Sell a House With Back Taxes in New Orleans
Unpaid property taxes pile up faster than most people expect, especially on an inherited house or a rental that has been empty for a while. We are a local, family-run company in Metairie. We help owners in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish understand what they owe and, when selling is the right move, we buy the house as-is with the back taxes paid at closing. Call (504) 920-4747 or use the form above.
Who collects property taxes in the area
Knowing who holds the bill is the first step. In New Orleans, property taxes are billed and collected by the City of New Orleans Bureau of Treasury. In Jefferson Parish, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office collects property taxes through its Property Tax Division in Harvey. In St. Tammany Parish, the sheriff is also the tax collector.
Ask the tax collector for a written statement that shows each year owed, penalties, interest and any tax sale costs. That statement is what a title company will work from when you sell.
What a Louisiana tax sale means for you
Unpaid property taxes can lead to a tax sale or tax lien enforcement. Louisiana’s revised tax lien procedures took effect January 1, 2026, and older tax sales may follow different rules. Ask the tax collector for a written payoff and have a Louisiana real estate attorney review the sale or lien record before relying on any deadline.
An older tax sale may have a set redemption period under state law. Newer tax lien certificates have different enforcement and payment rules. The applicable procedure depends on the certificate, its recording date and the required notices. See Louisiana R.S. 47:2266.1 for the current tax lien procedure. This is general information, not legal advice.
How back taxes are handled when you sell
You do not need to come up with the tax money before you sell. When you accept an offer, the title company runs a title search that shows delinquent taxes, tax sale records and other liens. At closing, the taxes, penalties and interest are paid from the sale proceeds, along with any mortgage. Whatever is left goes to you, and every payment is listed on the settlement statement.
Our guide to selling a house with a tax lien in Louisiana goes deeper, and owners in Kenner can read about back taxes on a Kenner house.
Situations we see often
- Inherited houses. A parent passed, the bills went to an empty house, and nobody noticed the taxes until a notice arrived.
- Vacant houses. Empty houses can collect city liens, grass cutting fees and blight fines on top of the taxes.
- Tired landlords. A rental that stopped paying for itself, with taxes and repairs both behind.
- Out-of-state owners. Owners who moved away and want one clean sale instead of managing a house from a distance.
If the house is empty, our post on selling a vacant house in New Orleans may help, and families settling an estate can see our page on how to sell an inherited house in New Orleans and Metairie.
Other liens that often show up
Back taxes rarely come alone. Code enforcement liens, unpaid water bills, contractor liens and old judgments can all appear on a title search. Most can be paid or resolved at closing. Our article on selling a house with a lien in New Orleans explains how payoffs work.
What we look at before making an offer
Before we make an offer, we look at the tax statement, any tax sale or adjudication records, the mortgage payoff if there is one, other liens and the condition of the house. If the taxes and liens are more than a cash sale can cover, we will tell you, and you can look at a payment arrangement with the tax collector instead.
How a written cash offer works
- Reach out. Call (504) 920-4747 or fill out the form. Tell us about the house and the taxes owed.
- We see the house. We walk the property with you or someone you trust. No repairs or cleaning needed.
- You get a written offer. The price and terms are in writing, and we show how the taxes are paid at closing.
- You decide. If you accept, a local title company handles the title search, the tax payoff and the closing.
- Closing. The taxes and liens are paid from the proceeds and you receive the rest. You do not pay agent commissions.
Where we buy houses with back taxes
We buy houses in New Orleans and Orleans Parish, Metairie, Kenner and the rest of Jefferson Parish, and the Northshore in St. Tammany Parish.
Questions owners ask us about back taxes
Can I sell a house that went to a Louisiana tax sale?
Often, yes. The owner usually keeps the right to redeem the property for a period after the tax sale, and a sale can pay the redemption amount at closing. The title company confirms what is owed and what is needed for clear title.
How long do I have to redeem after a tax sale?
An older tax sale may have a set redemption period under state law. Newer tax lien certificates follow different procedures. The deadline depends on the record and required notices, so ask the tax collector or a Louisiana real estate attorney to confirm it for your property. This is general information, not legal advice.
Who do I call about back taxes?
In New Orleans, property taxes are handled by the City of New Orleans Bureau of Treasury. In Jefferson Parish and St. Tammany Parish, the sheriff’s office is the tax collector. Ask them for a written statement of everything owed.
Do I have to pay the back taxes before I sell?
No. In most sales, delinquent taxes, penalties and interest are paid from the sale proceeds at closing. The settlement statement shows each payment so you can see where the money goes.
What if the house is inherited and nobody paid the taxes?
That is common. The heirs usually need to handle the succession, and the unpaid taxes are paid from the proceeds when the house sells. We work alongside the family’s attorney and the title company.
Is there a cost or obligation to get an offer?
No. The written cash offer is free and there is no obligation. Compare it with paying the taxes yourself, a payment arrangement or listing the house, and decide what fits.
Talk with a local family business
Bertucci Investment Group is owned by Andrew Rodriguez and Tony Bertucci, and our office is at 128 Colby St in Metairie. Call (504) 920-4747 or request a written cash offer. If you just want help figuring out what is owed, call anyway.