If a sale closes on January 31 and the seller has not paid the tax bill due, what is the outcome?

The seller being debited for 30 days of the tax bill is accurate because it reflects the common practice of prorating taxes in real estate transactions. When a property sale closes, any taxes that are due are typically calculated based on the closing date.

In this situation, since the seller has not paid the tax bill by the closing date of January 31, the responsibility for the unpaid tax generally remains with the seller up to the date of closing. Therefore, the closing statement would show a debit (or charge) to the seller for the amount of the tax bill that corresponds to the period from January 31 up until the next tax payment is due.

Thus, because the mortgage and property taxes are usually paid in advance or retrospectively, the seller is accountable for their share of the tax liability, which amounts to the 30 days of the tax bill. This ensures that the buyer is protected from any unpaid taxes that were applicable during the seller's period of ownership before the sale was finalized.