Late Fee

• When you miss paying your property taxes for the first time, you are generally assessed a financial penalty plus interest. The amount of this financial penalty will vary, depending upon the city the property is located in. However, it averages 10 percent to 12 percent of total amount owed. If you pay only a portion of your property taxes before the deadline, many cities will penalize you as if none of the taxes were paid. The penalty amount is a percentage of the total amount of taxes that is owed. The penalty amount is added to the delinquent taxes.
  
  

County Pays

• If your property taxes remain unpaid for a few years, the jurisdiction turns the matter over to the county. The exact amount of years will vary by county. However, three to five years is the norm. Once the matter is turned over to the county, the county will pay the property taxes that are owed. The county will then slap you with additional penalties, on top of the penalties that were already assessed by the city. As a result, you now have double penalties on top of the delinquent property taxes.
  
  

County Takes Ownership

• The county will generally give you a time frame to take care of the matter. Some counties even allow you to pay your taxes and penalties using an installment plan. If you fail to pay all of the penalties and property taxes by the designated deadline, the county will take ownership of your property. This is generally done by sending a sheriff to seize the property.
  
  

County Auction

• To satisfy the taxes and penalties that are due on your property, the county will sell your property at a public auction. The county's goal is to sell the property for enough money to cover the costs of the taxes, penalties and interest that you owe. The highest bidder in the auction assumes ownership of and all rights to the property.