some states are a year behind in assessing taxes. that is in 2020 you pay 2019 taxes. if you bought your home late in 2019, in these states you likely would not pay any real estate taxes until 2020. in addition, on the closing statement there would have been a credit for the 2019 taxes for the period you did not own it, you must offset any tax payments in 2020 by the credit when you report the real estate tax deduction on the 2020 return.
in other states that are not behind and the previous owner paid the full year's taxes (2019) there would have been a charge on the closing statement for the period of your ownership. this would be deductible on your 2019 return.
we can't see the closing statement so other scenarios are possible.
if you are required to have a real estate escrow account and make deposits (usually monthly with the mortgage payment) - under the tax laws these are not deductible because the escrow company is regarded as your agent. when money is withdrawn to pay real estate tax bills, they should appear n the 1098.
