Liable for an incorrect real estate tax bill?

Question

About 10 years ago I bought a piece of land for $58,000 zoned residential in a rural township in the upper midwest. The tax bill should be around $1300/year. ------------------------- The third year I owned it the tax bill was for a different piece of property for only $130. I notified them, they corrected it, and I paid the $1300. The next year they had corrected all the information on the tax bill - except the value. So I got another bill for $130 and have every year since. ------------------------------------- Originally, I had planned on building a home there but due to unforeseen changes in my life I'm considering selling it. What is going to happen when I go to sell it? Will I be reponsible for the approximately $10k they short-billed me? (I am also posting this in the real estate category)

The zoning has not changed. It is still zoned residential (it's noted on the tax bill every year).

Answer 1

No,, if you paid what they sent you a bill for, you are not liable

Answer 2

have you considered that the tax value and tax due changed due to a change in the property use or zoning.??
if i read your question correctly they originally made a mistake and you brought it to there attention and the following year it was back down to 130.00??
it sounds to me like they changed the properties zoning use which effected the properties tax value and millage resulting in a lower tax bill. the fact that they "corrected" it back to the higher amount only to reduce it back down for the next ten years or so makes me believe it is not a mistake, but a change.

Answer 3

If they catch it, you could be liable for at least the recent years, depending on what the statute of limitations is where you live - probably not all ten years. It's hard to tell whether they'll catch it or not - very possibly not.

Answer 4

If you bring it to their attention they will verylikely attempt to collect the unpaid tax.