What Happens If You Don't Pay Your Property Taxes in Lancaster County, PA?
Falling behind on your property taxes in Lancaster County is more common than you might expect and can happen for many reasons: job loss, unexpected expenses, health issues, just to name a few. Once you get behind, catching up can feel like an impossible task, and starting over or giving up just feels easier. Here's exactly what happens if you fall behind on taxes.
📌 Step 1: The County Will Add Penalties and Interest
No different than when you fall behind on a credit card payment or a student loan, the county will begin to charge interest and add fees to your unpaid tax balance. This just adds to the difficulty of clearing the issue and saving your property.
📌 Step 2: Your Name Goes on the Delinquent Tax List
Lancaster County publishes a list of delinquent properties each year. This list is public, which means local investors and buyers can and will search this list and contact you about selling your home.
📌 Step 3: The County Can Sell Your Property at Auction
If your taxes remain unpaid, your property will eventually go up for auction at a tax sale. In Pennsylvania, it can take about 2 years—but once it's sold, you lose ownership, even if you still have a mortgage!
💡 How to Stop a Tax Sale
The fastest way to clear your name is to pay your taxes back in full. But if that's not realistic, you still have options:
Work out a payment plan with the county
Refinance or get a home equity line of credit (HELOC)
Sell your house before the auction and keep your equity!
🏠 How Steady Home Buyers Can Help
Steady Home Buyers specializes in buying homes that are behind on taxes in Lancaster County, helping residents retain their equity before an auction.
We pay cash and can close in 7-14 days
We cover your closing costs—no fees to you
You walk away with the rest of your equity without losing it all at an auction
Get Help Before It's Too Late
If you're finding yourself behind on your property taxes in Lancaster, your greatest asset is your time.
👉 Get a no-obligation cash offer for free right now at Steady Home Buyers and see how much you could walk away with before the county takes your home.
FAQ: What Happens If You Don't Pay Your Property Taxes in Lancaster County, PA?
Q: How long can you go without paying property taxes in Lancaster County?
A: Typically, about two years before the property can be sold at a tax sale, but penalties and interest start right away.
Q: Can I sell my house if I owe back taxes?
A: Yes. You can sell your house and use the proceeds to pay off your taxes before it goes to auction.
Q: Will Steady Home Buyers buy my house if I'm behind on taxes?
A: Yes—we regularly help homeowners in Lancaster County who are behind on property taxes. We can close quickly and stop the tax sale process.
Related Posts:
• How to Sell a House Fast in Lancaster, PA
• Pros and Cons of Selling Without a Realtor in PA
• What Happens If You Don’t Pay Property Taxes in Lancaster County
