| Property Taxes in Baldwin County |
| Q: Why does it seem to take so long for the tax bill to reflect the change of ownership from seller to buyer?
A.: In Alabama, the tax year is Oct. 1 - Sept. 30 and we pay property taxes a year in ARREARS. Alabama law provides that the tax bill due Oct. 1 of any given year must be in the name of the owner of record as of the preceeding Oct. 1.
So, it can take as long as two years for the buyer to receive a tax bill in his/her name. For example, let’s say that buyer and seller close on October 3, and that the deed is dated and recorded that same day. The buyer also files his Assessment Return and claims homestead exemption that same day. At this point, the buyer may be expecting the next years October tax bill to reflect the change of ownership. BUT, because the owner of record on the previous October 1 was the seller, the next October tax bill must be in his/her name.
If you receive a tax bill for property you no longer own or have purchased property in the last year and The Norwood Team assisted you in this transaction you can contact us for information on how to handle paying your taxes.
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