Nushrat Rahman
Detroit Free Press

The Wayne County Treasurer's Office has extended the deadline for taxpayers to get on payment plans and avoid losing their property to foreclosure to March 31. Previously, the deadline was Monday.

"It is particularly important that individuals who owe back property taxes for the year 2019 or prior either pay the tax bill in full or work with our office to make payment arrangements," Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree said in a news release this week.

Tax foreclosure is the process by which a homeowner loses their property because they didn't pay their property taxes and counties have the authority to foreclose under the state's General Property Tax Act.

This year marks a change from the past couple years in Wayne County. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a moratorium on foreclosures. And last year, Sabree filed a request in Wayne County Circuit Court to not foreclose on any occupied homes and occupied commercial properties because of continuing pandemic-related economic hardships. That redemption period runs through March 31. Foreclosures on unoccupied properties and vacant land continued.

Ways to get help

For more information about payment plans, go to bit.ly/WayneCountyPaymentPlans or email taxinfo@waynecounty.com.

The Treasurer's office is open for appointments Monday to Friday and includes Saturdays in March. Go to https://bit.ly/WayneCountyTreasurerHours to set up an appointment.

The Treasurer's office has an updated list of properties at risk of foreclosure. Download it at https://www.waynecounty.com/elected/treasurer/. Taxpayers can also search for delinquent property tax information at https://pta.waynecounty.com/.