Baltimore Sends Past-Due Property Tax Notices
The city says the notices, some demanding up to $1,300, stem from a switch to a new billing system.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Taxes
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Baltimore city has sent some homeowners notices demanding payment of past-due property taxes, with amounts owed as high as $1,300. The Baltimore City Finance Department said the notices resulted from switching to a new billing system.
Why it matters
Property owners who fail to pay property taxes can face a tax sale, making accurate bills important for Baltimore homeowners. The notices have drawn complaints to city officials, including from a councilmember's office.
Notices reported by residents listed balances of $40.35 for tax year 2013-14 and $0.53 for tax year 2015-16 for Ellen Townsend, and $1,299.36 in charges dating back to 2013 for Tywanna Gardner.
The players
Baltimore City Finance Department
The city agency responsible for property tax billing and collection, which said the notices resulted from a new billing system and will abate incorrect bills case by case.
Odette Ramos
A Baltimore official whose office received complaints from constituents about the past-due property tax notices.
The details
Ellen Townsend said she cannot afford the $40 balance on her notice. A city employee told Tywanna Gardner that an audit prompted the notice, and Odette Ramos said her office received constituent complaints about the notices.
Timeline
Charges on one notice date back to 2013.
Townsend's notice covers the 2013-14 tax year.
Townsend's notice covers the 2015-16 tax year.
The notices were reported on November 3, 2026.
Roadmap
Baltimore property owners who do not pay property taxes can face a tax sale, the enforcement mechanism that makes these notices consequential. The billing system switch raises the stakes because homeowners who believe a bill is wrong must dispute it with the city before any tax sale risk arises.
Homeowners who receive a past-due notice should check whether the amount matches their own records before paying. Property owners who believe a bill is incorrect can ask the Baltimore City Finance Department to review it, which the city says it will do case by case.
The takeaway
Homeowners who receive an unexpected property tax notice should compare it against their own payment records and contact the city before the balance grows. Verifying a bill early helps avoid the tax sale risk that unpaid balances can trigger.
Further reading
For more on how these bills are handled, see Taxes coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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