Tax Lien Sale

Purpose of Tax Lien Sale

All property (real) taxes must be collected in order to meet the budget of all certified taxing authorities. Therefore, an annual Tax Lien Sale is held to collect the unpaid taxes. These taxes are purchased by investors who, in turn, earn interest on the tax liens against these properties. The amount of the individual tax lien(s) purchased includes the amount of tax, delinquent interest, advertising, auction, and certificate fees.

Three years following the date of Tax Lien Sale, an application for a Treasurer's Deed may be accepted from the tax lien holder if redemption of the lien is not received. The application process ranges from five to six months. All legally interested parties are given a 120-day redemption period to keep their interest in the property. Deed applications involve remittance of a $500 deposit to cover fees for advertising, certified mailings, title searches, and miscellaneous legal fees. Please call the Treasurer's Office at 970-728-4451 for more information.

Element of Risk

It is important to remember the element of risk involved in the purchase of tax liens. The purchase of tax sale liens of properties under the control of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) and those affected by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) or property owner bankruptcy could possibly result in the loss of interest as could the destruction of the property. It is impossible for this office to identify the potential problems. Please conduct your own investigation to reduce the possibility of a loss of interest to you.

County Held Tax Lien Certificates

Tax liens that are not purchased at the Tax Lien Sale become County held. County held tax liens are available for purchase by the public. There are currently no County held tax liens.