Behind on Property Taxes in Connecticut

If you're behind on property taxes in Connecticut, your town's tax collector can eventually force a sale of your home — either through a municipal 'tax sale' under state law or by foreclosing the tax lien in court. But you have time and options. After a tax sale there's a redemption period (generally six months) during which you can pay what's owed and keep the property. Paying the balance, setting up a payment arrangement, or selling the home before the sale are all ways to stop the process and protect your equity.

How Connecticut towns collect overdue property taxes

In Connecticut, property taxes are collected at the municipal (town/city) level, and each town's tax collector has several tools to collect what's overdue. Two of them can lead to losing your home:

1. A municipal tax sale (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-157)

The tax collector can sell your property at a public tax sale to recover the unpaid taxes, interest, and charges. Here's the part that protects you: the sale does not immediately end your ownership.

• After the sale, there is a redemption period — generally six months from the date of the sale.
• During that period, you (or a mortgage holder or lienholder) can redeem the property by paying the taxes, interest, and charges that were due, plus 18% annual interest on the price the buyer paid, plus certain other municipal amounts.
• If you redeem in time, the sale is undone and you keep your home. If no one redeems by the deadline, the sale becomes final and title passes to the buyer.
• The redemption period can be shortened to 60 days for abandoned property or under certain local ordinances, and the collector must send you notice of the sale and the redemption deadline.

2. Foreclosing the tax lien in court (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-181)

Instead of a tax sale, a town can foreclose its tax lien through the courts, similar to a mortgage foreclosure. A judge can set a redemption deadline and order the property sold or foreclosed. In some cases where the home's value is low relative to the debt, the town may use a summary (streamlined) foreclosure process.

> This is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines are strict — if you've received a tax-sale or foreclosure notice, contact the tax collector and a Connecticut attorney or legal aid right away.

How to stop it — best options first

You have more control than it feels like. In rough order:

• Call the tax collector's office. Ask about the exact balance, any payment plan or installment arrangement, and hardship or elderly/disabled relief programs the town may offer. Many towns would rather set up a plan than run a sale.
• Check for relief programs. Connecticut and many municipalities have property-tax relief for seniors, veterans, and disabled homeowners. You may qualify for a reduction.
• Talk to a free HUD-approved housing counselor at 1-800-569-4287. They can review your whole picture — mortgage and taxes — at no cost. Always explore counseling and town programs first.
• Pay or redeem within the deadline. If a sale has already happened, redeeming within the (generally six-month) window undoes it.
• Sell the home before the sale is final. If keeping it isn't realistic, selling lets you pay off the taxes and walk away with your remaining equity instead of losing it to a tax sale.

Why selling can protect your equity

If the tax debt keeps growing and you can't catch up, selling before a tax sale or lien foreclosure is finalized often makes sense:

• You keep your equity — the taxes get paid from the sale proceeds, and the rest is yours.
• You avoid the 18% redemption interest and mounting fees piling onto the debt.
• You control the sale instead of leaving it to the town and a tax-sale buyer.

Selling as-is when you're behind

If the home needs work or you need to move fast, selling as-is to a direct buyer avoids repairs, cleanup, and showings. It's one option — weigh it against a traditional listing or a town payment plan.

A note on buyer protections in Connecticut

Connecticut has tightened the rules on real estate "wholesalers" (investors who put a home under contract and assign it to someone else). Under Public Act 25-168, beginning July 1, 2026, wholesalers must register with the state Department of Consumer Protection, disclose to the seller that they are a wholesaler, and give sellers a three-business-day window to cancel the contract, among other protections. It's a good reminder to know exactly who you're dealing with and to never feel rushed into signing.

How we can help

We're an independent matching service — not a buyer, not a law firm, and not a government agency — and we never charge you a fee. If you'd like, we'll check whether we have one vetted local buyer working in your Connecticut county who can make a no-obligation, as-is offer, which may let you clear the taxes and keep your remaining equity. No pressure, no cost, and you can walk away anytime.

If we don't have a buyer in your county — or you'd rather try to keep the home — we'll point you to a free HUD-approved counselor at 1-800-569-4287 and encourage you to call your town's tax collector about a payment plan.

Frequently asked questions

How long before the town can take my house for unpaid taxes in Connecticut?

There's no single number — it depends on your town and which method it uses. The tax collector can eventually hold a tax sale under § 12-157 or foreclose the lien in court under § 12-181. Both involve notices and deadlines. The key is that after a tax sale you still generally get a six-month redemption period. Contact the tax collector to learn exactly where you stand.

What is the redemption period after a Connecticut tax sale?

Generally six months from the date of the tax sale. During that time you (or a mortgage/lienholder) can redeem by paying the taxes, interest, and charges due, plus 18% annual interest on what the buyer paid. Redeem in time and the sale is undone. The period can be as short as 60 days for abandoned property or under certain local ordinances.

Can I set up a payment plan instead of losing my home?

Often, yes. Many Connecticut tax collectors will arrange an installment or payment plan rather than force a sale. Call the tax collector's office directly and ask about payment arrangements and any hardship, senior, veteran, or disability relief programs your town offers.

What's the difference between a tax sale and a tax lien foreclosure?

A tax sale (§ 12-157) is a public sale of the property by the tax collector, followed by a redemption period. A tax lien foreclosure (§ 12-181) is a court case, similar to a mortgage foreclosure, where a judge can set a redemption deadline and order the property foreclosed or sold. Towns choose which route to use.

Can I sell my house if I already owe back taxes?

Yes. The unpaid taxes are typically paid out of the sale proceeds at closing, and you keep whatever equity remains. Selling before a tax sale or lien foreclosure is finalized is a common way to protect your equity and stop the interest and fees from growing.

Will I lose all my equity if the town sells my home for taxes?

You risk it if you do nothing. But Connecticut's redemption period lets you undo a tax sale by paying what's owed, and selling on your own before the sale is finalized lets you keep your remaining equity. The danger is waiting until the deadlines pass.

Do I have to fix up the house to sell it?

No. You can sell as-is to a direct buyer and skip repairs, cleanup, and showings. That can help when money and time are tight. It's one option among several — a traditional listing or a town payment plan may fit better. We can't promise any price or timeline.

Is your service free, and are you the buyer or the town?

It's free, and we're neither. We're an independent matching service — not a buyer, law firm, or government agency. If we have a vetted local buyer in your county, we'll connect you for a no-obligation offer. If not, we'll refer you to a free HUD-approved counselor at 1-800-569-4287. You can walk away anytime.

See if we have a buyer in your county — free

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. For your specific situation, consult a Pennsylvania attorney or the relevant agency. HomePath Options is an independent matching service, not a law firm, lender, or government program.