The following information does NOT constitute legal advice and the Treasurer’s Office cannot provide any guidance on investment methodology or legal aspects of tax liens.  This office makes no warranties in accordance to lien value or any matters involving subject properties.  It is imperative that the investor understands the complexity of this process and anyone interested in participating is urged to seek independent legal council.  If you fail to comply with the statutes governing tax lien sales, you can lose your entire investment.

State Statutes that pertain to the Tax Lien Sale can be found at www.unicam.state.ne.us under the heading “Laws of Nebraska” sections 77-1801 thru 77-1941.

A tax lien sale is where unpaid taxes are sold in exchanged for a tax lien on the property. If the taxes are redeemed (paid by the property owner) the lien holder will earn 14% interest on the lien (14% is the interest rate Douglas County charges on ALL delinquent taxes).  If the property owner does not redeem the property within three (3) years of the purchase of the lien, the lien holder may foreclose on the property.

It is very important that you understand that purchasing a tax lien does not give you any right to the property.  You have no right to mow, cut trees or even set foot on the property through the tax lien laws.  You must go through foreclosure and obtain a deed to the property before you have any right to the property itself.   An investor cannot begin the foreclosure process until three (3) years after the original tax sale date and the foreclosure must be filed within in six (6) months of that date.  Failure to start foreclosure within three (3) years and six (6) months of the original tax sale date will result in cancellation of the sale due to the Statute of Limitations.

Publication:

Delinquent taxes are advertised in the Daily Record for three (3) consecutive weeks in February prior to the March sale.  You may purchase a delinquent tax list from the Daily Record located at 3323 Leavenworth Street, Omaha, NE 68102.  Their phone number is (402) 345-1303.

Payment and Fees:

Personal checks, cashier checks, money orders or convenience checks (NO credit cards).  Payment must be made by close of business on the day of the sale.

There is a ten dollar ($10.00) fee for each Certificate (which will be included in the redemption amount), and an additional non-refundable ten dollar ($10.00) Certificate fee, if you choose to re-assign a Certificate.

Tax Lien Certificates:

All Tax Lien Certificates are held in safekeeping in the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office.  A copy of the certificate is mailed approximately two (2) weeks after the date of sale.

Foreclosure & Tax Deeds:

Douglas County does NOT coach investors on foreclosures or tax deed applications.  It is the responsibility of the individual lien holder to follow through with the foreclosure or tax deed application when necessary.