Information for Property Owners

Public Act 123 of 1999 shortens the amount of time property owners have to pay their delinquent taxes before losing their property. Property owners with taxes that are three years delinquent will be foreclosed and the property will be sold at public auction. For example, people who fail to pay their 2016 delinquent property taxes will lose their property to foreclosure in March, 2019.

Property owners who have multiple tax years owing will have to pay all tax years through the year in forfeiture (2016 is the most recent year forfeited) by March, 2019 to avoid losing their property.

Property owners face higher interest and fees for not paying their taxes. Taxes that remain delinquent for more than 1 year are placed into Forfeiture, and will have a substantially higher interest rate (1.5% per month, as opposed to the current 1%). When a property goes into Forfeiture, taxes will also have $354 in forfeiture fees added to them.

The County Treasurer accepts partial payments on delinquent property taxes. If you have difficulty paying your tax bill in full, making partial payments may help you to avoid forfeiture and foreclosure.

Pay your delinquent taxes now! Foreclosure is final!

2024 Property Taxes

March 1, 2025:
Unpaid real property taxes are turned over to the County Treasurer for collection. A 4% administration fee and 1% interest per month is added.

June 1, 2025:
First notice by first class mail.

September 1, 2025
Second notice by first class mail.

October 1, 2025:
$15 fee added to each parcel for which delinquent taxes remain unpaid.

February 1, 2026:
Third notice (certified mail).

March 1, 2026:
Properties with unpaid delinquent taxes are forfeited to the County Treasurer. A fee of $354 is added, plus the interest increases from 1% to 1.5% per month retroactive to March 1, 2014.

Beginning March 1 thru May 1, 2026:
Title Search is conducted to identify all owners entitled to notice.

Beginning June 15, 2019 thru Jan. 30, 2027:
Fourth notice certified mail and personal notice served.

Jan. 30 thru March 1, 2027:
Circuit Court hearing on foreclosure petition.

March 1, 2027:
Circuit Court enters judgment of foreclosure quieting title. Owner has final 31 days to redeem the property.

March 31, 2027:
Redemption rights expire. The owner loses all rights to property.

Aug. or Sept. 2027:
Property offered at public auction for minimum bid (amount of tax, interest and fees uncollected). Properties are sold to the highest bidder

Beginning with the 2021 foreclosures, in accordance with MCL 211.78t those who hold title or equity interest in property at the time of foreclosure, may file to claim leftover proceeds, if any are available, associated to those parcels which sell for more than the owing delinquency.  Claiming potential proceeds begins with filing the below form 5743 Notice of Intention to Claim Interest in Foreclosure Sales Proceeds with the Foreclosing Governmental Unit (FGU) by the July 1 immediately following the effective date of the foreclosure.  The FGU will respond by January 31 following the foreclosure auctions, with a form 5744 Notice to Claimant to File Motion with the Circuit Court.  Provided there actually are surplus proceeds remaining for the property, the claimant may then file a motion with the circuit court between February 1 and May 15, following the notice from the FGU.  The courts will then set a hearing date and time to determine claim payments.

A claim may be made for pre-2021 foreclosure sales only if the Michigan supreme court orders that its decision in Rafaeli, LLC v Oakland County, docket no. 156849, applies retroactively.  We will update this information, following any supreme court ruling.

As a result of a recent decision by the Michigan Supreme Court, if your property was foreclosed and sold in an auction between 2015 through 2020, you may be eligible to claim remaining proceeds from the sale.  This includes persons with an interest in the property (i.e. mortgage and lien holders).

The completed forms must be served to the Saginaw County Treasurer's Office in person or by certified mail by March 31, 2025.

Saginaw County Treasurer
111 S. Michigan Ave, Rm 107
Saginaw, MI 48602

https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/property/forfeiture-foreclosure/taxpayer-resources

2025 FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES

Size of Family Unit Poverty Guidelines
1 $ 15,650
2 $ 21,150
3 $ 26,650
4 $ 32,150
5 $ 37,650
6 $ 43,150
7 $ 48,650
8 $ 54,150
For each additional person $ 5,500

APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT PROOF OF INCOME FOR ALL ADULT HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS

Hardship Exemptions are granted by our local Board of Review.
Under Michigan State Law the Board of Review follows specific guidelines and determines the amount of property taxes you are responsible for base on your household income.