How to Check for Property Back Taxes and Tax Liens for FREE

⬜ IMAGE: Screenshot of a county treasurer's online property tax search page, showing the search field where you enter a parcel number and the resulting tax payment history. Use a real county site (e.g., Pueblo County CO Treasurer or Charlotte County FL Tax Collector) or Adobe Stock search: 'property tax records database.'

Who Is Responsible for Back Property Taxes?

This is one of the most important questions to ask when buying land. You could be buying a property that has hundreds or even thousands of dollars owing on it, and as the new owner, you would be responsible for those debts.

To make sure you buy debt-free (or at least with full knowledge of what's owed), you need to check the taxes and tax liens against the property before you close.

What You Need

Two things: the county the land is in, and the parcel number. If a seller cannot provide the parcel number, that's a red flag.

Step 1: Search the County Treasurer's Database

Find the Treasurer's page for the county and look for an online parcel search. Search Google for '[County Name] treasurer parcel search'. You want keywords like 'online parcel search' or 'treasurer parcel search'.

Enter the parcel number and look for the property tax history. You'll be able to see whether taxes are current or delinquent, and often the full payment history going back several years.

⬜ IMAGE: Screenshot of a county treasurer parcel search result showing the tax payment history. Ideally, look for a year showing 'delinquent' or 'unpaid' status to illustrate what buyers need to watch for. Blur or anonymize any real parcel data. Adobe Stock search: 'delinquent property tax notice.'

Step 2: Call the Treasurer's Office Directly

Online databases aren't always current. At Compass Land USA, our standard process is to call the Treasurer's office directly and ask for all money owing on the parcel. If there's a phone number on the page, use it. It's the fastest way to get accurate, up-to-date information.

If the county doesn't have an online database, call the Treasurer's office and give them the parcel number. They'll look up any back taxes and liens for you.

For federal tax liens, you can also search the IRS Federal Tax Lien database or ask your title company to run a full lien search.

What Happens If There Are Back Taxes?

If the property has back taxes owing, you have options. You can ask the seller to pay them off before closing. This is the cleanest approach and should be confirmed in writing. Some title companies will handle this as part of closing.

If you're willing to pay the back taxes yourself, some counties allow you to pay outstanding amounts by phone or online. Expect a processing fee if paying by card.

That's It

That's the second step on your due diligence checklist: checking what taxes and tax liens are owed on a property. And now you know how to do it for free.

Before this step, make sure you've already verified who owns the property. The next step: check the property zoning to make sure you can legally use the land for your intended purpose.

The information in this article should not be interpreted as legal advice. If you're considering buying land, consult a paralegal or real estate attorney for guidance specific to your situation.