Tax Lien Investing in New Jersey - Calculating How Much Premium You Can Pay

In order to calculate how much premium you can______________
pay for a tax lien, you first have to know whatCertificate Amount + Premium + Subsequent
your bottom line is. In other words, what is theTaxes Paid
lowest return that you are willing to accept onFor this example, let's assume that the certificate
your investment? Then you can calculate justamount is $2000.00 and the annual taxes are
how much premium you can pay and still make$4000.00. The redemption penalty is $2000.00 x
the profit that you want. I use Tax Lien Manager,2% or $40.00. Since it's after Aug 10th and you
a software program for New Jersey tax liencan pay 3 quarters of open (subsequent) taxes,
investing created by DataVentures I LLC to dointerest on the subsequent taxes is 18% x
this for me. Tax Lien Manager computes premium$3000.00 or $540.00. Your total profit is $40.00 +
for a 4%, 5% and 6% return based on the$540.00 or $580.00. Your total investment without
assumption that the lien will be held for a minimumthe premium is the Certificate Amount +
of one year and that you will pay all subsequentSubsequent Taxes Paid or $2000.00 + $3000.00
taxes when they are due. Here's how you can= $5000.00. Calculate premium with a 5% return
calculate how much premium you can pay if youon your money as follows:
don't have software that does this for you like$40 + $540 / ($2000 + $3000 + X) = 5%,
Tax Lien Manager.where X=premium.
Once you know the return that you want, you$580 / ($5000 + X) = .05
then have to know how many tax quarters areMultiplying both side of the equation by (5000 +
open at the time of the sale and what the annualX), you get:
taxes are. Let's assume that you are going to a580 = .05 (5000 + X)
tax lien sale in August and that the municipality is580 = 250 + .05X
on a calendar year. As of August 10th, you will beSubtracting both sides of the equation, you get:
able to pay 3 quarters of open (subsequent)330 = .05X
taxes on any tax liens that you buy.Dividing both sides of the equation by .05, you
When you pay premium for a tax lien certificate,get:
your profit consists of the redemption penalty +X = 6600, or premium = $6600.00.
the interest on your subsequent tax payments.This is a simplified equation and does not take into
Your total investment is the certificate amount +account interest on future subsequent payments.
premium + subsequent taxes paid. Your totalIf the lien is held for one year and you keep
return on your money is total profit divided bypaying the subs, your actual return will be higher.
your total investment:If you are using Tax Lien Manager, you will get a
Redemption Penalty + Interest on Subsequentmore accurate result based on paying one year
Taxesof subsequent taxes.