Behind on your New Jersey property taxes? You still have options.
New Jersey Tax Relief works directly with homeowners to pay delinquent property taxes, buy properties outright, or find another way forward before a tax foreclosure.
Talk to a real person today: Call 813-344-1184
Family home, Middlesex County
- Tax status
- Delinquent
- Foreclosure
- Not yet filed
- Call New Jersey Tax Relief(complete)
- Confirm what's owed and the deadlines(complete)
- Choose: pay the taxes or sell(to do)
- Resolve before a tax foreclosure(to do)
What happens when New Jersey property taxes go unpaid
Falling behind on property taxes happens for many reasons: a job loss, medical bills, an inherited house, or a bill that simply got missed. Knowing how the process works helps you act before it's too late.
- 1
A quarterly payment is missed
New Jersey property taxes are due to your town on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. Once a payment is late, interest of up to 18% a year can be added.
- 2
Your town sells a tax sale certificate
At least once a year, your town holds a tax sale for unpaid taxes and charges like water and sewer. An investor, or the town itself, buys a certificate for what you owe, and you owe its interest and costs on top.
- 3
The foreclosure clock starts
An investor can file a tax foreclosure two years after the sale. If the town holds the certificate, it can file after six months. Meanwhile, the amount needed to pay it off keeps growing.
- 4
A court judgment can take the property
Tax foreclosures are lawsuits in the Superior Court. If no one acts before final judgment, the certificate holder can take ownership, and the owner can lose the home and the equity in it.
How it works
Three simple steps, with no pressure at any point. You stay in control of every decision.
- 1
Step 1: Reach out
Call us or fill out the form. There's no obligation, and you'll talk with a real person.
- Tell us about the property and what's going on
- Share your tax bill or address if you have it handy
- 2
Step 2: Review your situation
We look at what's owed, where the property is in the tax process, and what you want to happen next.
- Confirm the balance with the county
- Check for certificates and any sale dates
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Step 3: Choose your path
We lay out the options that fit your situation, and you decide what's right for you.
- We may be able to pay the delinquent taxes
- We may offer to buy the property as-is
We help homeowners in all 21 New Jersey counties
From High Point to Cape May, every New Jersey town bills and collects its own property taxes and holds its own tax sale. Find yours to see who handles what in your county, and how we can help.
Select a region to see its counties.
- North Jersey8 countiesFrom the Hudson River waterfront and Newark west through Morris County to the Skylands of Sussex and Warren.See North Jersey counties
- Central Jersey4 countiesMiddlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, and Mercer counties, from Edison and New Brunswick to Princeton and Trenton.See Central Jersey counties
- Jersey Shore4 countiesThe Atlantic coast and its inland towns, from Monmouth and Ocean counties south through Atlantic City to Cape May.See Jersey Shore counties
- South Jersey5 countiesThe Delaware River side of the state, from Burlington and Camden counties south to Salem and Cumberland.See South Jersey counties
Prefer a list? See all 21 counties.
Situations we help with
Every homeowner's situation is different. Here are some of the most common ones we hear about.
You want to keep your home
If you want to stay, we'll look at whether we can pay the delinquent taxes and help you get back on track.
What we look at: How much is owed and how much time is left
You inherited a property
Inherited homes often come with back taxes nobody knew about. We can help you understand what's owed and what you can do.
What we look at: Who is on the title and whether it needs to go through probate
You're ready to sell
If keeping the property no longer makes sense, we may offer to buy it as-is, with the back taxes handled at closing.
What we look at: A fair price and a timeline that works for you
A foreclosure has been filed
Even after foreclosure papers arrive, there may still be time to redeem. Call us right away so we can review your situation together.
What we look at: The court deadlines and the amount needed to redeem
Why homeowners call New Jersey Tax Relief
We work directly with New Jersey homeowners to pay delinquent tax bills and, where possible, keep them from losing their homes to tax foreclosure. When keeping the property isn't the right fit, we can talk about buying it instead.
Before you call
If you have them handy, keep your property address and your most recent tax bill or delinquency notice nearby. If you don't, that's fine. We can look things up together.
We can pay delinquent taxes
In the right situations, we pay the delinquent tax bill so the property doesn't end up in tax foreclosure.
We buy properties as-is
If selling is the better path, we may make an offer on the property in its current condition, with no repairs needed.
New Jersey-focused
New Jersey's tax sale and foreclosure process is our specialty, and we work with homeowners in every county.
Straight answers
Plain language about where you stand, what each option means, and what it costs you.
