What happens to a property with a tax lien?
Andrew Ramirez
Published Feb 27, 2026
In a tax lien sale, the lien is auctioned to the highest bidder. If the property owner can’t pay the liens, the new owner can foreclose on the property. In a tax deed sale, a property owner with unpaid taxes is forced to sell their property at auction.
Where can I find a tax lien on a vacant property?
You can find tax liens on vacant land sometimes for less than $100. Tax lien certificates on modest developed properties can start at only a few hundred dollars. In addition, as a tax lien investor, the possibility exists that the owner may fail to redeem – may fail to pay their indebtedness – and you can foreclose on the property.
How does buying a tax lien certificate work?
The defaulted property then goes to a tax deed sale in which bidders can compete to purchase the property. Successfully buying a tax lien certificate or tax deed requires learning a very simple process. The process starts with learning how to research properties of interest. Then, you learn how to participate in the various forms of auction.
Can a foreclosure be sold at a tax lien sale?
However, this doesn’t happen as often as you’d think. Many properties end up being foreclosed on and sold at the city, township, or county’s yearly Tax Lien Sale. The town holds these sales in hopes of making back the cost of the unpaid property and real estate taxes, so the properties are usually auctioned at a fraction of their worth.
When does a state tax lien have priority?
This means that, to the extent that a creditor advances funds to the debtor more than 46 days after the date of recording of the state tax lien, the state tax lien will have priority.
How to check for back taxes and tax liens?
You will need 2 things to find out the back property taxes and tax liens information for a property. You need to know the county that the land is in, so in our case, that is Costilla County. You will need the parcel number. We’re going to start by finding the assessor’s page for the county, and see if they have an online treasurer search.
How is a tax deed sale different from a tax lien sale?
In tax deed sales, the taxing authority sells the title to the home. A tax lien certificate sale, on the other hand, doesn’t convey ownership of the property. Rather, the taxing authority sells its lien and the purchaser usually receives a tax lien certificate.
What happens if I owe back property taxes?
If you don’t pay your property taxes on time, the government can charge you interest and penalties, and gets a lien on your property. A property tax lien can result in the government taking your house and selling it. If you owe back property taxes, the taxing authority gets a lien on your house for the amount due plus any interest and penalties.
Can a federal tax lien take priority over a mortgage?
Federal Tax Liens have No Special Priority. If you fail to pay federal taxes due, the IRS may place a lien on your property by filing a Notice of Federal Tax Lien with your county clerk’s office. The IRS puts liens on all types of property, including real estate.
Can a tax lien turn into a levy?
The IRS puts liens on all types of property, including real estate. A federal tax lien differs from an IRS levy, which is the actual seizure of the property and eventual sale to pay off your tax debt to the IRS. However, if you fail to pay your taxes and do not make good faith arrangements with the IRS to do so, a lien can turn into a levy.
What happens if you have a divorce lien on Your House?
With a divorce lien, one party keeps the house, and the other gets a note and deed of trust (or mortgage) secured by the property. One gets real estate, and the other gets paper.
Can a property tax lien sale be invalidated?
If you pay the delinquent taxes before the start of the sale, the sale will not take place. Setting aside the 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: a good reason why you neglected to pay the past-due amounts.
When does a federal tax lien become unenforceable?
The IRS will remove a federal tax lien if the lien was filed in error, if the outstanding balance is paid in full, if the outstanding balance is otherwise satisfied (for example through a successful offer in compromise), or if the lien becomes unenforceable (for example, because the lien has expired due to the ten-year statute of limitations).
What happens if you don’t pay your property taxes?
If you don’t pay your property taxes (or other municipal charges such as a sewer or water bill), the past-due amount becomes a lien on your home. All states have laws that allow the local government to then sell your home through the tax lien process to collect the delinquent taxes.