Property Tax Sale Auction

No. Legal title to a tax-defaulted property subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell can be acquired only through the Treasurer-Tax Collector by being the successful bidder at the tax sale, and by paying the full purchase amount, including the Documentary Transfer Tax.

Vacant or “Unimproved” land has no address or “situs” location and “Improved” properties may bear a street address. For your information, maps showing the general location or dimension of all parcels for sale may be purchased through the Office of the Assessor. For map questions only, please contact the Assessor at (714) 834-2727.

For internet sales, the winning bidder will have two (2) business days from the close of the sale to submit payment. The final amount due will be communicated upon acceptance of the winning bid. Payment must be made via wire transfer to the designated internet sale vendor. 

The successful bidder may take possession of a property after making payment in full and after the Tax Deed to Purchaser has been recorded, which is generally within a few days of the tax auction.

State law requires that the minimum bid on a tax-defaulted parcel offered at a public auction for the first time be no less than the total amount necessary to pay all of the delinquent taxes on the parcel plus the costs of conducting the sale. In addition, the winning bidder will be also required to pay a Documentary Transfer of $.55 per $500 of sales price.

The deadline is 5:00 p.m. on the last business day prior to the scheduled Property Tax Auction.

Tax Auctions occur annually.

All prospective purchasers are required to register for the tax sale. 

A bid deposit is required of each bidder prior to bidding on any property if the tax sale is conducted as part of an internet property tax auction. The deposit payment shall be made electronically to the tax sale vendor directly by the established deadline. Registration will not be permitted through the mail or in person for internet tax sales.

For internet tax sales, deposits will be refunded by the tax sale vendor. Refunds of the deposits will be made to unsuccessful bidders within ten (10) business days after the close of the internet tax sale.

This means that the item has been redeemed (paid in full) or withdrawn prior to the sale.

No bids are allowed below the Minimum Bid unless a property has been offered for sale at least once, no acceptable bids have been received, and the Treasurer-Tax Collector elects to offer that property at a reduced minimum bid.

You may inquire at the Office of the Orange County Clerk-Recorder at 601 N. Ross Street in Santa Ana or call them at (714) 834-2500. In addition, you can search their website using the Online Grantor/Grantee Index Search for possible liens.

Pursuant to Section 3712 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, tax deeds convey title to the purchaser free of all prior encumbrances (mortgage liens, judgment creditors, etc.) of any kind EXCEPT liens specified by Section 3712, Lis Pendens actions and any Federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) liens that, pursuant to provisions of federal law, are not discharged by the sale, even though the Tax Collector has provided proper notice to the Internal Revenue Service before that date. (IRS liens will be announced at the time of the tax sale.) You will need to research liens on the properties to determine if the properties are encumbered in any way. Payment of the bid amount at a tax-defaulted public auction may or may not discharge these types of obligations.

Properties may be removed for various reasons, including, but not limited to: payment of the delinquent taxes, bankruptcy filings, and problems with the notification to parties of interest in compliance with Revenue and Taxation Code section 3701.

It is recommended to delay any improvement on the property for a one-year period from the date the tax deed is recorded. The owner and/or a lienholder has one year to initiate proceedings to challenge the validity or irregularity of the tax sale.