Caroline County 2024 Online Tax Sale

Begins Closing:

You must fill out the paperwork for the county to be approved to bid on this auction. This paperwork can be found under the documents section or click here  

** The first lot closes at 10am, with 1 additional property closing every 30 seconds. If there is a bid in the last 3 minutes of a property closing that property will have an additional 3 minutes added to the closing time, this goes on until there are no more bids on that property in the last 3 minutes. **

Please review terms and documents prior to registering for this auction. Amount due at the end of the auction is the starting bid.

District Start Closing Times - Times may adjust depending on the number of properties in each District.
Closing Time of 1st Lot for Districts 1 & 2 - 10:00 AM
Closing Time of 1st Lot for Districts 3 & 4 - 10:25 AM
Closing Time of 1st Lot for District 5 - 10:50 AM
Closing Time of 1st Lot for Districts 6, 7 & 8 - 11:20 AM

CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND 

2024 ONLINE TAX SALE TERMS & REGISTRATION FORM MAY 9, 2024 AT 10AM AND ENDING MAY 10, 2024 AT 10AM 

This is an online auction sale. Prospective bidders should investigate the properties. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, (a) that a property has a marketable title, (b) the property contains the area of land which it is said to contain, or (c) the property is located correctly on the tax maps of Caroline County, Maryland. The purchaser assumes all risks in these regards. The sale of the property is subject to any discrepancies or conflicts in boundary lines. The property is being sold as is, without any warranties. The term “taxes" used therein refers to outstanding Real Estate Taxes, Property Liens, Water/Sewer Usage Charges, interest, service charges, penalties, and advertising charges. 

ALL TAX SALE BIDDERS ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF SALE 

A. General Terms of Sale 

1. Section 14-818 of the Tax Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland provides that the payment of the purchase price on tax sales "shall be on the terms required by the collector." Caroline County (County) requires that all purchasers remit by Tuesday, May 14, 2024 the full amount of all taxes and other outstanding charges due on the property, whether in arrears or not, together with interest and penalties on the outstanding amounts and expenses incurred. Failure to pay by 4pm on May 14, 2024 will result in the purchaser being barred from future tax sales. In addition, Section 14-818 provides that "the residue of the purchase price remains on credit." The difference between the bid amount and the amount paid at the time of sale must be paid upon foreclosure. 

2. The bidding process for Tax Sale is by online auction. The Tax Sale commences on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and ends Friday, May 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. The online website is www.bidtrice.com 

3. Pre-registration is REQUIRED. You may pre-register by completing the attached registration and IRS W-9 forms and returning them, along with a copy of your driver's license and any required documentation, if needed, to the Tax Office at P.O. Box 459, Denton, Maryland 21629 or email to [email protected]. You must also register with Trice Auctions at www.bidtrice.com in order to bid. Pre-registration ends Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 2pm. Late registrations will not be accepted. 

4. Who can bid: 

a. 

Any individual; 

b. A member of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) if the LLC has no manager; 

C. 

A manager of the LLC; 

d. A general partner of a partnership or limited partnership; 

e. 

The administrator or executor of an estate; 

The trustee of a trust. 

g. 

If the bidder is a corporation, a principal officer or corporate officer who has legal authority to bind the corporation; any person who is designated by the board of directors or other governing body of the corporation; any officer or employee of the corporation upon written request signed by a principal officer of the corporation and attested by the secretary or other officer of the corporation. 

5. Bidding must be done online. All entity bidders (corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, trusts and estates) must establish their eligibility for bidding by presenting satisfactory evidence of the legal existence of the bidding entity and by identifying a single agent to bid for that bidding entity. All entity bidders must provide the following information: 

Page 1 of 5 

CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND 

2024 ONLINE TAX SALE TERMS & REGISTRATION FORM MAY 9, 2024 AT 10AM AND ENDING MAY 10, 2024 AT 10AM 

a. Legal name of entity; 

b. Resident agent(s) name, address, and telephone number; 

C. 

Street address for principal place of business; 

d. Bidder's name, address, telephone number, and photo identification; 

e. 

State identification number, if applicable; 

f. 

Evidence that entity is in good standing in the State of Maryland; and 

g. Agents of entity bidders must identify themselves by full name and address, and provide 

evidence of their authorization to bind the principal. 

B. The Bidding Process 

1. All bidders must register with the Tax Office by Wednesday May 8th by 2pm and have a bidder number assigned to them. Late registrations will not be accepted. Only one bidder's number will be assigned per legal entity. 

2. The County, auctioneer, or designee may at any time debar, suspend, or eject any bidder from further participation in any tax sale for disruption of the sale or violation of any terms of the sale. In addition to the individual bidders that are barred, the entity they represent will also be barred from further participation in any tax sale held by Caroline County. 

3. Bidding will begin at an amount set (amount of Taxes due). Bid prices will be no less than the amount due for taxes and other charges. Caroline County has a high bid premium. A high-bid premium must be paid by the high bidder if the bid exceeds 40% the property's full cash value. The premium equals 20% of the amount by which the bid exceeds 40% of the property's full cash value. The premium is returned, without any interest, upon redemption or foreclosure. The high-bid premium is not refundable after the time required under Section 14-833 of the Tax Property Article for an action to foreclose the right of redemption if there has been no redemption and if an action to foreclose the right of redemption has not been filed within that time. The auction will begin with a set of properties and proceed in sets until all properties have been sold. If there are no bidders, the property will be sold to Caroline County. 

