WV

Bidder process

1. 01A delinquent tract or lot certified by the Auditor is sold at public auction at the courthouse of the county to the highest eligible bidder during normal operating hours on a business day within 90 days after certification (11A-3-45(a))
2. 02Before bidding, register in advance with the Auditor's office or, on the day of the sale, complete and execute a notarized affidavit affirming that you meet the article's requirements; registration follows rules promulgated by the State Auditor's office (11A-3-45(c))
3. 03Clear the registration screen: the Auditor may deregister or refuse to register a bidder who failed to pay at a prior auction, is delinquent on real property tax as the most recent owner of record in any county, has code-enforcement noncompliance, is in code-enforcement litigation, or failed a raze-or-repair order within five years (11A-3-45(c)(1)-(5))
4. 04If you bid as a domestic or foreign entity defined in chapters 31B, 31D, or 31E, show proof at registration that you properly registered with the Secretary of State's office and are authorized to conduct business in the state (11A-3-45(d))
5. 05Confirm you are not barred: citizens of or entities controlled by citizens or governments of a Country of Particular Concern may not participate in the auction (11A-3-45a(a))
6. 06Bid at the public auction, where the tract or lot is sold to the highest eligible bidder; if the sale is not completed the first day it continues from day to day (11A-3-45(a))
7. 07Pay for your purchase by check, U.S. currency, or money order payable to the Auditor, delivered before the close of business on the day of sale (11A-3-45(a))
8. 08Within 120 days after the Auditor approves the sale, prepare the list of persons to be served with notice to redeem, provide the property's mailing address if it was Class II property, and deposit or offer to deposit with the Auditor a sum sufficient to cover the costs of preparing and serving the notice, or you lose all the benefits of your purchase (11A-3-52(a), (b))
9. 09The former owner and other interested parties may redeem at any time before a tax deed is issued by paying the Auditor the taxes, interest, and charges due on the date of sale plus one percent per month, additional taxes paid, allowable list/title-examination expenses up to $500, additional statutory costs, and the Auditor's fee (11A-3-56(a))

Registration

Yes

Registration mode

either

Registration deadline

in advance of the public auction with the Auditor's office, or by a notarized affidavit executed on the day of the sale (11A-3-45(c))

Registration fee

Not documented

Deposit required

Yes

Deposit amount

Not documented

Deposit percent

Not documented

Deposit refundable

Not documented

Sale format

in_person

Payment deadline

before the close of business on the day of sale (11A-3-45(a))

Payment methods

cash, check, credit_card

Residency required

Not documented

• A notarized affidavit affirming that the bidder meets the article's requirements, if the bidder did not register in advance with the Auditor's office (11A-3-45(c))
• Proof of registration with the Secretary of State's office and authorization to conduct business in West Virginia, for domestic or foreign entities defined in chapters 31B, 31D, and 31E (11A-3-45(d))
• The Auditor may deregister or refuse to register a bidder who failed to make a payment owed at a prior auction, has a history of noncompliance with county or municipal code enforcement violations, is subject to code-enforcement legal proceedings, or within the preceding five years failed to comply with a valid raze or repair order (11A-3-45(c))
• Citizens of, or entities organized in or controlled by citizens or governments of, any country designated a Country of Particular Concern are ineligible to participate in the Auditor's public auction (11A-3-45a(a))
• A 501(c)(3) nonprofit housing corporation that notifies the Auditor of an intent to bid and bids not more than five percent below the highest bid is sold the property over the highest bidder (11A-3-45(b))
• Citizens of, or entities organized in or controlled by citizens or governments of, a country of particular concern are barred from purchasing unsold lands offered without auction (11A-3-48a(a))