWIW
An earlier article said they were sending the notices to the wrong address.
The County says they mailed stuff. I see no reason not to believe them. There is many a slip between that and the addressee’s actually seeing what he was sent, and then (in his 80s) having any comprehension.
Probably thought it was an error since he had since paid for a couple of years beyond that.
If he can prove that, he can probably recover damages.
Property taxes = rent paid to the guv’mint.
Still... you should always work things out with the tax man. The government will foreclose on your home as a last resort.
I learned the hard way that you don't fold your property taxes and house insurance into your mortgage payment.
The local taxing authorities sent paperwork to an old address - well after the time I'd taken up residence in their small community.
I didn't notice that they'd put my homestead exemption into the circular file [because the property taxes were folded into the mortgage payment]. This cost me several thousand dollars over a few years, until I finally caught on to what was up.
I wouldn't trust their word that they sent notice to the correct address.
If they didn’t send it by certified mail it’s as good as not sent.
I have personal experience in this area. I don't believe they sent the notices to the correct address - ESPECIALLY if he lived somewhere else.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.