Property Taxes! Two due dates every year that can't be missed. They are easy to be overlooked by elderly homeowners though. Not paying these bills can be a problem and if they are forgotten for several years, the consequences can be enormous.
The late fees are hefty. Using Placer County in California as an example, the late fees total the sum of a 10% penalty plus a $10 cost. Additional penalties are charged if the taxes are not paid by June of the following year. Other counties have different fees, but they are all pretty hefty.
Even worse, if your elderly parent keeps setting aside the tax bill, and it goes unpaid for several years, they could lose the house totally if the government sells the house to recover the unpaid taxes.
Discuss this subject with your elderly parents. Follow up to make sure they are actually paying the bill, as sometimes they can get confused and think they paid it when they didn't. Many counties offer the option to view and pay tax bills online. This can be especially helpful for long-distance caregivers. Look up the government website for the county your parents live in. This should direct you to the website for the agency that collects the property taxes.
Property taxes are not popular, but not paying them is worse. Give your elderly parents an early Christmas gift by checking in with them to make sure they've paid them.
Comments(0)