Redemption period by state: tax sale and foreclosure rules
The redemption period is how long an owner can pay and keep the property after a tax or foreclosure sale. It ranges from none to several years. This table lists the tax-sale system, the redemption period and the type of mortgage foreclosure for each of the 28 states LeadCounty covers, with the statute to check.
28 states at a glance
| State | Unpaid tax is collected by | Redemption period | Mortgage foreclosure | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Tax lien certificates | The owner can redeem within 3 years of the sale by paying the tax, interest and costs. | Non-judicial | Ala. Code Title 40, Chapter 10 (sale of land for taxes) |
| Arizona | Tax lien certificates | The owner can redeem for 3 years; after that the certificate holder can go to court to foreclose and take the deed. | Non-judicial | A.R.S. §42-18101 and following (tax lien sale) |
| Colorado | Tax lien certificates | The owner can redeem for 3 years; after that the lien holder can apply to the treasurer for a treasurer's deed. | Non-judicial (public trustee) | C.R.S. Title 39, Article 11 (tax lien sales) |
| Florida | Tax certificates, then tax deeds | The owner can pay off the certificate at any time until the tax deed is issued. | Judicial | Fla. Stat. Chapter 197 (tax certificates and tax deeds) |
| Georgia | Tax sale with a right of redemption | The owner can redeem for 12 months after the sale by paying a premium; after that the buyer can send notice to end the right to redeem. | Non-judicial | O.C.G.A. §48-4-40 (redemption after a tax sale) |
| Hawaii | County tax sale | In most cases the owner has one year after the tax sale to redeem. | Judicial and non-judicial | HRS Chapter 246 (real property tax collection) |
| Illinois | Tax lien sale | For most homes the redemption period is 2½ years from the sale (it can be extended to 3); the buyer then asks the court for a tax deed. | Judicial | 35 ILCS 200, Articles 21 and 22 (Property Tax Code: sale and redemption) |
| Indiana | Tax sale certificates | The owner usually has one year to redeem after the county tax sale (120 days after a commissioners' certificate sale). | Judicial | Ind. Code 6-1.1-24 and 6-1.1-25 (tax sales and redemption) |
| Kansas | Judicial tax foreclosure | The owner can pay the tax and costs up to the sale. | Judicial | K.S.A. 79-2801 and following (tax foreclosure) |
| Maryland | Tax lien certificates | The owner can redeem until the certificate holder gets a court judgment; the holder can usually file to foreclose the right of redemption after six months. | Court-supervised | Md. Code, Tax-Property §14-801 and following (tax sale) |
| Massachusetts | Tax taking by the city or town | The owner can redeem until the Land Court forecloses the right of redemption; 2024 reforms require surplus equity to go back to the owner. | Non-judicial | M.G.L. Chapter 60 (collection of taxes) |
| Michigan | County tax foreclosure | The owner can pay until the foreclosure takes effect on March 31 of the foreclosure year; since 2020 (Rafaeli) former owners can claim leftover sale proceeds. | Non-judicial | MCL 211.78 and following (General Property Tax Act: foreclosure) |
| Minnesota | Tax forfeiture | The owner can redeem until forfeiture; 2024 changes after Tyler v. Hennepin County return leftover equity to former owners. | Non-judicial | Minn. Stat. Chapter 281 (tax forfeiture and redemption) |
| Missouri | Tax sale (certificate of purchase) | After a regular sale the owner generally has one year to redeem. | Non-judicial | RSMo Chapter 140 (delinquent and back taxes) |
| Nebraska | Tax lien certificates | The owner can redeem for 3 years; after that the holder can apply for a tax deed or foreclose. | Mostly non-judicial | Neb. Rev. Stat. §77-1801 and following (tax sales) |
| Nevada | Tax deed (county trustee) | The owner has 2 years from when the county takes the property in trust to pay and redeem. | Non-judicial | NRS Chapter 361 (property tax) |
| New Jersey | Tax sale certificates | A private certificate holder can sue to foreclose the right of redemption 2 years after the sale (6 months for a town-held certificate); 2024 changes protect the owner's surplus equity. | Judicial | N.J.S.A. 54:5-1 and following (Tax Sale Law) |
