Property Tax Help
Behind on Property Taxes? Get Help Exploring Your Options.
You may be able to explore ways to keep your home, address delinquent taxes, or sell if that makes more financial sense.
We will help you understand the balance, the deadline, and the real estate choices in front of you — and we will tell you plainly when a question needs the county, an attorney, or a tax professional instead of us.
Deadlines are the priority
A tax-sale date changes everything. Confirm it with the county, then decide.
Get the numbers in writing
Balance, penalties, interest, and payoff figures should come from official sources.
Protect the equity
Compare what each option leaves you, not just how fast it closes.
Start here
Understanding Delinquent Property Taxes
Property taxes are usually billed annually and may be paid in installments depending on the county. When a balance remains unpaid after the due date, the county can add penalties and interest, and the debt can become a lien on the property. Over time, an unpaid balance may lead to a tax sale, where the county sells the right to collect the delinquent amount.
Three numbers matter more than any headline: what you owe (principal, penalties, and interest), when it is due, and what happens if it is not paid. Those facts come from the Richmond County tax office, not from a marketer. Get them first, and keep copies of every notice you receive.
A tax delinquency is not the same as a mortgage foreclosure, even when both are happening at once. They run on separate timelines, with separate notices and separate remedies. If you are dealing with both, tell us — the order in which you address them matters.
Can I Keep My Home?
Keeping the home is worth investigating seriously. Depending on your situation, the conversation may include a payment arrangement with the county, a partial payment where accepted, a homestead or hardship program you may qualify for, mortgage loss mitigation if a mortgage is also behind, or help from a HUD-approved counselor.
Financial planning matters here: a realistic monthly amount you can sustain is more useful than an optimistic promise. If keeping the home is not financially feasible, we will say so rather than let a deadline pass while you hope.
What Happens If I Cannot Pay?
Consequences depend on the county's process and Georgia law, and they escalate over time. Unpaid balances can accrue additional penalties and interest, the lien can affect your ability to sell or refinance, and a tax sale can transfer the right to collect the debt — with redemption rules and deadlines attached.
Do not rely on secondhand dates. Verify official deadlines directly, and speak with a qualified Georgia attorney if a sale has been scheduled or your title is at risk.
What If Selling Is the Best Option?
If keeping the home is not realistic, or if you would rather convert the equity and move on, selling can be a legitimate choice. You can compare a traditional listing, a direct as-is cash offer, and — where a property qualifies — a purchase-and-resale arrangement.
Each route has different costs, timelines, and ownership consequences. Ask for a written net-proceeds estimate before you commit, and remember that a fast as-is sale may produce less than a prepared listing.
Direct as-is cash offer
Sell in current condition with a negotiated closing timeline.
Request an offerPurchase-and-resale program
Ownership transfers at the first closing; a later contractual payment may follow resale.
See program termsCommon questions
Property tax questions we hear most.
Short answers, with the caveat that your county and your documents control the specifics.
Final step
Don't Ignore an Approaching Tax-Sale Deadline. Get Help Exploring Your Next Step.
Tell us what you know: the balance, the notice, and the date. We will help you identify which conversations to have first — with the county, your mortgage servicer, a counselor, an attorney, or us.
Official Richmond County tax resources
These links go to government and nonprofit sources. Covenant Homeowner Solutions does not control their content and cannot guarantee that a linked page reflects your current balance or deadline.
- Augusta-Richmond County — official websiteCounty departments, including the Tax Commissioner's office and Tax Assessor.
- Richmond County Tax AssessorProperty records, assessments, and questions about your property's valuation.
- Georgia Department of Revenue — pay property tax onlineState directory of county tax offices and online payment links.
Beware of anyone who charges an upfront fee and guarantees they can erase back taxes or stop a sale. Legitimate counseling through HUD-approved agencies is typically free or low cost. Call (706) 426-1335 if you want help understanding what you are being offered.
Keep copies of every notice and every payment. If you speak with the county, note the date, the person you spoke with, and what they told you.Call (706) 426-1335
Advocacy First. Options Always.
You do not have to sort this out alone.
Whether you want to keep the home or decide whether selling makes more sense, the first step is the same: get the facts and talk them through.