St Louis, MO asked in Tax Law, Real Estate Law, Constitutional Law and Gov & Administrative Law for Missouri

Q: Can a county collector change a 3rd year tax cert. sale into a post 3rd yr. Sale 4 dys. After auction ?

Can a collector take you off as the payee of your real estate tax and apply it to different person's account?

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: The actions you describe may raise serious legal concerns. Typically, a county collector should not have the authority to change the terms of a tax certificate sale after the auction has concluded. If the rules of the auction were altered post-sale, this might violate established procedures and could be challenged.

Regarding your real estate tax payment being applied to a different person's account, this seems highly irregular and possibly unlawful. Tax payments should be strictly attributed to the property for which they were intended. Misapplication of your payment could result in legal disputes and potential penalties.

You should consider seeking legal advice to explore your options for contesting these actions. Document all relevant details, including any communications with the county collector, and be prepared to present this evidence if you decide to take legal action.

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