Real estate Q&A: Do we owe annual property taxes on home we've owned for a few months?

Gary M. Singer, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Apr 24, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Q: We purchased our first home late last year. We have been getting notices in the mail telling us that our real estate taxes were not paid. We called the tax collector and were informed that we owed property taxes for the entire year, even though we only lived there for a few months. Is this legit? — Harold

A: Understanding real estate taxes can feel like navigating a maze, but with a bit of guidance, it becomes manageable.

When you purchase a home, real estate taxes are typically prorated at the closing because the tax collector expects an annual payment, not separate payments from the parties based on when the property was sold. This means that the closing agent will divide the taxes between the buyer and the seller based on the time each party owns the property during the tax year.

The purchase contract you signed should have a section addressing this issue to ensure a fair division of tax responsibilities.

On the closing statement, the seller provides a credit to the buyer for their portion of the year’s taxes. When the tax bill arrives, the buyer is responsible for paying the full amount.

Think of it like two friends sharing a meal: one leaves early, handing over their share of the bill, while the other stays to settle the entire check, including a generous tip for the diligent server.

Most contracts also include a clause stating that if the actual taxes differ from the estimated amount on the closing statement, the party who overpaid or underpaid can seek reimbursement from the other. It’s wise to review your contract and closing statement to confirm this provision. Fortunately, the estimated amount usually closely matches the actual tax bill.

However, even if you didn’t receive the correct credit, you are still responsible for paying the full tax bill as the homeowner. You can then pursue reimbursement from the seller if necessary.