IRS Tax Support

Unpaid property taxes are soaring in Orange County. Officials say so far there’s $147 million in late tax bills.They say the number of people who haven’t paid their property taxes has climbed 48 percent compared to this same time last year.

The county says about six-and-a-half percent of all the bills mailed out this year didn’t get responded to. The tax collector’s office can see why.

“If people don’t pay their taxes, it takes five years before it will go to public auction. Whereas if you don’t pay your bank, they can foreclose on you and boot you out in six months,” said Keith Rodenhuis of the Orange County Tax Collector’s Office.

Homeowners are so short on cash people are using multiple credit cards to pay their property taxes.

Officials say this is a trend they’re seeing nationwide.

ABC7