Tax Claim Bureau Preparing For Sept. 10 ‘Upset Sale’

Potter County Tax Claim Bureau (TCB) is preparing for the annual “upset sale,” which is an auction to sell those properties on which taxes for 2010 or earlier have not been paid. It’s scheduled for 10 am on Monday, Sept. 10, at the F. W. Gunzburger County Office Building in Coudersport. Sept. 7 is the last day to pay before affected property is prepared for sale by public auction. A list of properties scheduled to be sold to the highest bidders is available on the county’s website, pottercountypa.net (click on Departments/Tax Claim).

TCB has implemented a series of changes to make things easier for those who have fallen behind on their taxes, including a monthly installment option (owner-occupied properties only) and a credit card payment system. Those payments are accepted online only, through the county’s website. The credit card payment option can only be used for overdue taxes (2011 and earlier). Tax Claim Bureau office is located in Suite 111 of the Gunzburger Building, 1 North Main Street, Coudersport PA 16915; telephone (814) 274-0488, Option 1.

A committee of state lawmakers was recently formed to study property taxes. The bipartisan committee will hold hearings, take testimony, call witnesses and investigate local taxes with the goal of finding a solution to the high property taxes in many parts of Pennsylvania. The committee must report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by Nov. 30.