Last reviewed: 2026-05-10 - Philadelphia County, PA

Sell Your Philadelphia, Pennsylvania House With Back Taxes — We Pay Liens at Closing

Back property taxes in Philadelphia? Pennsylvania can sell your home for unpaid taxes after 24 months of delinquency. We buy houses with tax liens — pay the taxes at closing, give you the difference in cash, save your credit.

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BuyHousesInCash buys homes with back taxes and tax liens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We pay the delinquent taxes from closing proceeds. Sellers walk away with cash and no tax burden, even if a tax sale is scheduled.
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If you owe back taxes on your Philadelphia house, BuyHousesInCash can buy it and pay the tax lien at closing. You don't pay anything out of pocket, and you can stop a scheduled tax sale.

Falling behind on property taxes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania can spiral fast. Pennsylvania counties begin tax sale proceedings after a fixed period of property tax delinquency. BuyHousesInCash buys homes with tax liens, tax delinquency, and even properties scheduled for tax sale. We pay the back taxes from sale proceeds at closing, so you never write a check. You walk away free of the tax burden with cash in hand.

How We Help Philadelphia Homeowners

Tax foreclosure in Pennsylvania (judicial in some counties, administrative in others) moves on a fixed schedule once initiated — Philadelphia County's process from filing to sheriff's deed runs roughly 6-9 months. Selling at any point before final transfer pays off the lien and gives the homeowner the remaining equity. After the deed transfers, that equity belongs to the new owner.

Pennsylvania payment plans for delinquent property taxes exist in some Philadelphia County jurisdictions. Philadelphia homeowners can stop tax-sale acceleration by entering plans; default reactivates the timeline. Plans require monthly capability; not all homeowners qualify.

Senior/disability tax-deferral programs in Pennsylvania occasionally help Philadelphia elderly homeowners avoid tax-sale escalation. Philadelphia County administrators determine eligibility. Programs defer rather than forgive; eventual collection still occurs at sale or death. Selling proactively avoids deferral compounding.

BuyHousesInCash handles tax-delinquent Philadelphia properties without requiring the seller to bring money to closing. The math just needs sale proceeds to exceed the tax debt, mortgage payoff, and our offer. When equity is too thin to cover all three, we work with lenders on short sale and with the county on tax-arrear negotiations.

Philadelphia Market Snapshot

Property tax volume in Philadelphia (1,567,258 population, PA) creates ongoing back-tax situations that BuyHousesInCash regularly resolves at closing. Philadelphia County tax collector coordination is routine for our title work.

Free Philadelphia Cash Offer

No obligation. We close at a Philadelphia County title company.

Call (555) 555-CASH

FAQs - Tax Delinquent / Tax Lien in Philadelphia, PA

How does Pennsylvania tax sale work, and how long do I have?

Pennsylvania can typically begin tax sale proceedings after 24 months of delinquency. The county or municipality issues a tax certificate to investors, and after a redemption period, the property can be sold at auction. BuyHousesInCash can typically close before tax sale in Philadelphia as long as you contact us before the auction date is finalized.

Will I have to pay the back taxes out of pocket to sell my Philadelphia house?

No. BuyHousesInCash pays all delinquent property taxes, penalties, and interest from the sale proceeds at closing. The title company in Pennsylvania disburses funds to the county tax collector, clears the lien, and the remaining cash goes to you. You write zero checks. This is one of the biggest reasons homeowners with Philadelphia tax delinquency choose us.

What if my Philadelphia property already has a tax lien certificate sold?

Even after a tax certificate is sold to an investor, Pennsylvania provides a redemption period during which you can pay off the certificate plus interest and reclaim your property. BuyHousesInCash can buy your home and redeem the certificate at closing during this window. Don't wait until the redemption period expires — call us as soon as possible.

Can I sell my Philadelphia home if I'm behind on income taxes too (IRS lien)?

Yes. Federal IRS tax liens against you personally do attach to Philadelphia real estate. The IRS has procedures (Form 14135) to discharge a property from the lien at closing in exchange for paying the lien amount or a portion. BuyHousesInCash works with title companies experienced in IRS lien discharges. Pennsylvania state tax liens follow similar processes.

