Tax Delinquent List Request DENIED! Please Help!

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Tax Delinquent List Request DENIED! Please Help!

Alexandra Wright
Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes

Hi there, I'm a newbie in NC and called a  county's tax department to see if I could get a tax delinquent list. They were extremely rude, and told me that they can't give me that information. I politely stated that they must have a tax delinquent list if they send letters out to the owners of these properties to let them know they are delinquent on their taxes. They said they don't have a tax delinquent list, and they don't have an assessor's list either that they can give me because it wouldn't help them ( even though it actually WOULD because I would pay the back taxes on the properties...). She said that NO counties in North Carolina can give me a list of any properties, even though I pointed out that it's public information. I'm so frustrated right now. They wanted to know why I needed it so I told them I'm an investor, and she said that the information was only for the people who owed taxes, not for someone like me (in a very accusatory manner, I might add). How do I get a hold of these lists? I need an assessor's roll, vacant property list, and assessor's list with all of the parcels for various counties in North Carolina. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!

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Tehseen Baweja
Plano, TX · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 7 votes
11y

@Alexandra WrightYou may want to find out the section of North Carolina law that binds them to provide this information. For example, my county's website has this posted:

"Section 1.10 of the Texas Property Tax Code requires our office to provide electronic files to be made available to the general public. There are two types of files that we provide:

Tax Roll

This roll provides information on all properties collected by our office. The information included in this file is as follows:

  • Account numbers
  • Owner names and address
  • Taxable value of property
  • Exemptions
  • Tax levy amounts

Delinquent Tax Roll

The delinquent tax roll provides the same information as above, but only on accounts that have a delinquent balance due.

Tax Rolls are available in the following formats:

  • FTP- No Charge
  • CD-$5.00
  • Hard Copy- 10 cents per page
  • Unfortunately the size of the tax roll files prevents our office from emailing them to requestors.
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  • Carol Zeroual
    Boxborough, MA · Member since 2014 · 230 posts · 62 votes
    11y

    I'm not sure if they make those lists, but try Listsource.com.

    1Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Carol Zeroual:

    I'm not sure if they make those lists, but try Listsource.com.

     Thank you, I tried listsource but they don't have that. 

    0Reply
  • Tehseen Baweja
    Plano, TX · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 7 votes
    11y

    @Alexandra WrightYou may want to find out the section of North Carolina law that binds them to provide this information. For example, my county's website has this posted:

    "Section 1.10 of the Texas Property Tax Code requires our office to provide electronic files to be made available to the general public. There are two types of files that we provide:

    Tax Roll

    This roll provides information on all properties collected by our office. The information included in this file is as follows:

    • Account numbers
    • Owner names and address
    • Taxable value of property
    • Exemptions
    • Tax levy amounts

    Delinquent Tax Roll

    The delinquent tax roll provides the same information as above, but only on accounts that have a delinquent balance due.

    Tax Rolls are available in the following formats:

    • FTP- No Charge
    • CD-$5.00
    • Hard Copy- 10 cents per page
    • Unfortunately the size of the tax roll files prevents our office from emailing them to requestors.
    4Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Tehseen Baweja:

    @Alexandra WrightYou may want to find out the section of North Carolina law that binds them to provide this information. For example, my county's website has this posted:

    "Section 1.10 of the Texas Property Tax Code requires our office to provide electronic files to be made available to the general public. There are two types of files that we provide:

    Tax Roll

    This roll provides information on all properties collected by our office. The information included in this file is as follows:

    • Account numbers
    • Owner names and address
    • Taxable value of property
    • Exemptions
    • Tax levy amounts

    Delinquent Tax Roll

    The delinquent tax roll provides the same information as above, but only on accounts that have a delinquent balance due.

    Tax Rolls are available in the following formats:

    • FTP- No Charge
    • CD-$5.00
    • Hard Copy- 10 cents per page
    • Unfortunately the size of the tax roll files prevents our office from emailing them to requestors.

    What a GREAT idea! Thank you so much! Where would I find this?

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Central Valley, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    11y

    There is no tax delinquent "list" in many states and counties.  Just because it's public info doesn't mean there is a law the requires the information be formatted for your benefit.  Study up on the procedure for NC tax defaults.  When is a property considered tax defaulted? Is there public notice and/or publication of the default? (There usually is, as munis can't go selling property or tax liens without proper notice.)

    Listsource doesn't have tax defaults as far as I know. 

