Glenn County, CA tax sales
How tax lien certificate and tax deed sales work in Glenn County, seat of Willows: sale calendar, auction platform, over-the-counter lists, and the offices that run each sale.
Verified Jul 27, 2026 against official county and state sources.
New here? Read how California tax sales work, the difference between a lien and a deed, and redemption periods.
How Glenn County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
Details are being verified for this county.
Tax deed sale
- Run by
- Glenn County Treasurer-Tax Collector, a division of the Glenn County Department of Finance
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- Late October, run as a multi-day online auction. The county auction page states: "The Treasurer and Tax Collector's Online Auction will be held from October 29th - October 31st, at https://.govease.com/caglenn." The posted schedule was Auction Start October 29th, 2025 at 8:00am PT and Auction End October 31st, 2025 at 5:00pm PT. The sale FAQ header reads "NEXT TAX SALE OCTOBER 29, 2025 - OCTOBER 31, 2025." As of July 2026 the county has not posted a newer sale date, so the October 2025 sale is still the most recent one listed. Glenn sells infrequently: the only other auctions shown on the page are March 2018 and October 2018, and the October 2018 sale was canceled after all properties redeemed.
Registration and deposit
Online only, through GovEase. Pre-registration is required and the Terms and Conditions state "Only bids submitted via the Internet will be accepted. Pre-registration is required. Register on-line at www.GovEase.com. Neither the County of Glenn nor the Tax Collector ... will be registering bidders or accepting bids." The FAQ confirms "Parcels require a bidder deposit of $5,000.00" and that GovEase accepts all deposits. For the October 2025 sale the first day to register was October 2nd, 2025 at 8:00am PT and the last day to register was October 28th, 2025 at 5:00pm PT. Winning bidders pay by wire transfer or certified check as directed by GovEase, plus county transfer taxes and recording fees; the October 2025 payoff deadline was November 5th, 2025 at 5pm. Deposits are refunded to unsuccessful bidders within ten business days after the close of all property auctions. GovEase bidder support: [email protected], (769) 208-5050.
Glenn County runs a California tax deed sale, not a lien sale. The auction is fully online via GovEase; there is no in-person bidding and the Tax Collector's office does not register bidders or take bids. Minimum bid is set by state law at no less than the total amount to redeem the property plus costs. The right to redeem ends at the close of business on the last business day before the sale, and California has no post-sale redemption period. The published property list is updated as parcels redeem, and several parcels on the October 2025 list were already marked REDEEMED before the sale, so bidders should re-check the list on GovEase before bidding. Most parcels offered are vacant land with no situs address. All parcels sell AS IS with no warranty as to title, location, condition, zoning, or buildability. Not all liens are discharged by the sale; see Revenue and Taxation Code section 3712. The tax deed is mailed roughly 30 days after the auction closes. The former owner has one year from recording of the tax deed to challenge the sale under R&TC 3725 and 3726, which can delay clear title insurance. Where the IRS holds a lien, the United States has a 120-day right of redemption after the sale. Starting 60 days before the sale date the Tax Collector accepts only certified funds (cash, cashier's check, or bank certified check) for redemption payments. Evicting any occupants is the buyer's responsibility.
Register on GovEaseCounty offices
Notes for Glenn County
- County seat is Willows, and the Tax Collector counter is at 516 West Sycamore Street in Willows. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Fax is (530) 934-6421 and the tax sale email is [email protected].
- Glenn is a small, infrequent seller. The auction page lists only three sales in its history: March 2018, October 2018 (canceled after every parcel redeemed), and October 2025. Investors should not assume an annual sale.
- The October 2025 list was heavily rural and agricultural. Parcels included AE-40 Intensive Agriculture tracts of 10 to 43 acres alongside R-1 residential lots in Willows, which fits the tax-deed land due-diligence buyer profile.
- The county publishes an excess proceeds list and claim form after each sale, both linked from the Property Tax Auctions page.
- The county website sits behind a bot challenge and can block automated fetching; the auction page renders normally in a standard browser.
California statewide rules
- Redemption
- Tax-defaulted property may be redeemed until the right of redemption is terminated (section 4101). That right terminates at the close of business on the last business day prior to the commencement date of the tax sale, and the start of the auction counts as the sale date no matter when bidding closes. A redemption payment sent by mail must be received in the tax collector's office before that deadline. California has no post-sale redemption period: once the auction opens, a record owner who has not redeemed loses all legal and equitable interest in the property. Two situations revive the right of redemption. The right revives if the property is not sold, and it revives on the next business day if the tax collector approved a credit sale and the buyer did not pay in full by the deadline the tax collector set.
- Deed deposit
- The tax collector may require a deposit and must give public notice before the sale of its amount, payment method, and due date, and of whether it is a condition of bidding or applies toward the purchase price. On a sale the tax collector approves as a deferred-payment transaction, the deposit may be $5,000 or 10 percent of the minimum bid price, whichever is greater. Counties set the specific figure, so confirm it on the county page or auction platform.
- Surplus proceeds
- Sale proceeds first cover statutory distributions, then taxes, assessments, and county costs. Anything left is excess proceeds held in the delinquent tax sale trust fund. A party of interest may file a claim at any time before one year after the tax collector's deed to the purchaser is recorded. Distribution runs first to lienholders of record before the tax deed was recorded, in order of their priority, then to persons with title of record. Excess proceeds not claimed within that year may be transferred to the county general fund.
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 Glenn County, California sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Glenn County follows California's tax deed state system.
How often does Glenn County hold tax deed sales?
- annual. Each sale is scheduled and advertised in advance, so check the county's tax deed calendar for the next posted date.
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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