How much does my Philadelphia, Pennsylvania property need to be worth to make this work?

The math has to work — sale proceeds need to cover the back taxes plus our offer price. If you have $50,000 in back taxes on a $200,000 Philadelphia home, we have plenty of room. If back taxes are $180,000 on a $200,000 home, the offer becomes minimal. We'll run the numbers transparently and tell you what you'd net before any commitment.

What if I'm behind on taxes AND mortgage in Philadelphia?

Common scenario. Both get paid off at closing from sale proceeds. The title company disburses to the lender (mortgage payoff) and the Pennsylvania tax collector (delinquent taxes), then any remaining equity goes to you. We handle multi-creditor closings in Philadelphia regularly — it adds about 3-5 days to closing time but isn't a deal-breaker.

Can the county or city stop my Philadelphia tax sale once I have a buyer?

Most Pennsylvania counties will postpone or cancel a scheduled tax sale once they receive proof of a pending sale to a buyer who will pay off the delinquent taxes. BuyHousesInCash' title company submits the contract and proof of funds directly to the Philadelphia tax office to halt the sale. We've stopped tax auctions with as little as 5 days notice.

Will selling for back taxes hurt my credit?

Selling to BuyHousesInCash doesn't directly impact credit. The negative items — late mortgage payments, judgments, the tax lien itself — already affect your credit. Selling clears those liens, which over time helps your credit recover. Compare to a tax sale: losing the home plus continued lien on credit report. The voluntary sale is almost always the better credit outcome.

Cash Home Buyer Questions for Philadelphia, PA

Will I owe additional taxes after selling my Philadelphia house with back taxes?

Generally no, beyond standard capital gains rules. Pennsylvania treats the tax-payoff at closing as part of the sale settlement. Philadelphia County tax professionals can confirm specifics for your situation.

Who buys houses with back taxes in Philadelphia, PA?

Cash home buyers in Philadelphia and Philadelphia County purchase properties with property tax delinquency. They pay off the Pennsylvania tax collector at closing as part of the standard title work, releasing all liens and transferring the property clear.

Can I sell my Philadelphia house if it's already in tax-sale process?

Often yes. Pennsylvania provides redemption windows after most tax sales. Cash buyers can close within these windows in Philadelphia County, redeeming the tax lien and transferring clear title.

Philadelphia Seller FAQs

How long do I have before my Philadelphia property goes to Pennsylvania tax sale?

Pennsylvania requires 24 months of property tax delinquency before tax-sale eligibility in most jurisdictions. Philadelphia County specifics may vary. Check with the tax collector to confirm your exact timeline.

Will BuyHousesInCash pay off my back taxes when buying my Philadelphia home?

Yes. Property taxes owed to Philadelphia County are paid in full at closing from sale proceeds. The Pennsylvania tax collector issues a release; the title transfers free and clear.

Local Philadelphia Real Estate Considerations

Tax bill explosions after Philadelphia County reassessment cycles affect Philadelphia homeowners in growing-value neighborhoods. Pennsylvania doesn't cap year-over-year tax increases the way some states do; bills can jump 20-40% in one cycle. Homeowners on fixed income face sudden affordability challenges.

Tax delinquency in Philadelphia often correlates with other distress signals — job loss, medical bills, divorce — and Pennsylvania doesn't have a hardship program that reliably saves the home once 24 months pass. Philadelphia County's deferral programs cover seniors and disabled veterans but rarely the working-age homeowner facing a temporary cash crunch.

Multiple-year tax delinquency in Philadelphia County compounds: each year's delinquency carries separate interest and penalty schedules. Pennsylvania Philadelphia homeowners with 3+ years delinquent face larger payoff amounts than recent delinquencies. BuyHousesInCash addresses multi-year situations as standard practice.

Bankruptcy treatment of Pennsylvania property tax obligations differs from regular debts. Property taxes are typically priority unsecured claims that survive Chapter 7 discharge. Philadelphia debtors discharging mortgage debt may still owe property taxes; the underlying property exposure remains.