4. Successful bids will be conditionally accepted, pending payment of the amounts due. In addition, any properties sold at Tax Sale will incur a $14.00 cost of sale fee to be paid by the winning bidder. Payment is required by Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Failure to pay by 4pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 will result in the purchaser being barred from future tax sales. Acceptable forms of payment are cash and checks. Entity bidders must pay with entity checks. Individual bidders who have not participated in our County Tax Sale before will be required to submit a letter of reference from their bank or lender stating they are a customer in good standing if paying by check, 

C. Notice Regarding Redemption, Foreclosure, and Certificates 

1. The Tax Office will be informing property owners of your bid price and such other information as may be necessary to enable those parties to make an informed financial decision concerning redemption. 

2. Tax Sale Certificates will be dated the day of sale and mailed to purchasers within six (6) months from the date of the sale. Certificates are available from the day of the sale by request. 

3. Certificates of sale will expire two (2) years from the date of the certificate of sale unless a proceeding to foreclose is filed prior to that time. Any right, title and interest of the purchaser in the property sold shall cease at the point of expiration, and all money received by the County as a result of the sale shall be deemed forfeited. 

Page 2 of 5 

CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND 

2024 ONLINE TAX SALE TERMS & REGISTRATION FORM MAY 9, 2024 AT 10AM AND ENDING MAY 10, 2024 AT 10AM 

4. Tax Sale Certificates from this sale (2024) will expire on May 10, 2026. 

5. The first day to file in Circuit Court to foreclose all right to redemption on the property for non-owner occupied is November 10, 2024 and for property that is owner-occupied is February 10, 2025. Check with the Tax Office (410-479-0410) to verify that the property has not been redeemed. A Bill of Complaint must be filed within two (2) years from the date of the Certificate of Sale. The buyer is required to report such filings to the Tax Office immediately. 

6. The purchaser will pay the balance of the original bid price, and all taxes due and payable immediately following the issuance of a judgment by the Circuit Court and prior to the execution of a deed. 

7. It is the responsibility of the purchasers to advise the Tax Office of all expenses incurred in any action or in preparation for any action to foreclose the right of redemption. A receipted bill or written statement of expenses is required within ten days of request. Purchaser has no rights or privileges to property until foreclosure proceedings are consummated. All redemption must be processed and all sums paid through the Tax Office, including attorney's fees and other expenses of the Purchaser. NO MONIES ARE TO BE SOLICITED OR ACCEPTED BY THE PURCHASER, HIS AGENTS OR ATTORNEY. THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE REQUIRES ALL REDEMPTIONS BE MADE THROUGH THE TAX OFFICE. 

D. Notice Regarding Invalid Certificates and Voided Sales 

1. Bidders are on notice that possibility exists that a certificate purchased at the Tax Sale may, upon subsequent inquiry, be determined to be invalid or void. The County reserves the right to invalidate or void a sale at any time. In the event the County determines that a tax sale is invalid or void the County will, as the exclusive remedy available to the purchaser, reimburse the purchaser the tax sale purchase price paid, without interest, and any applicable high bid premium paid, without interest. Events that may invalidate a tax sale include, but are not limited to, bankruptcy filings prior to the tax sale, transfer errors on the assessor's records that cause the failure of notice to the proper property owner or sale of incorrect property, payment of taxes prior to the tax sale, issuance of a revised assessment by the assessor, value changes by the assessor, erroneous service charges, or service fees,. The tax sale bidder/purchaser assumes all risks of any irregularity of the sale and has no other remedy against the County. The County is not liable for and will not pay the purchaser any interest, costs, expenses or attorney fees associated with any invalid or voided sale. 

E. Warranty 

1. By signing this form, each bidder represents and warrants that they are authorized to bid and ready, willing and financially able to consummate each sale at the price(s) bid. Bidders acknowledge that this representation is material to the County's willingness to issue them a bidder card and to accept bids during the sale. Failure to abide by any of the above terms can result, without notice, in barring future participation of the bidder and/or bidding entity. 

Daniel Fox 

Director of Finance & Collector of Taxes 

Caroline County, Maryland 

**DO NOT ENTER THE PROPERTY OR MAKE CONTACT WITH THE HOMEOWNERS ANYTIME UNTIL THE FINAL ORDER IS FINALIZED AND THE DEED IS RECORDED IN YOUR NAME******** 

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CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND 

2024 ONLINE TAX SALE TERMS & REGISTRATION FORM MAY 9, 2024 AT 10AM AND ENDING MAY 10, 2024 AT 10AM 

Tax Sale Time Line 

Tax year - July - June 

Tax bills mailed July 1st 

Full year due date - September 30th 

Semi-annual payments due September 30th & December 31st Delinquent letter mailed between January 1st & January 15th 

Legal letter mailed March 1st 

Newspaper publication starts in April - 4 weeks prior to the sale date and 

runs for 4 weeks. Once payment is made the property owners name will be 

removed from the paper for the next weeks run. 