    Call a title company, talk to a title rep and ask what marketing and other services they have for customers.  I was able to pull 2400 tax defaults of SFHs in Greensboro five minutes ago, so I know the data is out there. :)

    3Reply
  • Tehseen Baweja
    Plano, TX · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 7 votes
    11y

    @Alexandra Wright

     How about this (found on Wake county's website):

    Government records in North Carolina are public in nature unless identified as confidential pursuant to law. Wake County must adhere to the North Carolina Public Records Law, found at N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, which provides that “the public records and public information compiled by the agencies of North Carolina government or its subdivisions are the property of the people. Therefore, it is the policy of this State that the people may obtain copies of their public records and public information free or at minimal cost unless otherwise specifically provided by law.”

    The Law states that public records "shall mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions."

    Examples of public records include (but are not limited to):

    • Real estate data
    • Deed information
    • Tax bill information
    • Arrest records
    • Certain voter registration information

    N.C.G.S. 132-1.2 and N.C.G.S. 14-113.20 define "confidential information" and "identifying information." Wake County acknowledges and adheres to these definitions and the direction provided in N.C.G.S 132-1.

    1Reply
  • Tehseen Baweja
    Plano, TX · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 7 votes
    11y

    @Account ClosedGood point. Just because it's public information does not mean they have it readily available. I called a few counties in TX and everybody has a different process, data format, time duration as well as cost. 

    1Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:

    There is no tax delinquent "list" in many states and counties.  Just because it's public info doesn't mean there is a law the requires the information be formatted for your benefit.  Study up on the procedure for NC tax defaults.  When is a property considered tax defaulted? Is there public notice and/or publication of the default? (There usually is, as munis can't go selling property or tax liens without proper notice.)

    Listsource doesn't have tax defaults as far as I know. 

    Call a title company, talk to a title rep and ask what marketing and other services they have for customers.  I was able to pull 2400 tax defaults of SFHs in Greensboro five minutes ago, so I know the data is out there. :)

    Originally posted by Kristine Marie Poe:

    There is no tax delinquent "list" in many states and counties. Just because it's public info doesn't mean there is a law the requires the information be formatted for your benefit. Study up on the procedure for NC tax defaults. When is a property considered tax defaulted? Is there public notice and/or publication of the default? (There usually is, as munis can't go selling property or tax liens without proper notice.)

    Listsource doesn't have tax defaults as far as I know.

    Call a title company, talk to a title rep and ask what marketing and other services they have for customers. I was able to pull 2400 tax defaults of SFHs in Greensboro five minutes ago, so I know the data is out there. :)

    Thank you for the info, do you mind if I send you a pm? And don't worry - I'm not interested in SFHs and am looking to fill a different niche, so we aren't competitors LOL

    0Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Tehseen Baweja:

    @Account ClosedGood point. Just because it's public information does not mean they have it readily available. I called a few counties in TX and everybody has a different process, data format, time duration as well as cost. 

     Basically they told me that they have no list readily available, but how is that possible if it's in the database, and if they send out letters to people who owe back taxes?

    0Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y

    Do you think any of these third-party Electronic Listing Systems would give me the list?

    http://www.dornc.com/taxes/property/electroniclisting.html

    0Reply
  • Rene Martinez
    Wholesaler · Grand Prairie, TX · Member since 2014 · 202 posts · 66 votes
    11y

    Google "open records request" and your county. I had the same luck when speaking to people at my tax asseror's office. I googled that and faxed it in, paid $19 and had it within a week 

    1Reply
  • Todd Plambeck
    Agent/Investor · Murphy, TX · Member since 2013 · 542 posts · 304 votes
    11y

    You might need to file a FOIA request.  Here's a link to a sample you can use in NC:

    http://www.nfoic.org/north-carolina-sample-foia-request

    1Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Rene Martinez:

    Google "open records request" and your county. I had the same luck when speaking to people at my tax asseror's office. I googled that and faxed it in, paid $19 and had it within a week 

     Wow, great! Thank you!

    0Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Todd Plambeck:

    You might need to file a FOIA request.  Here's a link to a sample you can use in NC:

    http://www.nfoic.org/north-carolina-sample-foia-request

     Great, thank you so much!

    0Reply
  • Mike Watkins
    Wholesaler · Powder Springs, GA · Member since 2013 · 516 posts · 143 votes
    11y

    I called the county there as well and was laughed at for wanting to pay other people taxes. When I figure it out I want to go there and show them and then laugh at them for how much money I made. I'm focusing on my home turf for now but NC is the next are I'm looking at. 

