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New York Governor Postpones 2020 NYC Tax Lien Sale

Posted on Sep. 9, 2020

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) have each announced a delay for the city’s annual tax lien sale but differed on the postponement date.

Under the governor's order issued September 4, local tax lien sales will be delayed until at least October 4.

New York City's tax lien sale was originally scheduled for May but was postponed to September 4 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The tax and water lien sale was delayed in May in recognition of this hardship, and given the current economic climate it makes sense to delay it again so that homeowners aren't facing further uncertainty,” Cuomo said in a September 4 release with Attorney General Letitia James (D).

However, de Blasio on the same day made a separate announcement postponing the annual tax lien sale until September 25.

“COVID-19 has hit the pocketbooks of New Yorkers hard, and we’re doing whatever we can to give New Yorkers some relief,” de Blasio said in the release. “Postponing the lien sale will allow New Yorkers more time to work with the City on their best path forward.”

In a separate statement on September 5, James said that New York City is bound by Cuomo’s executive order and promised to stop any attempt to enforce any liens before October 3.

“Make no mistake: If any local government, including New York City, attempts to enforce liens during that period, my office will move to stop them and protect homeowners,” James said.

James and a group of 57 elected New York officials previously urged de Blasio to delay the tax and water lien sale. A bill also has been proposed to delay the sale of tax liens by the city's Department of Finance until one year after the COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted.

Neither Cuomo nor de Blasio responded to requests for comment by press time. 

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