District of Columbia2025Active
B26-0771
Tax Sale Equity Amendment Act of 2026
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 4:28 AM
In one sentence
This bill updates District of Columbia laws to allow the collection of unpaid recordation taxes through tax sales and creates a process for property owners to claim remaining equity in their homes.
What it does
- Allows the government to collect overdue recordation taxes by selling properties at a tax sale.
- Updates how attorney fee limits are calculated using a cost-of-living adjustment based on inflation data from the Consumer Price Index.
- Sets different time periods for finalizing sales depending on whether land is improved or unimproved and its property class.
- Increases a specific fee amount to $531.50 in certain foreclosure notices.
- Creates a process for owners or interested parties to file an answer within 90 days (or 30 days in some cases) after being served with foreclosure papers.
Who it affects
- District of Columbia property owners who owe taxes or face foreclosure
- Purchasers at tax sales and their successors in interest
- The Recorder of Deeds office
Limits and unknowns
- The official text provided is incomplete and cuts off before finishing Section (j) regarding specific legal procedures.
- The effective date for these changes has not been set in the source material.
- Specific details on how equity claims are distributed after a judicial sale are cut off in the provided excerpt.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Tax Sale
- A public sale where the government sells property to collect unpaid taxes.
- Equity
- The value of a property that remains after paying off debts and costs, which owners may claim under this bill.
- Redeem
- To pay back the owed money to regain ownership or stop a sale from happening.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Tax Sale Equity Amendment Act of 2026
Official activity
Bill history
- Under Council Review