No pressure
You choose what happens with your property. Talking with us doesn't obligate you to anything.
Respect and privacy
Life happens. We treat every homeowner with dignity and keep your information private.
Questions about New Jersey property taxes
Clear answers about delinquent taxes, tax sale certificates, and tax foreclosure. For exact amounts and dates, check with your town's tax collector.
What happens if I don't pay my property taxes in New Jersey?
Your town's tax collector adds interest once a quarterly payment is late: up to 8% a year on the first $1,500 owed and up to 18% on the rest, plus a year-end penalty of up to 6% if more than $10,000 is delinquent. Each town sets its own rates within those limits.
If the taxes stay unpaid, the town includes your property in its tax sale, held at least once a year. An investor, or the town itself, buys a tax sale certificate, which is a lien on your property. You then owe the certificate amount plus interest and costs.
Can I lose my home for unpaid property taxes in New Jersey?
Yes. If a tax sale certificate isn't paid off, the holder can file a tax foreclosure in the Superior Court. Once the court enters final judgment, your right to pay it off ends and the holder can take ownership.
The process takes time, though, and there are usually options if you act before final judgment.
How long do I have before a tax foreclosure?
An investor who buys a tax sale certificate generally has to wait two years after the tax sale to file a foreclosure. If your town holds the certificate, it can file after six months. Abandoned properties can be foreclosed sooner.
Before filing, an investor must send you a written notice at least 30 days ahead. Even after a case is filed, you can generally still pay off the certificate until final judgment. Don't wait on the court papers. Call us or a New Jersey attorney right away.
What is a tax sale certificate, and why does someone else have one on my property?
When taxes or municipal charges go unpaid, your town sells a tax sale certificate at its tax sale. The buyer pays what's owed and earns interest. The certificate is a lien. It doesn't give the holder ownership or the right to live there.
To clear it, you redeem it through your town's tax collector, not the investor. The payoff includes the certificate amount, interest, any later taxes the holder paid, a redemption penalty of 2% to 6% on larger certificates, and allowed costs, which grow once a foreclosure is filed.
What does New Jersey's 2024 law mean for the equity in my home?
Under a law signed in July 2024 (P.L.2024, c.39), an owner facing tax foreclosure can ask the court in writing, before final judgment, to have the property sold at a sheriff's sale or online auction instead of handed to the certificate holder. After the debt and costs are paid, the leftover money is held by the court for the owner to claim. The holder can take a small share of it.
If no one makes that demand before final judgment, the owner loses any claim to the equity. Foreclosure papers must explain this right. An attorney can help you use it.
Are there state programs that can lower my property taxes?
Yes. New Jersey offers ANCHOR for homeowners and renters, the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) and Stay NJ for older homeowners, $250 deductions for qualifying seniors, disabled persons, and veterans, and a full exemption for 100% disabled veterans. Each has its own eligibility rules and deadlines.
These programs can lower future bills, but they don't pay off taxes that are already delinquent. See the state's property tax relief page at nj.gov/treasury/taxation/relief.shtml for current details.
How can New Jersey Tax Relief help me?
Depending on your situation, we may be able to pay the delinquent taxes for you, or make an offer to buy the property as-is if you'd rather sell. We'll also help you understand where you are in the process and what each option means.
Every situation is different, and any arrangement is put in writing before anything happens. You decide what's right for you.
Do I have to sell my house to get help?
No. Selling is one option, not a requirement. If you want to keep your home, tell us, and we'll look at what's possible.
I inherited a property with back taxes. What should I do?
Start by finding out how much is owed and whether a tax sale certificate has been sold or a foreclosure filed. The town's tax collector can tell you, and heirs can redeem a certificate too.
If the title is still in the name of the person who passed away, you may need to go through probate before you can sell. A New Jersey probate attorney can help with that. We can talk through your options for the property itself.
How do I find out how much I owe?
Contact your town's tax collector. Their details are on your tax bill and your town's website. If a tax sale certificate has been sold, ask for a redemption calculation; you're entitled to two free calculations a year. The amount changes over time, so get a current figure before you pay.
You can also call New Jersey Tax Relief at 813-344-1184, and we'll help you look it up.
Let's talk about your options
Tell us a little about your property, and someone from New Jersey Tax Relief will reach out to talk through what can be done. Or call us now.
- Phone
- 813-344-1184
Talking with us doesn't commit you to anything. Help depends on your situation and isn't guaranteed, and any agreement is put in writing before anything happens.