What are the penalties for late payment of property taxes?

In the state of Washington, penalties for late payment of property taxes may vary depending on the county. Generally, however, any taxes not paid by April 30th are assessed a late penalty of 1% of the tax due for each month (or portion of a month) the taxes are unpaid. Additionally, if taxes remain unpaid for two months or more, a lien may be placed on the property, which is essentially an additional penalty that must be paid off to avoid foreclosure. This lien penalty consists of an additional 0.5% penalty on the unpaid balance for each month the taxes remain unpaid. In some cases, additional charges, such as interest, may also be assessed. It is important to note that while late payment penalties are enforced by the county, the responsibility of paying property taxes falls solely on the property owner. Ignorance of the tax payment due date is not an acceptable excuse for not paying taxes, and penalties will still apply. To avoid late payment penalties and the risk of a lien, property owners should pay their taxes on or before the due date. Most counties in Washington provide payment plans and/or letters of extension to help property owners pay their taxes on time.

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