CoreLogic paid your property taxes because you likely have a mortgage, and your lender required it as part of your loan agreement
When you take out a mortgage, your lender has a financial stake in your property. If your property taxes go unpaid, the local government can place a lien on the house or even foreclose on it—which would wipe out the lender's collateral. To protect itself, your lender requires you to set aside money each month in an escrow account (sometimes called an impound account). CoreLogic, which is a third-party servicer, may manage that account on behalf of your lender and pay your taxes from it when they come due.
CoreLogic is one of several companies that handle escrow accounts for mortgage servicers. Your lender may have hired them to collect your monthly payments, hold the money, and send it to your county tax assessor on the due date. You are not paying CoreLogic directly for your taxes—you are paying your lender, and your lender is using CoreLogic as the middleman to manage the timing and payment.
Key Takeaways
- Your mortgage lender requires you to fund an escrow account each month so property taxes can be paid on time without risking foreclosure.
- CoreLogic is a servicer hired by your lender to collect escrow money and pay your taxes to the county on your behalf.
- The amount you pay each month is an estimate based on your property's assessed value and your county's tax rate, and it may be adjusted annually.
- You can request an escrow analysis from your lender to verify the amount is correct and understand what CoreLogic is paying on your behalf.
- If you pay off your mortgage, the escrow account closes and you will pay your property taxes directly to your county going forward.
How escrow accounts work when you have a mortgage
Your monthly mortgage payment is usually split into four parts: principal, interest, homeowners insurance, and property taxes. The last two are placed into the escrow account rather than going directly to your lender. CoreLogic (or another servicer) holds this money and pays your insurance company and county tax assessor when bills arrive.
The amount you set aside each month is an estimate. Your lender looks at your property's assessed value, your county's tax rate, and your homeowners insurance premium, then divides the annual total by 12. If that estimate is too low or too high, your lender adjusts it once a year—usually in the fall—and your monthly payment changes. CoreLogic sends you a statement each year showing what was collected and what was paid out.
Why CoreLogic handles this instead of your lender
Large mortgage servicers like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, or Rocket Mortgage do not always manage escrow accounts themselves. Instead, they hire specialized companies like CoreLogic, Black Knight, or Fiserv to handle the administrative work. These servicers collect thousands of escrow payments, track tax important date across hundreds of counties, and send payments to the right place at the right time.
This arrangement protects you as well as your lender. If your lender managed escrow in-house and made a mistake, your taxes could go unpaid and you could face penalties or a tax lien. By using a dedicated servicer, the work is centralized and audited. CoreLogic's job is to make sure your taxes are paid on time, every time.
What to do if you want to verify the payment
You should receive an escrow statement from your lender or servicer once a year, usually between March and May. This statement shows the opening balance, the amount collected from you each month, what was paid to your county and insurance company, and the closing balance. Check that the tax payment matches what your county assessor shows as paid.
If you do not receive a statement, contact your lender and ask for an escrow analysis. You can also log into your county assessor's website and search your property by address or parcel number to see the payment history. If CoreLogic paid your taxes but your county shows them as unpaid, contact your lender when ready—this is rare but can happen if a payment was mailed to the wrong address or the county's records are delayed.
What happens if you refinance or pay off your mortgage
When you refinance your mortgage, your old lender closes the escrow account and sends you any remaining balance. Your new lender opens a new escrow account, and CoreLogic or another servicer may manage it. The process is the same, but the monthly amount may change if your new loan terms are different.
If you pay off your mortgage entirely, the escrow account closes and you will no longer have a monthly mortgage payment. From that point forward, you will pay your property taxes directly to your county assessor. You will receive a tax bill in the mail or can pay online through your county's website. Make sure you mark your calendar or set a reminder, because no one will be collecting the money for you anymore.
Why you might see CoreLogic's name on a tax payment receipt
When CoreLogic sends your property tax payment to your county, the payment may be recorded under CoreLogic's name or your lender's name rather than your own. This can be confusing when you look at your county's tax records online. The payment is still yours—CoreLogic is straightforward the messenger. Your county assessor knows that the payment came from your escrow account and credits it to your property.
If you ever need to prove that your taxes were paid, you can ask CoreLogic or your lender for a payment confirmation, or you can contact your county assessor directly. Most counties allow you to search by property address and see the payment history, regardless of whose name appears on the receipt.
What to do if CoreLogic made an error
Mistakes happen. CoreLogic might send a payment late, send it to the wrong county, or send the wrong amount. If your county sends you a notice that your taxes are unpaid or overdue, do not ignore it. Contact your lender when ready and provide them with the notice. Your lender is responsible for making sure CoreLogic corrects the error and pays any penalties that resulted.
You should not have to pay a penalty out of pocket if CoreLogic was at fault. Your lender may dispute the penalty with the county or reimburse you. Keep copies of all notices and correspondence. If the problem is not resolved within 30 days, escalate the complaint to your lender's customer service department and ask to speak with the escrow department supervisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I opt out of escrow and pay my taxes myself?
Some lenders allow you to pay your own taxes if you have a large down payment and a strong credit history, but most require escrow for the life of the loan. Ask your lender whether you are may be able to access to waive escrow. If you are, you will need to prove each year that your taxes were paid on time.
Why did my escrow payment go up?
Your escrow payment increases when your property's assessed value rises, your county's tax rate increases, or your homeowners insurance premium goes up. Your lender adjusts the amount once a year and notifies you of the change. You can request an escrow analysis to see the breakdown.
What if CoreLogic overpaid my taxes?
If CoreLogic paid more than your county required, your county will issue a credit or refund. The refund may go to CoreLogic, which will then credit your escrow account. Check your escrow statement to confirm the credit was applied. If it was not, contact your lender.
Do I need to contact CoreLogic directly if there is a problem?
No. Contact your mortgage lender or servicer first. They hired CoreLogic and are responsible for the work. Your lender can investigate the issue and contact CoreLogic on your behalf. Going directly to CoreLogic may slow things down.
Will I get my escrow balance back when I pay off my mortgage?
Yes. When your mortgage is paid off, your lender will send you any remaining escrow balance within 30 to 45 days. This is money you overpaid into the account and belongs to you.