68 PA Cons Stat § 2117 (2021)
2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes|Title 68 - REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY|Chapter 21 - Land Banks|Section 2117 - Delinquent property tax enforcement

§ 2117. Delinquent property tax enforcement.   (a) Power to discharge liens and claims.--  (1) Except as set forth in paragraph (2), a land bank may, by resolution of the board, discharge a lien or claim to its real property for tax owed to the members of the land bank. (2) For a land bank to discharge a lien or claim to its real property under paragraph (1) for tax owed to a school district, the governing body of the school district must approve the discharge. (3) The land bank must file evidence of the extinguishment and dissolution of liens or claims with the county tax claim bureau, including copies of the resolution by the board, the intergovernmental agreement, receipt of payment and other necessary and appropriate documentation. This requirement must be satisfied no later than the earlier of: (i) ten days prior to the conveyance of the property; or (ii) within 30 days after the discharge.  (b) Remittance of payments.--To the extent that a land bank receives payments attributable to a lien or claim for real property taxes owed to a municipality or school district on property acquired by the land bank, the land bank shall remit the full amount of the payments to the municipality or school district.  (c) Procedure relating to Real Estate Tax Sale Law.--For a land bank located in a municipality which follows the act of July 7, 1947 (P.L.1368, No.542), known as the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, all of the following apply: (1) Depending upon the time of filing, the following apply: (i) For a tax claim filed under the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, the municipality: (A) may direct the county tax claim bureau to assign the claim or lien to the land bank under terms mutually acceptable to the municipality and land bank; and (B) shall otherwise confer upon the land bank the rights, privileges and remedies of an assignee under section 316 of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law. (ii) For a tax claim to be filed under the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, a municipality which has complied with section 26 of the act of May 25, 1945 (P.L.1050, No.394), known as the Local Tax Collection Law, and section 306 of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law: (A) may assign and transfer the claim to the land bank upon terms and conditions mutually acceptable to the municipality and the land bank; and (B) shall otherwise confer upon the land bank the rights, privileges and remedies of an assignee under section 316 of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law. (iii) For tax liens assigned to the land bank under subparagraph (i) or (ii), the land bank shall adopt policies providing for plans and agreements by which low-income, owner-occupant households may pay their delinquent taxes. Such plans and agreements shall take into account the household's ability to pay and shall be designed to promote the continued occupancy by that household whenever feasible. (2) All of the following apply to upset sales: (i) The land bank and the plaintiff in the claim may enter into an agreement for the land bank to purchase the property at the minimum amount described in section 605 of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law in the event there is no bid tendered for a higher amount than the minimum amount. (ii) If there is an agreement under subparagraph (i) and no one bids a higher price than the minimum amount described in section 605 of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, the property shall be sold to the land bank upon payment by the land bank for the upset sale costs and all liens, claims and subordinate encumbrances shall be discharged by the sale. (3) All of the following apply to judicial sales: (i) Notwithstanding section 612 of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, the form, substance and timing of the land bank's payment of the sales price may be according to the agreement as is mutually acceptable to the plaintiff and the land bank if all of the following apply: (A) A judicial sale is ordered pursuant to a judgment on a tax claim. (B) The purchaser of the property is the land bank. (C) The sales price is an amount agreed to by the land bank and the plaintiff in the claim.  (ii) The obligation of the land bank to perform in accordance with the agreement under subparagraph (i) shall be deemed to be in full satisfaction of the tax claim which was the basis for the judgment. (iii) The land bank, as purchaser at the sale, shall have an absolute title to the property sold, free and discharged of tax and municipal claims, liens, mortgages, ground rents, charges and estates. (4) The notice and return under sections 602 and 607(a) of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law must contain reference to a potential bid by the land bank. (5) The deed to the land bank under sections 608 and 615 of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law shall be delivered and acknowledged and recorded within 30 days of the date of confirmation. (6) All of the following apply to judicial sales for multiple tracts: (i) In a petition for a judicial sale, the municipality or the land bank, if it is the holder of municipal tax liens, may combine in a single petition multiple tracts of real property if the petition and accompanying affidavits provide all of the following: (A) Identification of each tract of real property. (B) The identities of each party having an interest in a tract of real property. (C) The amount of the tax liens then due and owing, together with associated interest, costs and fees. (D) The nature of the notice of the proposed sale provided to the interested parties. (ii) The court may authorize in a single final judgment that all or part of the real properties identified in the petition be sold free and clear of tax and municipal claims, mortgages, liens, charges and estates and ground rents.   (d) Procedure relating to Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law.--For a land bank located in a municipality which follows the act of May 16, 1923 (P.L.207, No.153), referred to as the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law, all of the following apply: (1) Regardless of the time of filing, the municipality: (i) may assign and transfer a tax or municipal claim to the land bank upon terms and conditions mutually acceptable to the municipality and land bank; (ii) shall otherwise confer upon the land bank the rights, privileges and remedies of an assignee as stated in section 33 of the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law; and (iii) for tax liens assigned to the land bank under this section, the land bank shall adopt policies providing for plans and agreements by which low-income, owner-occupant households may pay their delinquent taxes. Such plans and agreements shall take into account the household's ability to pay and shall be designed to promote the continued occupancy by that household whenever feasible. (2) All of the following apply to upset sales: (i) The land bank and the plaintiff in the claim may enter into an agreement for the land bank to purchase the property at the minimum amount described in section 29 of the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law in the event there is no bid tendered for a higher amount than the minimum amount. (ii) If there is an agreement under subparagraph (i) and