| New Mexico | State tax deed sale | The owner can pay the tax until the sale. | Judicial | NMSA 1978, Chapter 7, Article 38 (property tax collection) |
| North Carolina | County tax foreclosure | Every sale stays open 10 days for higher (upset) bids; the owner can pay the tax until the sale is final. | Non-judicial with a clerk's hearing | N.C.G.S. §105-374 (foreclosure of tax liens) |
| Ohio | County tax foreclosure (some counties also sell tax certificates) | The owner can pay the full amount until the court confirms the sheriff sale. | Judicial | Ohio Rev. Code Chapter 5721 (tax foreclosure) |
| Oklahoma | Tax sale (certificate, then resale) | The owner can redeem for 2 years after the certificate sale. | Mostly judicial | 68 O.S. §3105 and following (tax sales) |
| Oregon | County tax foreclosure | The owner has 2 years after the foreclosure judgment to redeem. | Non-judicial | ORS Chapter 312 (foreclosure of tax liens) |
| Pennsylvania | Upset sale (county Tax Claim Bureau) | There is no redemption after a county upset sale; in Philadelphia an occupied home can be redeemed for 9 months after a sheriff tax sale. | Judicial | 72 P.S. §5860.101 and following (Real Estate Tax Sale Law) |
| South Carolina | Tax sale with a right of redemption | The owner has 12 months to redeem; after that the buyer gets a tax title. | Judicial | S.C. Code §12-51-90 (redemption) |
| Tennessee | Tax sale through chancery court | The owner can usually redeem for up to one year after the court confirms the sale (shorter in some cases). | Non-judicial | Tenn. Code §67-5-2501 and following (delinquent tax suits) |
| Texas | Tax foreclosure lawsuit | Homesteads and farm land can be redeemed for 2 years after the sale; other property for 180 days. | Non-judicial | Texas Tax Code Chapters 33 and 34 (tax suits and sales) |
| Utah | County tax sale | The owner can pay until the sale; there is no redemption after the county's tax deed. | Non-judicial | Utah Code §59-2-1351 and following (tax sale) |
| Virginia | Court-ordered tax sale | The owner can pay the tax, penalties, interest and costs at any time before the court-ordered sale; money left over after the sale goes back through the court to the former owner or lienholders. | Non-judicial | Va. Code §58.1-3965 and following (sale of delinquent real estate) |
| Wisconsin | County tax deed / in-rem foreclosure | The owner can pay until the county takes title; 2024 changes after Tyler v. Hennepin County let former owners claim surplus proceeds. | Judicial | Wis. Stat. Chapter 75 (tax deeds and in-rem foreclosure) |
General information from public statutes and agency guidance, not legal advice. A statute name without a link is a citation to look up on the state legislature's own site. For each state's full rules and live county counts open its state page.
Questions
What is a redemption period?
The time after a tax sale or a foreclosure sale in which the former owner can still pay what is owed and keep the property. Its length depends on the state and on the type of sale.
Which state has the longest redemption period?
Of the 28 states in the table, Alabama, Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska allow 3 years after a tax lien sale, and Illinois allows 2½ to 3 years for most homes. Check the row for the exact rule.
Is a tax lien the same as a tax deed?
No. A tax lien certificate sells the unpaid tax and the owner keeps the house until the redemption period ends. A tax deed sale sells the property itself.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a plain summary of public statutes and agency guidance. Rules change and counties differ, so confirm with the county office and a local real estate attorney.
How we make these guides
Written by the LeadCounty editorial and data team from official county, court and state sources and our own weekly counts. We name the office behind every number, say what we cannot see, and fix mistakes when you tell us. See our editorial standards and methodology. General information, not legal or financial advice. Refreshed weekly.
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