How the clock works
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.
Who can redeem
The owner, the owner's agent, assignee, or attorney, any person who has a legal or equitable claim in the property, and anyone paying as a charitable gift on the owner's behalf.
What the owner pays to redeem
The amount the investor paid for the certificate plus any subsequent taxes paid, with interest at the winning bid rate up to 16 percent (a fraction of a month counted as a whole month), plus statutory fees.
How your interest accrues
Interest is 16 percent per year, simple, and a fraction of a month is counted as a whole month. The winning bid rate accrues from the first day of the month following the purchase of the tax lien. There is no minimum-return floor.
Why some certificates are bid to zero
Bidders compete by accepting a lower rate of interest, and the lowest rate wins the lien. Rates are bid down from the 16 percent statutory maximum. Arizona sets no minimum-return floor, so a low winning bid earns only that low rate. Investors accept very low rates mainly to secure the lien on parcels they eventually want to foreclose.
A redeemed certificate, plus your accrued interest, is what makes the wait profitable; see how redemption periods work across states. An unredeemed certificate is instead your path to the property through a tax deed sale, which still does not convey marketable title on its own, so budget for a quiet title action.
Verified Jul 13, 2026 against Arizona statutes.
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.