no one bids a higher price than the minimum amount described in section 29 of the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law, the property shall be sold to the land bank upon payment by the land bank for the upset sale costs and liens, and claims and subordinate encumbrances shall be discharged by the sale. (3) All of the following apply to judicial sales: (i) Notwithstanding section 31 of the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law, the form, substance and timing of the land bank's payment of the sales price may be according to the agreement mutually acceptable to the plaintiff and the land bank if all of the following apply: (A) A judicial sale is ordered pursuant to a judgment on a tax or municipal claim. (B) The purchaser of the property is the land bank. (C) The sales price is an amount agreed to by the land bank and the plaintiff. (ii) The obligation of the land bank to perform in accordance with the agreement under subparagraph (i) shall be deemed to be in full satisfaction of the municipal claim which was the basis for the judgment. (iii) The land bank, as purchaser at the sale, shall have an absolute title to the property sold, free and discharged of tax and municipal claims, liens, mortgages, ground rents, charges and estates. (4) Notwithstanding sections 31.1 and 31.2 of the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law and sections 4 and 6 of the act of March 1, 1956 (1955 P.L.1196, No.372), entitled "An act authorizing the sale of vacant land located in areas certified as conservation areas in counties of the first class, under a judgment obtained on a tax claim, by the sheriff of the county; providing for the discharge of all liens, mortgages, ground rents, estates and claims against the property by sale; and limiting the right of redemption," all of the following apply: (i) The land bank may tender a bid at the sale in an amount equal to the total amount of all municipal claims and liens which were the basis for the judgment. Upon tender under this subparagraph, the property shall be deemed sold to the land bank regardless of bids by other parties. (ii) The bid of the land bank shall be paid as to its form, substance and timing according to an agreement that is mutually acceptable to the plaintiff and the land bank. The obligation of the land bank to perform in accordance with the agreement shall be deemed to be in full satisfaction of the tax or municipal claim which was the basis for the judgment. (iii) The land bank, as purchaser at the sale, shall have an absolute title to the property sold, free and discharged of tax and municipal claims, liens, mortgages, ground rents, charges and estates. (iv) The deed to the land bank shall be executed, acknowledged and delivered within 30 days of the sale. (5) All of the following apply to judicial sales for multiple tracts: (i) In a petition for a judicial sale, a municipality or a land bank, if it is the holder of municipal tax liens, may combine in a petition multiple tracts of real property if the petition and accompanying affidavits provide all of the following: (A) Identification of each tract of real property. (B) The identities of each party having an interest in a tract of real property. (C) The amount of the taxes then due and owing. (D) The nature of the notice of the proposed sale provided to the interested parties. (ii) The court may authorize in a single final judgment that all or part of the real properties identified in the petition be sold free and clear of tax and municipal claims, mortgages, liens, ground rents, charges and estates.  (e) Procedure relating to Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act.--For a land bank located in a municipality which follows the act of October 11, 1984 (P.L.876, No.171), known as the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act, all of the following apply: (1) Regardless of the time of filing, a municipality: (i) may assign and transfer a tax or municipal claim to the land bank under the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act upon terms and conditions mutually acceptable to the municipality and the land bank; and (ii) shall otherwise confer upon the land bank the rights, privileges and remedies of the municipality under the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act. (iii) For tax liens assigned to the land bank under this section, the land bank shall adopt policies providing for plans and agreements by which low-income, owner-occupant households may pay their delinquent taxes. Such plans and agreements shall take into account the household's ability to pay and shall be designed to promote the continued occupancy by that household whenever feasible. (2) All of the following apply to upset sales: (i) The land bank and the plaintiff in the claim may enter into an agreement for the land bank to purchase the property for the minimum amount of the upset sale price described in section 301 of the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act in the event there is no bid tendered for a higher amount than the minimum amount. (ii) The land bank may tender a bid for the mutually agreed upset sale price. (iii) Notwithstanding section 301 of the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act, the bid of the land bank shall be paid as to its form, substance and timing according to an agreement between the municipality and land bank. The obligation of the land bank to perform in accordance with the agreement shall be deemed to be in full satisfaction of the tax or claim which was the basis for the sale. (3) The notice and advertisement under sections 203 and 204 of the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act must contain reference to a potential bid by the land bank. (4) Subject to redemption under section 304 of the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act and confirmation under section 305 of the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act, the land bank, as purchaser at the sale, shall have an absolute title to the property sold, free and discharged of tax and municipal claims, liens, mortgages, ground rents, charges and estates. (5) The deed to the land bank under section 307 of the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act shall be delivered, acknowledged and recorded within 30 days of the date of confirmation.  (e.1) Land bank.--Notwithstanding subsections (d) and (e), in counties of the second class containing a city of the second class, a land bank may not engage in any of the following absent an agreement with a county, city, borough, incorporated town, township, school district or body politic and corporate created as a municipal authority pursuant to law whose claims comprise the upset sales price: (1) Purchase property for less than the upset sales price described in section 29 of the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law or section 301 of the Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act. (2) Alter the form, substance or timing of the payment of the sales price by the land bank.  (f) Involuntary transfers.--A land bank which acquires real property under this section shall be deemed to have acquired the real property as an involuntary transfer within the meaning of section 701(b)(1)(vi)(B) of the act of October 18, 1988 (P.L.756, No.108), known as the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act.  (g) Expiration.--This section shall expire upon publication of the notice under section 2120 (relating to determination on procedural revision).    Cross References. Section 2117 is referred to in section 2120 of this title.