Tax Claim Bureau

Overview

The Tax Claim Bureau provides for the efficient collection of delinquent real estate taxes and the return of properties to the tax rolls.

Each year, the Tax Claim Bureau receives and distributes approximately $25 million in taxes to the County, 54 Bucks County townships and boroughs, and Bucks County school districts.

The Bureau receives over 8,500 liens each year. These liens are settled either through receipt of payment or an agreement to stay sale of property. The Bureau remains in constant contact with the public and their financial problems regarding these liens.

Effective Immediately, the Tax Claim Bureau will not accept cash until further notice.

Tax Claim Public Access

Visit the Online Property Tax Inquiry website for Bucks County Tax Claim Bureau for additional information and resources.

Procedure for Collecting Delinquent Taxes 

Real estate tax notices are mailed out by each municipality's tax collector. If the taxes are not paid by December 31st (of the year the taxes become due and payable) each local tax collector returns all delinquent and uncollectables to the Tax Claim Bureau for further collection.

The Bureau sends out a Notice of Claim which notifies each property owner with the delinquent taxes that a claim has been entered against the property. These notices are generally mailed by certified mail in the spring of the year after the tax was due. The tax claim becomes "absolute" if it is not paid by December 31st of the year it was turned over to the Tax Claim Bureau.

In July (of the 2nd year after the original tax bill was issued by the local tax collector), the property owner will receive notice that the property will be advertised, posted and sold: the sale is not to be earlier than the 2nd Monday of September, but before October 1. If the tax due is not paid by July 1, the property is advertised for sale, and posted by the Bucks County Sheriff. (After June 1st of that same year, payment must be made in the form of a cashier's check or money order.)

The upset sale is held in September of the second year following the initial billing from the tax collector. If the properties are not sold at the upset sale, they are listed to be sold at a judicial sale.

The last opportunity for the taxpayer to pay the taxes due and avoid the upset sale would be prior to the close of business at the courthouse the day before the sale.

At this time, bids are not being accepted for the repository sale.