Q: I paid taxes on my home but it was still auctioned off w/o my knowledge. What can I do? They say I paid the wrong year!!
I paid online and was later told that online payments couldn't be applied to save the home if I chose the wrong year. They say they sent a certified letter warning me but I never got anything at all. I was told my payment would automatically be applied to save my home but wasn't told that online payments were an exception. I thought I was in the clear until a week and a half after my house sold. Now I only have days to vacate the property . I will be homeless. Please help me. I am a widow and barely make ends meet as an art teacher. This is all I have .
A:
I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. The first step you should take is to gather all your payment records, including any receipts or confirmation emails from your online tax payment. This documentation will be crucial in proving that you made an effort to pay your taxes.
Next, contact the county tax assessor's office immediately to explain your situation. Request a detailed explanation of what happened and provide them with your payment records. Ask if there is any possibility of reversing the sale due to the misunderstanding or if there are any available options for appeal.
Additionally, you might consider seeking legal assistance to help you navigate this process. There may be legal avenues to challenge the sale, especially if you can prove you never received proper notification. It's important to act quickly to explore every possible option to stay in your home.
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