The Final Bill and Legal Notice (“Final Bill”) is a document that lists unpaid City tax liens currently due as of the date of the notice. The Final Bill serves as notice to the property owner of record that unless all taxes in arrears are paid, the City will proceed to sell the tax liens at the annual tax sale. The City is required to mail the Final Bill to the property owner of record as shown in the Baltimore City Property location records. Tax liens include property tax as well as all charges and fees that are designated as municipal liens on the property in question.

Why am I receiving a Final Bill and Legal Notice?

If you have received a Final Bill and Legal Notice from the City of Baltimore, this means that City records indicate that as of the date of the notice, you currently owe outstanding delinquent property taxes or other municipal liens. The outstanding charges are itemized on the Final Bill. It is critically important that you clear all charges in order to avoid having your property included in the annual tax sale, which occurs in May.

What do I do if I received a Final Bill and Legal Notice?

If you received a Final Bill, you are required to make your payment by February 28 to ensure efficient posting of your payment and to avoid having your property listed and advertised in the newspaper for the annual tax sale, which occurs in May.

If you believe that you have paid your City bills in full and the outstanding lien(s) listed on the Final Bill is in error, then you should collect proof of your payments and contact the City’s Bureau of Revenue Collections as soon as possible by phone at 410-396-3987 or by emailing us.

How do I pay a delinquent bill that is shown on the Final Bill and Legal Notice?

The bill can be paid via one of three ways: online payment, mailed payment, or in-person payment before February 28 in order to avoid the property being listed in the tax sale advertisement.

To view a list of bills that can be paid online visit the Online Payments and Account Lookup page. If you have more than one bill type due (such as real property tax and special benefits district tax or water/sewer bill), you must pay each lien individually online. Alternatively, you may mail in your payment or pay in person with either a certified check or money order. No personal checks will be accepted once a Final Bill has been issued. If you mail your payment, please use the return envelope provided with the Final Bill. 

Where do I send a payment for a delinquent bill shown on the Final Bill and Legal Notice?

Checks/money orders for payment of delinquent bills should be made payable to “Director of Finance - Baltimore City” and mailed in the envelope provided with the Final Bill or addressed to:

Abel Wolman Municipal Building
Bureau of Revenue Collections
200 Holliday Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Please provide your property address, block/lot, or account number on your payment.

What types of bills are eligible for tax sale and can show up on a Final Bill and Legal Notice?

In general, all municipal liens listed below are eligible for tax sale after they reach a combined total of $250 for non-owner-occupied properties and $750 for owner-occupied properties.

• Real Property Taxes
• Metered Water
• Residential Registration 
• Special Benefit District Surcharge 
• Miscellaneous Bills 
• Alley 
• Footway 
• Environmental Control Board Citations 
• Multi-Family Dwelling License
• PACE Loans

A property cannot go into the tax sale for an Alley lien by itself.

What are the deadlines to pay a delinquent bill prior to a tax sale? 

To ensure the proper posting of your payment, you should pay your bill by February 28. If you pay after that date, the City does not guarantee that your payment will be processed in time to avoid actions that are taken by the City (as prescribed by law) prior to the tax sale auction, i.e., first and second newspaper advertisements which list your property address, lien amount due, and property assessed value.

Can I look up my accounts online? 

Yes, you can if you visit the Online Payments and Account Lookup page.