How to buy tax-sale property in Washington (2026)

1. 1.The county forecloses on certificates of delinquency in superior court; the court gives judgment for the taxes, interest, and costs due and orders the sale (84.64.080(3))
2. 2.The treasurer gives notice of the time and place of the sale for ten days successively by posting it in three public places in the county, one of which must be the treasurer's office (84.64.080(5))
3. 3.Attend the sale at the county location the treasurer directs (except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays), or at a public auction held by electronic media if the treasurer chooses that method (84.64.080(5), (7); 84.64.225)
4. 4.Bid at or above the acceptable minimum bid, which is the total amount of taxes, interest, and costs; the property is sold "as is" to the highest and best bidder (84.64.080(4))
5. 5.If you are the winning bidder, pay the full amount of taxes, interest, and costs for which judgment was rendered, plus any taxes, interest, and costs delinquent at the time of sale (84.64.200(2)); for an online sale, pay the required deposit to bid and then pay the winning bid by electronic funds transfer within no less than forty-eight hours (84.64.225(2))
6. 6.The treasurer executes a tax deed to the purchaser; the treasurer collects a five-dollar deed-preparation fee plus the recording fee and sends the deed to the county auditor to record (84.64.080(11), 84.64.215)

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

No county officer or employee may directly or indirectly be a purchaser of the property at the sale (84.64.080(8))

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.

CashAch

at an electronic media sale, a winning bidder is allowed no less than forty-eight hours to pay the winning bid by electronic funds transfer; the acceptable minimum bid is the total amount of taxes, interest, and costs (84.64.080(4), 84.64.225(2))

Sources

• RCW 84.64.080(3)
• RCW 84.64.080(4)
• RCW 84.64.080(5)
• RCW 84.64.080(7)
• RCW 84.64.080(8)
• RCW 84.64.080(11)
• RCW 84.64.200(2)
• RCW 84.64.225(2)
• RCW 84.64.070(1)
• RCW 84.64.215

Washington sells foreclosed property by court-ordered tax judgment sale run by the county treasurer. State law sets the acceptable minimum bid (total taxes, interest, and costs) and the "as is" terms, requires notice by posting for ten days, and lets the treasurer choose between an in-person sale and a public auction by electronic media. At an online sale bidders must pay a deposit to participate; the deposit of a nonwinning bidder is refunded within ten business days, and a winning bidder gets at least forty-eight hours to pay by electronic funds transfer (the deposit amount is left to the treasurer, so it is not stated here). Bidder registration, bidder identification forms, and payment methods for in-person sales are not specified by the cited sections and are left unknown; payment at an in-person sale is for cash under the statutory notice form, while online sales require electronic funds transfer.