GuidesVirginia
How to buy tax-sale property in Virginia (2026)
You buy the property itself, not a lien. There is no redemption period, so the sale is final. You earn 10% interest a year. You win with the highest bid. Sales are held on a schedule that varies by county.
How Virginia tax sales work
Virginia uses tax deed sales in the state registry. The official rule describes the sale as follows: “the court may appoint a special commissioner to sell the properties and execute the necessary deeds when a sale is found necessary or advisable” What the winning bidder receives, and the steps after the sale, depend on the county's published terms.
Interest, penalty, and redemption
Auction format and timing
The registry records highest bid as the bid method and on a schedule that varies by county for the sale schedule. The statute or official rule linked below controls the auction date, location, notice, and bidding format. When the schedule is not documented statewide, verify the date with the county treasurer, tax collector, sheriff, or other selling authority.
Registration, payment, and bidder steps
Registration, deposits, payment methods, and deadlines are often set by the selling county. The verified bidder record is shown below; any field labeled unknown must be confirmed with the county before registration.
How to bid here · Virginia
HybridWhether the sale is online, in person, by sealed bid, or a mix. The format decides how you register and whether you can react to other bids. See the full glossary for more terms.- 1.Wait for the locality to list real estate for sale after taxes are delinquent past the threshold in § 58.1-3965 (generally December 31 following the second anniversary, or the first anniversary for condemned, nuisance, derelict, or blighted property); the locality publishes the list at least 30 days before judicial proceedings commence
- 2.For a judicial tax sale the locality files a complaint in the circuit court; the court appoints a special commissioner to sell the properties and execute the deeds when a sale is found necessary or advisable (58.1-3967, 58.1-3969), and the sale is subject to the court's confirmation
- 3.For a nonjudicial tax sale of a parcel of minimal size and value the treasurer sells at public auction after mailing and posting notice at least 30 days before the sale and publishing notice at least seven days before the sale (58.1-3975(A)-(E))
- 4.Register with the auctioneer and, where the locality requires it, be approved; sales may be held in person, online, or as a simulcast of both
- 5.Bid at the public auction; the property is sold to the highest bidder, although the treasurer may reject bids the treasurer determines unreasonable in relation to the property's value
- 6.Pay the purchase price on the locality's terms of sale, plus any buyer's premium and deed recordation costs
- 7.Receive a special warranty deed for a nonjudicial sale (58.1-3975(I)) or a deed executed by the special commissioner after the court confirms a judicial sale (58.1-3967)
- RegistrationSigning up as a bidder before the sale. Counties set the deadlines and paperwork, which may include an application, identification, and a no-delinquent-taxes statement. See the full glossary for more terms.
- Required: UnknownUnknown
Not verified from a source yet.
- DepositMoney you must post before or at the sale, often a flat amount or a percentage of your bid. It is usually applied to the purchase price if you win and is often non-refundable if you fail to pay. See the full glossary for more terms.
- Required: UnknownUnknown
Not verified from a source yet.
- FormsPaperwork a county may collect before you can bid, such as a bidder ID card or a W-9 for tax reporting. See the full glossary for more terms.
- Bidder ID card: UnknownW-9: Unknown
- EligibilityRules about who may bid. Some counties restrict non-residents or bar anyone who owes delinquent taxes from participating. See the full glossary for more terms.
- Residency required: UnknownNo delinquent taxes: Unknown
- PaymentHow and when you must pay after winning. Certified or cleared funds are common and personal checks usually are not; missing the deadline typically forfeits your deposit. See the full glossary for more terms.
- Unknown
Not verified from a source yet.
Virginia tax-delinquent real estate is sold by public auction. Judicial sales under §§ 58.1-3965 to 58.1-3974 are brought by complaint, run by a court-appointed special commissioner, and confirmed by the circuit court; nonjudicial sales under § 58.1-3975 cover parcels of minimal size and value and are run directly by the treasurer. Both end in a deed to the highest bidder, subject to the owner's right to redeem before the sale. State law does not set bidder registration, deposits, forms, payment methods, or a payment deadline, so those fields are left unknown; each locality's published terms of sale govern them, and localities commonly conduct simulcast online/in-person auctions and bar purchasers who owe delinquent taxes to the locality. The locality may itself be a purchaser (58.1-3970).
Official state and county sources
SourceVa. Code 58.1-3969Va. Code 58.1-3965(B)Va. Code 58.1-3916Va. Code 58.1-3965(A), 58.1-3970Va. Code 58.1-3965(A)
| County | Sale type | Redemption | Platform |
|---|
The registry lists 133 Virginia counties. No county-level platform is verified yet, so treat it as varies by county.
Related guides
FAQ
- What do I actually buy at a Virginia tax sale?
- The investor buys the property itself at sale. No redemption period usually follows, so title transfers directly.
- How long does the owner have to redeem the property in Virginia?
- No redemption period is documented after the sale.
- What interest or penalty do I earn on a Virginia tax sale?
- A flat rate up to 10% per year.
- How is the winning bidder chosen in Virginia?
- The parcel or lien goes to the highest bidder at auction.
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Not legal, tax, or investment advice. Read the full disclaimer.