who pays for the back taxes on a floreclosure home?

Answer 1

It is going to depend upon the process specified by the governmental body that is foreclosing on the property.

In a tax lien state, the lien is offered to prospective investors at public auction. The purchaser of the foreclosed property must wait a specified period of time (referred to as the "redemption period"), during which time the property owner (or someone with an interest in the property) may repay the tax lien with interest.

In some jurisdictions, the lienholder must agree to pay subsequent unpaid property taxes during the redemption period in order to protect his/her interest.

Once the redemption period is over, the lien holder may initiate foreclosure proceedings. The proceedings (the costs of which must be paid by the lien holder, though a redeeming property owner may be required to pay them as part of redemption) may result in either acquiring title to the property (normally this will be a quit claim deed and not insurable title), or a tax deed sale of the property where the lien holder has the right of first bid (and may participate by making additional bids if s/he so chooses).

During the period between the initiation of proceedings and actual foreclosure, the property owner still has the opportunity to repay the lien with interest plus the costs incurred to foreclose.

Answer 2

If your mortgage was forclosed upon the bank takes up the responsibility for the property taxes as of the date of the foreclosure. As a practical matter they'll have to pay the arrearages to protect their interest. However it's likely that they will just add that on to whatever debt you owe left over from the foreclosure. So in the end, it will be back to you one way or another.

Answer 3

The tax is levied on the property, not the owner. Staying the owner requires that the owner eventually pay. If he or she has some recourse against a previous owner, the county tax collector is not concerned.