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Delinquent Billings, Late Payments and Judicial Sales
Managing Delinquent Billings and Late Payments
Learn the various aspects of overdue payments and delinquent charges, including details about the DMV Stop Fee, which prevents vehicle registration for those with outstanding taxes, penalties, interest or fees. Learn about the payment plan option. Understand judicial sales as a last resort for collecting delinquent real estate taxes.
DMV Stop Fee
Through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Vehicle Registration Withholding (VRW) program, localities can prevent the issuance, reissuance or renewal of registrations (license plate decals) for all vehicles you own or co-own if you owe delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and/or fees to a locality. DMV charges the county a $25 fee for each DMV Stop released, which is then passed on to the taxpayer.
DMV Stop Removal
Once a DMV vehicle registration withholding has been placed on an account, all delinquent debt must be satisfied. Payments must be made with certified funds (cash, money order or cashier’s check) or credit card. If payment is made:
- In person: the DMV Stop can be released immediately.
- Online or by phone, using a credit card: the DMV Stop will be released by 5 p.m. the following business day.
Note: If you have a DMV Stop on your account, payment by e-check is not available.
One-Month Registration Renewal Extension
DMV offers a one-month registration renewal for $10. The one-month extension must be requested in person at a DMV customer service center or a DMV select location, and your vehicle registration must be valid and due to expire within the current calendar month.
For more information about the denial of DMV vehicle registrations or renewals, please visit the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles website.
Other Delinquent Charges
Late Payment Penalty
A 10% late payment penalty is applied the day following the due date.
Interest
10% annual interest accrues the month following the due date.
Administrative Fee
A $30 administrative fee may be applied 30 days from the first notification of delinquency as outlined in the Code of Virginia §58.1-3958.
Tax Payment Plan
How can we help? We understand difficulties may arise which prevent timely payment of taxes, so we have friendly, courteous and knowledgeable staff prepared to review your account(s) and provide the best payment option(s) for you.
Please complete and submit an Online Tax Payment Plan Application and a Treasurer's staff member will contact you within two business days. If you need assistance, you may call 804-748-1201 to submit an application over the phone.
Judicial Sales for the Collection of Delinquent Real Estate Taxes
One of the methods available to collect delinquent real estate taxes under the Code of Virginia is the judicial sales process, also referred to as a bill in equity, where delinquent real estate parcels and improvements are sold.
Judicial Sales Property Eligibility
Virginia law specifically governs the judicial sale process (Article 4 of Chapter 39, Title 58.1 of the Code of Virginia, Code Sections 58.1-3965 et. seq.). Tax parcels are eligible for judicial sale in most cases when "any taxes on [such] real estate are delinquent on Dec. 31 following the second anniversary of the date on which such taxes become due."
Judicial Sales Process
Depending on the property, the judicial sale process can take several months to approximately 18 months. The owner of the property can redeem the property at any time during the process prior to the sale by paying all taxes, penalties, interest and costs. Generally, before a property can be sold, the following steps are completed:
- At least 30 days prior to any action, a notice must be sent to the last known address of each property owner and in some circumstances, to the address of the property itself.
- At least 30 days prior to filing a suit in Circuit Court, a list of properties planned for judicial sale must be published at least once by newspaper. (At a later date, another notice is published in the newspaper announcing the public sale of the property.)
- Suit is filed in the Circuit Court against the owners to have the property sold at a judicial sale.
- Once the Court determines that the sale is warranted, a special commissioner of sale is appointed by the Circuit Court.
- The special commissioner of sale, at his discretion, may obtain offers through a private bid, through a public auction or list the property with a real estate agent.
- Once the special commissioner of sale has completed the bid process, reports are filed and a hearing is scheduled with the Circuit Court to ask the Court to approve the offer.
- If the sale is confirmed by the Circuit Court, the Court directs the special commissioner of sale to complete the sale by collecting the purchase price, preparing and executing the deed and by preparing a report accounting for all sale proceeds and disbursements.
- The special commissioner then distributes the proceeds in order of priority, as approved by the Court, and makes a final accounting to the Court. The proceeds are distributed as follows in order of priority:
- Costs of the suit, including attorney's fees
- Payment of all delinquent real estate taxes and pro rata share of current taxes
- Payment to any lien creditors (e.g. mortgage creditors, judgment lien creditors, state or federal tax liens) in their order of priority as determined by law
- Any remaining proceeds are paid to the owners of the property; if owners cannot be located or identified, the Court can direct the remaining proceeds belonging to such absent owner be paid over to and held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court
Judicial Sales Misconceptions
A purchaser can obtain ownership of real estate by paying off the delinquent taxes.
Incorrect. Current Virginia law provides no process by which a buyer can obtain any "tax certificate," "tax deed" or other title to real estate by paying off the delinquent taxes owed on the property. Please see the "About Judicial Sales" tab above for the legally-required procedures for sale of real property with delinquent taxes.
A purchaser can expect to buy real estate through a judicial sale for a small fraction of its actual value.
False. Under Virginia law, the Circuit Court is required to ensure that any sale is conducted so as to ensure that the property is sold for a fair and reasonable price. Accordingly, the law requires the Court to determine the fair market value of the property based upon expert evidence. Further, the law requires the Court to reject any bid that falls so far below the market value of the property as to "shock the conscience of the Court." The Treasurer reserves the right to reject any bid that does not cover all taxes due and costs of the sale.
An advertisement in the local newspaper entitled "Notice of Judicial Sale of Real Property" announces the sale of certain properties.
As noted above, the law requires an initial advertisement before judicial sale proceedings are commenced and is not intended to list or advertise the properties as being for sale. Rather, this notice is intended to provide a notice to the owners of the listed properties of the Treasurer's intention to commence judicial sale proceedings and to encourage these owners to redeem the properties. In reality, most properties listed in these initial newspaper advertisements are never sold because the owner or lien holder (e.g. a bank or mortgage company) redeems the property before the sale. Typically, attorneys will list another advertisement in the newspaper announcing the sale, by public auction on the steps of the County Courthouse.
Judicial Sales Attorney for Chesterfield County
Currently, Chesterfield County refers all qualified properties to the following attorney to commence the judicial sale process and sell the properties if necessary to satisfy delinquent real estate taxes, penalties and interest:
Mr. James W. Elliott
Attorney at Law
7100 Route 17
P.O. Box 1410
Yorktown, Virginia 23692
Phone: 757-898-7000
If you are interested in purchasing land and improvements through the judicial sale process, please note that there are significant risks involved:
- Properties are offered for sale as-is, with all faults and without any warranty either express or implied.
- Prospective buyers are strongly encouraged to complete an investigation and inspection of the property and a title search prior to the sale.
- Any costs incurred by bidder to investigate and inspect the property are at the expense of the bidder and are non-refundable.
- It should be noted that generally, neither the Treasurer, nor the attorney listed above representing the County, has the authority to grant access to the property for the purposes of a physical inspection.
- Any costs of title search and all recording costs, including grantor's tax, will be at the expense of the purchaser.
- Properties will be conveyed by Deed with Special Warranty of Title.
- No warranty is made as to the insurability of the title.
- Please ensure you understand the payment provisions for each sale.
- Minimum deposits based upon a percentage of the bid price may be required on the sale date with the remaining balance due within a specified time frame.
Treasurer's Office
Rebecca R. Longnaker, CPA, MGT
Treasurer
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Treasurer's Office
Physical Address
9901 Lori Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Mailing Address
Chesterfield County Treasurer's Office
P.O. Box 70
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone 804-748-1201Fax 804-751-4993
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.