    0Reply
  • Derek B.
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2014 · 212 posts · 143 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Alexandra Wright:

    Do you think any of these third-party Electronic Listing Systems would give me the list?

    http://www.dornc.com/taxes/property/electroniclisting.html

     dornc is the dept of revenue, ie the irs at the state level.  The property taxes that you are interested in are at the county level.  

    0Reply
  • Derek B.
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2014 · 212 posts · 143 votes
    11y

    @Alexandra Wright  as @Account Closed pointed out, there's a difference between information that is public and to which you are entitled vs the county having to provide that information in a list set to your specifications.  Almost every county here offers the ability to look up a property by owner name or address, then look at the property tax bill history for that property and whether or not taxes are paid/current. The information is there, just not always in a perfect list.  Some counties in our state, including yours Alexandra, do offer a search function where you can find just the delinquent records, filtered by tax year and amount owed.  Thats a bonus when its published that way.  

    And try to go easy on the people at the county tax office. They are just trying to do their jobs the best way they know how. You would be surprised, or maybe not, at the number of requests they receive for lists of various types.  

    1Reply
  • Shanequa J.
    Realtor · Houston, TX · Member since 2011 · 916 posts · 296 votes
    11y

    Its not hard to find anything in NC. There's no such thing as private information. That's what I loved about the state. I used to go directly to the Cumberland County tax assessor's website and search for the data. Ahh, the good old days. Everything is so guarded here in Texas.

    Google is my friend. Make it yours too. Here ya go. Guilford County Tax Department

    3Reply
  • David Hall
    Hickory, NC · Member since 2013 · 1 post · 2 votes
    11y
    Some NC counties post this info online. Ie, catawba county has it as part of their GIS info. You can look at a property and see if the taxes are current or delinquent. And how much they are.
    2Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Derek B.:

    @Alexandra Wright  as @Account Closed pointed out, there's a difference between information that is public and to which you are entitled vs the county having to provide that information in a list set to your specifications.  Almost every county here offers the ability to look up a property by owner name or address, then look at the property tax bill history for that property and whether or not taxes are paid/current. The information is there, just not always in a perfect list.  Some counties in our state, including yours Alexandra, do offer a search function where you can find just the delinquent records, filtered by tax year and amount owed.  Thats a bonus when its published that way.  

    And try to go easy on the people at the county tax office. They are just trying to do their jobs the best way they know how. You would be surprised, or maybe not, at the number of requests they receive for lists of various types.  

    Well, thanks for posting an I understand what you're saying. I was just taken aback at some of the rudeness I encountered, it's not that they said "no" as much as it is the WAY that it was said. I don't feel entitled - I guess I just had different expectations as to how this would go after buying a course upwards of 1k that told me I would be able to do this... Can you please explain to me how Iook at ALL of the delinquent records that fit my criteria ( I'm interested in a niche target so it's not like we'll be competing for the same properties). I'm well aware of the property search website, but I don't have an address - that's the whole point of getting the list... Does that make sense? How do I look at the tax delinquent properties without having a property address?

    0Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Shanequa J.:

    Its not hard to find anything in NC. There's no such thing as private information. That's what I loved about the state. I used to go directly to the Cumberland County tax assessor's website and search for the data. Ahh, the good old days. Everything is so guarded here in Texas.

    Google is my friend. Make it yours too. Here ya go. Guilford County Tax Department

    Originally posted by @David Hall:

    Some NC counties post this info online. Ie, catawba county has it as part of their GIS info. You can look at a property and see if the taxes are current or delinquent. And how much they are.

    Thank you both, but I already knew that I could look up a property  by it's address/parcel i.d./ owner name, etc. and get the tax info and assessed value - that's not the problem at all. The problem is that I don't have the property addresses to begin with. I'm trying to get an assessor's roll or tax delinquent property list, and they refused to give me either...

    0Reply
  • Shanequa J.
    Realtor · Houston, TX · Member since 2011 · 916 posts · 296 votes
    11y

    Did you even look at the website I provided or play with the fields? Bc if you did, you would see that you don't need a specific property address.

    1Reply
  • Alexandra Wright
    OP
    Greensboro, NC · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Shanequa J.:

    Did you even look at the website I provided or play with the fields? Bc if you did, you would see that you don't need a specific property address.

     Oops... Sorry lol, I as soon as I saw the web address I knew I had already been to the website, but I've never clicked on the tab you have it set to, thank you soooo much - this is really helpful :) I love Biggerpockets, you guys are amazing! Thanks for your patience with me, I'm new at this and I'm also pretty young so I don't have a whole lot of experience yet.

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