Foreclosed Properties

Your tax statement each year will show all taxes that are delinquent and your current year taxes.

If you have an unpaid balance from a previous year, your payment options will be listed on the front of your tax statement, and it will also include the current year payment. To take advantage of the discount program, the total amount due must be paid in full. If you would like to pay the outstanding portion only, please contact us at, (541) 766-6808 and we can verify the amount due.
.

Your property taxes are due in full by November 15^th, or in 3 installments: November 15^th, February 15^th, and May 15^th.

Any taxes not paid on or before May 15^th are considered delinquent.
.

Property can be foreclosed 3 years after the first date of delinquency, and interest continues to accrue at 1.333% on the 16^th of each month.

You will receive 3 notices letting you know that your taxes are late; they will also contain information about the foreclosure process.

July 15^th is the last day to pay your taxes with a personal check, after that we only accept cash, money orders, cashier’s checks.
.

Publication can be avoided by paying the full tax and interest on the tax year causing the foreclosure. Payments have to be received in the tax office no later then 5:00 pm on the date in your notice (postmarks are not accepted).

Cash, money order, and certified funds are the only forms of payment accepted.
.

Mid to end of August. The publication includes: property owner name, contract buyer, property identification, delinquent tax years, and total tax/interest owed.

At this time, an application for General Judgement is filed with the Circuit Court.
.

Yes. The General Judgement is received approximately 30 days after the property is published in the newspaper, and the property can still be removed from the foreclosure process by paying the year of taxes and interest that caused the foreclosure, and the 5% penalty.

Payments accepted include: cash, money order, and certified funds.
.

Judgement is granted a minimum of 30 days after the application has been filed. Once secured, all tax years, interest, and penalties have to be paid to get the property out of foreclosure.

If you believe your property should not be in foreclosure, you have 30 days to file an answer with the court.
.

Once the Circuit Court grants the General Judgement, the 2-year redemption period begins. To release your property at this point, you will have to pay:

• All taxes and interest shown in the Judgement
• 5% penalty
• 9% interest annually on the judgement period
• Any fee for a lien and encumbrances report completed during the 2^nd year

Partial payments are not accepted.
.

• Person(s) with recorded legal interest in the property at the date of judgement
• An heir or devisee of person(s) with a legal interest in the property
• A holder of a lien of record on the property (ex: mortgage company)

Name changes are not permitted during the redemption period, and the owner listed in the judgement has the right of possession. If the property is destroyed, in any way, it may be immediately acquired by the tax collector.
.

At the end of the 2-year redemption period; the Tax Collector deeds the property to Benton County and all taxes, interest, and penalties are cancelled. Once this happens, the taxpayer’s ownership is terminated. At this point, Benton County can choose to sell the property at a public auction to the highest bidder.

There are some circumstances where Benton County can accelerate the redemption period.
.

Benton County Tax Department
Kalapuya Building
4500 SW Research Way
Corvallis, OR 97333
(541) 766-6808
.