Virginia
VA
The investor buys the property itself at sale. No redemption period usually follows, so title transfers directly.
Sale type
Tax deed
Redemption
None
Interest / penalty
Flat rate · 10%
Sale timing
Varies
Rules in plain English
Sale type
Tax deed
The investor buys the property itself at sale. No redemption period usually follows, so title transfers directly.
Va. Code 58.1-3969
“the court may appoint a special commissioner to sell the properties and execute the necessary deeds when a sale is found necessary or advisable”official source ↗
Redemption period
None
No redemption period is documented after the sale.
Va. Code 58.1-3965(B)
“The owner of any property listed may redeem it at any time before the date of the sale by paying all accumulated taxes, penalties, reasonable attorney fees, interest and costs thereon”official source ↗
Interest / penalty
Flat rate · 10%
A flat rate up to 10% per year.
Va. Code 58.1-3916
“Interest may commence not earlier than the first day following the day such taxes are due by ordinance to be filed, at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per year”official source ↗
Bid method
Highest bid
The parcel or lien goes to the highest bidder at auction.
Va. Code 58.1-3965(A), 58.1-3970
“the property shall be deemed subject to sale by public auction pursuant to proper notice under this subsection”official source ↗
Sale schedule
Varies
Sale timing varies by county.
Va. Code 58.1-3965(A)
“When any taxes on any real estate in a locality are delinquent on December 31 following the second anniversary of the date on which such taxes have become due”official source ↗
Bidder process
- 01Wait 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
- 02For 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
- 03For 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))
- 04Register with the auctioneer and, where the locality requires it, be approved; sales may be held in person, online, or as a simulcast of both
- 05Bid 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
- 06Pay the purchase price on the locality's terms of sale, plus any buyer's premium and deed recordation costs
- 07Receive 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)
- Registration
- Not documented
- Registration mode
- Not documented
- Registration deadline
- Not documented
- Registration fee
- Not documented
- Deposit required
- Not documented
- Deposit amount
- Not documented
- Deposit percent
- Not documented
- Deposit refundable
- Not documented
- Sale format
- hybrid
- Payment deadline
- Not documented
- Payment methods
- unknown
- Residency required
- Not documented
Va. Code 58.1-3965(A)
“the property shall be deemed subject to sale by public auction pursuant to proper notice under this subsection.”official source ↗
Va. Code 58.1-3965(B)
“The owner of any property listed may redeem it at any time before the date of the sale by paying all accumulated taxes, penalties, reasonable attorney fees, interest and costs thereon, including the pro rata cost of publication hereunder.”official source ↗
Va. Code 58.1-3967
“The title conveyed to the purchaser at the judicial sale shall be held to bar any disabilities of parties defendant, and shall be free of all claims of any creditor, person, or entity, including those claims of beneficiaries under any deed of trust or mortgage, provided that such creditor, person, or entity was made a party defendant.”official source ↗
Va. Code 58.1-3969
“the court may appoint a special commissioner to sell the properties and execute the necessary deeds when a sale is found necessary or advisable.”official source ↗
Va. Code 58.1-3975(D)
“At least 30 days prior to conducting a sale under this section, the treasurer or other officer responsible for collecting taxes shall: 1. Send notice by certified or registered mail to the record owner or owners of such property and anyone appearing to have an interest in the property at their last known address as contained in the records of the treasurer or other officer responsible for collecting taxes; and 2. Post notice of such sale at the property location, if such property has frontage on any public or private street, and at the circuit courthouse of the locality.”official source ↗
Va. Code 58.1-3975(E)
“The treasurer or other officer responsible for collecting taxes shall also cause a notice of sale to be published in the legal classified section of a newspaper of general circulation in the locality in which the property is located at least seven days prior to the sale”official source ↗
Va. Code 58.1-3975(H)
“The owner of any property, or other interested party, may redeem it at any time prior to the date of the sale by paying all accumulated taxes, penalties, interest, and costs thereon, including reasonable attorney fees.”official source ↗
Va. Code 58.1-3975(I)
“At the time of sale, the treasurer or other officer responsible for collecting taxes shall sell to the highest bidder at public auction each parcel that has not been redeemed by the owner.”official source ↗
Va. Code 58.1-3975(I)
“The treasurer or other officer responsible for collecting taxes shall tender a special warranty deed pursuant to this section to effectuate the conveyance of the parcel to the highest bidder.”official source ↗
Warren County, Va., Auction Notice (Sept. 15, 2026 sale)
“Pursuant to Virginia Code §58.1-3975, the following real property will be auctioned for sale to the highest bidder at a simulcast (with online and in person bidding) public auction”official source ↗
Warren County, Va., Auction Notice (Sept. 15, 2026 sale)
“To qualify as a purchaser at this auction you may not owe delinquent taxes to County of Warren.”official source ↗
Warren County, Va., Auction Notice (Sept. 15, 2026 sale)
“The full balance due must be received within seven (7) days following the auction closing ... All payments must be made in the form of certified funds, cashier's check, money order or wire transfer.”official source ↗
Notes
Interest/penalty per 58.1-3916; locality-set. | Prose: deed | interest not to exceed 10%/yr; penalty not to exceed 10% of tax (local ordinance) | none after sale; owner may redeem any time before the sale date | public auction (judicial sale; county, city or town may purchase) | varies by locality (land sellable after Dec 31 following 2nd anniversary of delinquency)