Before you talk to anyone about your property tax situation — whether it's us, an attorney, or your county tax office — having the right information in front of you makes the conversation faster, more productive, and less stressful.

You don't need everything on this list to get started. But the more you can gather, the better we can understand your situation and give you clear, specific guidance.

The Essentials

1. Property Address

What to provide: The full street address of the property with tax debt, including city, state, and ZIP code.

Why it matters: This is how we locate your property in county records. It sounds obvious, but if you own multiple properties or the mailing address differs from the property address, being specific avoids confusion.

2. County Name

What to provide: The county where the property is located.

Why it matters: Property tax rules, deadlines, interest rates, and available exemptions are all set at the county and state level. Knowing your county tells us exactly which rules apply to you. If you're not sure which county your property is in, check your tax bill or look it up at https://geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder/

3. Parcel Number

What to provide: Also called APN (Assessor's Parcel Number), PIN (Property Index Number), or Tax ID. This is a unique number assigned to your property by the county. You can find it on: Why it matters: The parcel number is the definitive way to identify your property in county records. Addresses can have variations or errors — parcel numbers don't.

4. Total Amount Owed

What to provide: The total delinquent tax amount, including any penalties and interest. If you don't know the exact amount, provide your best estimate and we'll verify it.

Where to find it: Your most recent tax bill, a delinquency notice, or your county tax collector's website (search by parcel number or address).

Why it matters: The total amount owed determines your options. A $2,000 debt and a $40,000 debt call for very different strategies.

5. Tax Years Owed

What to provide: Which years are delinquent. Are you behind one year? Three years? More?

Why it matters: The number of years delinquent affects where you are in the collection timeline. One year behind usually means you have plenty of time. Multiple years may mean a sale is being scheduled.

Timeline Information

6. Any Notices You've Received

What to provide: Bring or describe any notices from the county about your tax debt. Key notices include: Why it matters: Notices tell us exactly where you are in the process. An intent-to-sell notice means we need to act quickly. A first delinquency notice means we have more time.

Tip: Save everything. Even envelopes — they show postmark dates and whether mail was certified.

7. Redemption Deadline (If Known)

What to provide: If a tax lien has already been sold on your property, there's a deadline to "redeem" — pay off the lien and keep your home. If you know this date, share it.

Where to find it: The notice you received after the lien sale, or by calling your county tax collector's office.

Why it matters: This is the most time-sensitive piece of information. Missing a redemption deadline can mean losing your home. If a sale has already occurred, this becomes priority number one.

8. Tax Sale Date (If Scheduled)

What to provide: If the county has scheduled your property for a tax lien sale or tax deed sale, provide the date.

Why it matters: Knowing the sale date tells us how much time we have to work with and which strategies are still available.

Property Details

9. Assessed Value

What to provide: The assessed value of your property as shown on your tax bill or the county assessor's website.

Why it matters: We use this to check whether your property may be over-assessed. If it is, reducing the assessed value can lower your current and future tax bills. It also helps us understand the overall picture — whether the debt is a small fraction of your property's value or a significant portion.

10. Property Type

What to provide: Is this your primary residence (homestead), a rental property, vacant land, commercial property, or something else?

Why it matters: Different property types have different exemptions, redemption periods, and tax rates. In many states, your primary residence has stronger protections than investment properties. For example, Texas provides a 2-year redemption period for homestead properties but only 180 days for non-homestead properties (Texas Tax Code § 34.21).

11. Homestead Exemption Status

What to provide: Have you filed for a homestead exemption? Is one currently applied to your property?

Where to check: Your property tax bill should show any exemptions, or search your parcel on the county assessor's website.

Why it matters: If you qualify for a homestead exemption but haven't filed for one, you may be paying more than necessary — and in some cases, you may be able to apply retroactively for a partial refund (policies vary by state and county).

Financial Context

12. Mortgage Status

What to provide: Why it matters: If you have a mortgage with an escrow account, your lender is typically responsible for paying property taxes on your behalf. If taxes went unpaid despite escrow, there may be a lender error. If there's no escrow, the tax responsibility is yours.

Also, mortgage lenders have a financial interest in your property — they sometimes pay delinquent taxes to protect their lien position and then add the amount to your mortgage balance. Knowing your mortgage status helps us understand the full picture.

13. Other Liens on the Property

What to provide: Are there any other liens on the property besides the tax lien? These could include: Where to find this: A title search or your county recorder's office can show all recorded liens. If you've refinanced recently, your title report will list them.

Why it matters: Other liens affect the options available to you and the priority of claims on the property. Tax liens generally take priority over most other liens, but understanding the full picture matters for planning.

14. Income and Household Information (Optional but Helpful)

What to provide: Your general income range and household composition — are you a senior (65+)? A veteran? Do you have a disability? Is this a low-income household?

Why it matters: Many states and counties offer exemptions, deferrals, and assistance programs based on age, veteran status, disability, and income. We can help identify programs you may qualify for, but only if we know to look.

This information is kept confidential. You don't need to provide exact figures — general ranges are enough to determine eligibility for most programs.

Before Your Call: Quick Checklist

Use this to confirm you're ready:

Don't Have Everything? That's OK.

You do not need every item on this list to have a productive conversation. At minimum, start with:

1. Property address and county
2. Approximate amount owed
3. Any deadline you're aware of

We can look up the rest. The goal of this worksheet isn't to create a barrier — it's to help you feel prepared and to make our time together as useful as possible.

If you're unsure about anything on this list, that's exactly what the consultation is for. Bring what you have, and we'll fill in the gaps together.

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder — Look up your county by address
https://geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder/

2. Texas Tax Code § 34.21 — Redemption periods by property type
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TX/htm/TX.34.htm

3. CFPB — Mortgage Escrow Accounts
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-an-escrow-or-impound-account-en-140/

4. HUD — Housing Counseling Agency Search (free assistance finding local help)
https://www.hud.gov/findacounselor

Need Help With Your Situation?

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Call (629) 401-9342