Greenlee County, AZ tax sales
How tax lien certificate sales work in Greenlee County, seat of Clifton: 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 Greenlee County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
- Run by
- Greenlee County Treasurer
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- Held every February at the Greenlee County Treasurer's Office in Clifton. The Treasurer's FAQ states: "The sale is held every February. The actual date for the sale will be available January 1st." The sale starts at 10:00 a.m. and continues until all parcels are offered. Investors bid the interest rate down from the 16 percent statutory maximum, and the lowest rate wins a certificate of purchase.
- Next expected
- in February, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
- Sale list
- OTC Delinquent Tax Lien List
Registration and deposit
Prospective bidders complete a Bidder Information Form, available at the counter on the day of the sale or on the Treasurer's webpage under "Tax Lien Sales Forms." Registration and bidding take place in person at the sale, which begins at 10:00 a.m.
In-person sale with no online auction platform. The annual February sale parcel list is available at the Treasurer's Office and published in the county newspaper about two weeks before the sale; no direct online URL is posted for that auction list. The list_url here points to the Treasurer's OTC (over-the-counter) Delinquent Tax Lien List, which the office posts online as downloadable monthly PDFs for liens that remain available after the sale. Confirm the current sale date (released January 1st) with the Treasurer's Office. In person at the Greenlee County Treasurer's Office, 253 Fifth Street, Clifton. Greenlee County does not use an online auction platform; per the official Tax Lien Sale FAQ, bidding is conducted in person on the sale day.
From 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
Tax Collector (runs the certificate sale)
Notes for Greenlee County
- The exact February sale date is released each year on January 1st, per the Treasurer's Tax Lien Sale FAQ.
- The sale begins at 10:00 a.m. and continues until all parcels are offered.
- The sale is small and conducted in person at the Treasurer's Office rather than through an online auction platform such as RealAuction.
- Treasurer office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Liens not sold at the February auction are offered over the counter through the Treasurer's OTC Delinquent Tax Lien List, posted online as downloadable PDFs.
- Some third-party listing sites show alternate phone numbers and a PO Box; the phone and address here use only the official greenlee.az.gov pages, which list (928) 865-2072 and 253 Fifth Street, Clifton, AZ 85533.
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 Greenlee County, Arizona sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Greenlee County follows Arizona's tax lien state system.
When is the Greenlee County tax certificate sale?
- Held every February at the Greenlee County Treasurer's Office in Clifton. The Treasurer's FAQ states: "The sale is held every February. The actual date for the sale will be available January 1st." The sale starts at 10:00 a.m. and continues until all parcels are offered. Investors bid the interest rate down from the 16 percent statutory maximum, and the lowest rate wins a certificate of purchase.. 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.