Cochise County, AZ tax sales
How tax lien certificate sales work in Cochise County, seat of Bisbee: sale calendar, auction platform, over-the-counter lists, and the offices that run each sale.
Verified Jul 13, 2026 against official county and state sources.
New here? Read how Arizona tax sales work, the difference between a lien and a deed, and redemption periods.
How Cochise County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
- Run by
- Cochise County Treasurer
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- Held online each February. The Treasurer's bid information states the sale is conducted annually in February, and the general-information sheet describes it as held online in the middle of February, with the exact date posted on the Treasurer's page before February. As a concrete example, the county calendar listed the 2024 sale as Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. (MST).
- Next expected
- in February, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
Registration and deposit
Bidders must register with GovEase at www.govease.com. Obtain a separate bid number for each name or entity (for example, one for your personal name and one for a business), and provide your name(s), mailing address, telephone number, and Social Security number or Employer ID number. For the 2024 sale, GovEase registration opened January 13 and closed February 12 at noon (MST). The name you register is the name in which any future deed would be issued.
Only the tax lien is assigned, not the property; the amount paid equals the delinquent taxes, interest, penalties, and fees on each parcel. Bidding is by descending interest rate from a 16% statutory maximum down to 0%, and each lien is awarded to the bidder accepting the lowest rate. Payment for all liens won is due by 5:00 p.m. Arizona time the Monday after the auction. The winner receives a Certificate of Purchase (mailed after processing), which must be presented for each subsequent tax payment and surrendered on redemption. Any lien not sold is assigned to the State of Arizona at 16%. The advertised parcel list is published in the county's official newspaper (paper copies $5.00 from the Treasurer). Owners or other interested parties may redeem at any time until a deed is issued. Statutes referenced by the county include A.R.S. 42-18116, 42-18122, and 42-18151.
Register on GovEaseFrom lien to deed
Arizona holds no county tax deed auction. A certificate holder who is not redeemed can foreclose the right to redeem in court, starting three years after the sale, to obtain a treasurer's deed.
Over-the-counter (leftover) purchases
Liens that receive no bid are struck to the state. Any person may later buy a state-held certificate over the counter by assignment from the county treasurer, paying the amount due plus subsequent taxes and a small assignment fee. Assigned state certificates earn the full 16 percent.
New to this path? Read how over-the-counter certificates work.
County offices
Notes for Cochise County
- Arizona is a tax-lien state and Cochise County holds no tax-deed auction. After the lien sale, a certificate holder can obtain title only through a judicial foreclosure filed in Superior Court, beginning three years after the sale; the Treasurer notes it no longer processes administrative Treasurer's deeds.
- Two county systems are involved and should not be confused: the live bidding auction is run on GovEase (www.govease.com), while the county's own Parcel Inquiry site (parcelinquirytreasurer.cochise.az.gov) hosts the downloadable list of available liens and post-sale portfolio/research tools.
- The task's assumption of a RealAuction/arizonataxsale.com URL was verified false for Cochise County; official county documents direct bidders to GovEase.
Arizona statewide rules
- Redemption
- The owner or any interested party can redeem the lien at any time until the right to redeem is foreclosed by the court. A certificate of purchase holder cannot begin a foreclosure action until three years after the sale, and the lien becomes void if no foreclosure is commenced within ten years after the month the certificate was acquired.
A tax deed does not convey marketable title. Most buyers file a quiet title action before they can resell or insure the property. See the due diligence guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cochise County, Arizona sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Cochise County follows Arizona's tax lien state system.
When is the Cochise County tax certificate sale?
- Held online each February. The Treasurer's bid information states the sale is conducted annually in February, and the general-information sheet describes it as held online in the middle of February, with the exact date posted on the Treasurer's page before February. As a concrete example, the county calendar listed the 2024 sale as Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. (MST).. Registration and bidding happen on the county's online platform. Always confirm the exact date with the Tax Collector before the sale.
Tax Sale Atlas publishes educational information about public tax sale processes. This is not legal, financial, or investment advice. Rules, dates, and fees change; confirm with the county office before you bid.
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Compare sale calendars, platforms, and rules across the state, or read the guides before you bid.