Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 2012 NO. 3 >

The lien in favor of the state for payment of deferred property taxes and special assessments created under RCW 84.38.100 is canceled when a county acquires title to the property through foreclosure for delinquent taxes.  Where the county later sells such property, sales proceeds are apportioned pursuant to RCW 36.35.110.

AGLO 1975 NO. 17 >

(1) The legislative authority of a county is not first required to convey tax title land to itself in its proprietary capacity under RCW 36.35.030 before exchanging such property for other land under RCW 36.35.050. (2) Subsequent tax revenues derived from tax title property which was conveyed to private ownership under RCW 36.35.050 are to be distributed to the taxing districts in which the land is situated. (3) A county is not required by RCW 36.35.030 to operate a sanitary land fill on former tax title land at a profit.