What Happens If My Home Goes to a Tax Sale?

If you fail to keep current on your property taxes or municipal charges, like a sewer or water bill, the past-due amount becomes a lien on your home. All states have laws allowing the local government to then sell your home through a tax lien process to collect the delinquent taxes.

In this article, you'll learn about how property tax sales work and how you might be able to save your home even after a tax sale happens.

How Property Tax Sales Work

Each state has different laws for tax sales. Generally, the taxing authority, usually the county, doesn't have to go to court before holding a tax sale.

Notice About Delinquent Property Taxes

Instead, the process often starts when the taxing authority files a list of delinquent taxes, which includes information about the taxpayer, the property, and the amount due, with the recorder's office and publishes a copy in the newspaper. Also, the homeowner is typically entitled to some form of notice of the pending tax sale.

How Property Tax Sales Work

Then, in some places, the county holds a public auction. Commonly, bidding begins at the amount that covers the delinquent taxes, interest, and related penalties owed to the taxing authority. The winning bidder at the sale normally receives either a:

• tax deed, or
• tax lien certificate (see below).

Tax Foreclosures and Other Procedures

In some jurisdictions, though, a sale isn't held. The taxing authority simply executes its lien by taking title to the home. In other places, the taxing authority must foreclose the property, usually by filing a lawsuit in court, before holding a tax sale.

Tax Deed Sales

In tax deed sales, the taxing authority sells the title to the home.

Tax Lien Certificate Sales

On the other hand, a tax lien certificate sale doesn't convey ownership of the property. Instead, the taxing authority sells its lien, and the purchaser usually receives a tax lien certificate.

This certificate entitles the purchaser to take over the taxing authority's position and collect full payment of the past-due taxes, plus interest, from the delinquent taxpayer. If the delinquent taxes aren't paid by a certain date, the purchaser of the lien generally has a right to foreclose the lien or take specific steps to convert the certificate to a deed and get title to the home.

How to Save Your Home After a Property Tax Sale

Even after your property goes to a tax sale, you might have options to save the home.

Saving Your Home After a Tax Deed Sale

You might be able to reclaim your home after a tax deed sale by redeeming it or setting aside the sale.

Redeeming the property. Many jurisdictions that sell tax deeds offer a right of redemption after the sale, allowing you to get your home back. To redeem, you must reimburse the purchaser the amount paid at the sale or pay the taxes owed, plus interest and costs, within a specific time frame called a "redemption period," which is generally between one to three years after the sale.

But sometimes, the redemption period takes place before the sale. If you pay the delinquent taxes before the sale, the sale won't happen.

Setting aside a sale. If you can't redeem the home, you might be able to set aside (invalidate) the tax sale after it has occurred by showing, for example:

• defects in the tax lien or tax sale process
• the taxes were paid or not owed, or
• a good reason why you neglected to pay the past-due amounts.

Saving Your Home After a Tax Lien Sale

After a tax lien sale, you still own the home because the purchaser only buys a lien against your property. If you pay off the amount of the lien or the purchase price (depending on the situation), plus allowed costs, like interest, within a specified time, you get to keep the home. This process, too, is referred to as "redeeming" the home.

When to Hire an Attorney

If you're facing an imminent tax sale, or one has already occurred, consider talking to an experienced attorney in your state as soon as possible.

A qualified foreclosure lawyer, tax lawyer, or real estate lawyer can answer your questions about how the process works where you live and the specific steps you need to take to save your home from a tax sale.