What is the difference between a property tax lien and a tax deed?

Property tax liens and tax deeds are two different forms of taxation that the state of West Virginia uses to collect revenues. A property tax lien is a legal claim that is placed against a property by a government entity when the property owner has failed to pay their property taxes. This lien gives the government a right to collect the amount due on the property taxes, plus any applicable interest and late fees, before it can be sold or refinanced. A tax deed, on the other hand, is issued when the property taxes remain unpaid after a period of time. This deed gives the government the authority to take possession of the property and sell it in order to collect the outstanding property taxes. The proceeds from the sale are used to pay off the taxes that are owed, plus any applicable interest, penalties, or other fees. The primary difference between a property tax lien and a tax deed is that a lien does not give the government the right to take possession of the property, whereas a tax deed does. A property tax lien is essentially a form of security that the government holds in order to ensure that an individual or business pays their property taxes. A tax deed, however, gives the government the right to take possession of the property and sell it in order to collect the taxes that are owed.

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