HB 261 -- Tax Sale of Land for Delinquent Taxes

Sponsor:  Franz

This bill changes the laws regarding the sale of real property
for the collection of delinquent taxes.  The collector is
required to send up to three notices prior to a tax sale to the
publicly recorded owner of record of the real property.  The
first notice is by first class mail, the second by certified
mail, and a third notice is sent if the certified mail is
returned unsigned to both the owner of record and the occupant of
the real property at least 15 days before the fourth Monday in
August.

The purchase price of the property at a third offering must be at
least equal to the sum of the delinquent taxes, interest,
penalties, and costs.  The certificate of purchase will be issued
to an agent if the purchaser is a nonresident.  The purchaser is
required to pay a fee to the collector to record the certificate
of purchase.  After the third offering, the collector's deed or
trustee's deed will have priority over all the other liens or
encumbrances on the property sold except for real property taxes
or federal liens.

If the delinquent land tax sale results in an amount greater than
the amount of debt, taxes, interest, and costs; the excess
proceeds must be held in trust in the county treasury for three
years for the publicly recorded owner or owners of the property
sold or their legal representatives.  After three years, any
amount not called for will be deposited into the county's school
fund.

The redemption periods for the owner of record to redeem tax sale
property are revised; and the owner must reimburse the purchaser
for all costs of sale, including the cost for recording the
certificate of purchase, the fee to record the release of the
certificate, the cost of the title search, the cost of the
required certified mail notifications, interest at the rate
specified on the certificate, and any taxes paid by the purchaser
plus 8% interest.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am