**Once property is advertised, taxpayer will have to pay advertising 

fee along with the taxes to be removed from sale. 

** We start requesting certified funds for tax payments prior to 

newspaper publication. 

Tax Sale is held in May by online auction each year. 

Bidder Time Line After Sale 

*Make payment to Tax Office by 4 pm Tuesday May 14, 2024 after sale. *The first notice can be sent 4 months (non-owner occupied) or 7 months (owner- 

occupied) from date of sale by regular mail, the second notice can be sent a week later by certified mail. 

*4 or 7 months from date of sale you can start legal action & charge $500.00 

legal fees & $250.00 title search fees + postage. This legal action includes 2 notices that have to be sent called Affidavits of Compliance. *You will be emailed a Certificate of Sale (an original can be requested but 

must be returned prior to disbursing of funds if redemption occurs) six months from the date of the sale for non-owner occupied or nine months from the date of sale for owner-occupied and it will be dated the day of the sale. This Certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of the sale. 

60 days from the date of the 1st notice and at least 6 or 9 months from the date of sale you can start the process to foreclose the right of redemption. At this point you may incur $1,500.00 in legal fees and other fees for mailings, etc as listed in the tax code. 

*Once all notices, publications and filings are complete you then submit an 

order to the court to foreclose the right of redemption. Once the judge signs it you then can have your attorney prepare a new deed & submit it to the Tax Office with your bid amount minus taxes paid day of sale and all accruing taxes to date. 

**Note - If at any time the owner comes in to redeem the property before 

the judge signs the final order - you will be reimbursed for all your expenses plus 10% per annum on your costs day of sale 

Page 4 of 5 

CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND 

2024 ONLINE TAX SALE TERMS & REGISTRATION FORM MAY 9, 2024 AT 10AM AND ENDING MAY 10, 2024 AT 10AM 

Assigned Bidder # 

By signing below, each bidder hereby accepts the foregoing terms and conditions of sale, with the intention to be bound, and hereby declares and affirms, under the penalties of perjury, that the information and representations set forth herein and provided to the county are true and correct. 

Bidder's Signature 

Bidder's Name (Print) 

If Bidder is an Individual (please print legibly) 

Legal Name of Individual as it will appear on Tax Sale Certificate 

Individual's Social Security Number 

Mailing address of Individual 

If Bidder is an Entity (please print legibly) 

Legal Name of Entity as it will appear on Tax Sale Certificate 

Entity's Federal Identification Number 

Mailing Address of Entity 

Contact Person 

Resident Agent's Name 

Resident Agent's Address 

Bidding Agent's Name 

Bidding Agent's Address 

E-mail address 

Page 5 of 5 

Telephone Numbers 

Telephone Numbers 

Telephone Numbers 

Telephone Numbers 

W-9 

Form 

(Rev. October 2018) 

Department of the Treasury 

Internal Revenue Service 

Print or type. 

See Specific Instructions on page 3. 

Request for Taxpayer 

Identification Number and Certification 

Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information. 

1. Name (as shown on your income tax return). Name is required on this line; do not leave this line blank. 

2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above 

3 Check appropriate box for federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of the 

following seven boxes. 

Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC 

☐c Corporation 

S Corporation 

Partnership 

Trust/estate 

Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (C=C corporation, S-S corporation, P=Partnership)| Note: Check the appropriate box in the line above for the tax classification of the single-member owner. Do not check LLC if the LLC is classified as a single-member LLC that is disregarded from the owner unless the owner of the LLC is another LLC that is not disregarded from the owner for U.S. federal tax purposes. Otherwise, a single-member LLC that is disregarded from the owner should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Other (see instructions) ► 

5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.) See instructions. 

6 City, state, and ZIP code 

7 List account number(s) here (optional) 

Part I 

Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) 

Give Form to the requester. Do not 

send to the IRS. 

4 Exemptions (codes apply only to certain entities, not individuals; see instructions on page 3): 

Exempt payee code (if any) 

Exemption from FATCA reporting 

code (if any) 

(Applies to accounts maintained outside the Ų.S.) 

Requester's name and address (optional) 

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN, later. 

Note: If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. Also see What Name and Number To Give the Requester for guidelines on whose number to enter. 

Social security number 

or 

Employer Identification number 

Part II 

Certification 

Under penalties of perjury, I certify that: 

1. The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and 

2. I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue 

Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and 

3. I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and 

4. The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct. 

Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later. 

Sign Here 

Signature of 

U.S. person ► 

General Instructions 

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted. 

Future developments. For the latest information about developments related to Form W-9 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/FormW9. 

Purpose of Form 

An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following. 

• Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid) 

Date ► 

• Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks or mutual funds) 

• Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds) 

• Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers) 

• Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions) 

• Form 1099-K (merchant card and third party network transactions) 

• Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), 1098-T (tuition) 

• Form 1099-C (canceled debt) 

• Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property) 

Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN. 

If you do not return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding, later. 

Cat. No. 10231X 

Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018)