Back Taxes

So . . . as I was discussing my 2009 taxes with the Accountant, the Accountant asked: “What about property taxes for 2009?”

Hmm. Interesting. I didn’t remember paying property taxes for 2009. Or for that matter receiving a bill.

So I’ve been on the phone with the County Clerk and the County Assessor and the County Treasurer. And it turns out that my purchase of the property 16 years ago was never recorded, and that (up to today, anyway) it was listed as belonging to Mr and Mrs Ray Hodges.

Any correspondence, including bills from the Treasurer, went to the PO Box that the Hodges family had 16 years ago. No property tax bill ever reached me.

I owe back taxes.

It’s not as bad as it could be. We didn’t pay off the mortgage until 2008, and up till then the lender paid the taxes. So I only owe for 2009, and maybe 2008 and 2010.

Fortunately we live in a rural area, where property taxes are low.

Fortunately.