- Does Colorado sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Colorado sells tax liens. The county treasurer auctions liens on delinquent parcels and issues the winner a certificate of purchase. There is no separate tax deed auction of the property at the delinquency stage. The only deed path runs through Article 11.5: after August 1 of the third calendar year following the sale, the certificate holder applies for a treasurer's deed, and the treasurer sells the property at a public auction where the winner receives a certificate of option for a treasurer's deed.
- What interest rate do Colorado tax liens pay?
- One statewide rate applies to every certificate sold in a given rate year, and it is not bid down. C.R.S. 39-12-103(3) sets it at nine percentage points above the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank discount rate, rounded to the nearest full percent, and the commissioner of banking establishes it each September 1 to take effect October 1. The rate effective October 1, 2026 is 13 percent. Confirm the current rate with the Colorado Division of Banking before you bid.
- How does bidding work at a Colorado tax lien sale?
- Bidding is premium bid. The lien opens at the taxes, delinquent interest, and fees due, and it goes to whoever pays the largest amount in excess. That excess is credited to the county general fund. It earns no interest and it is not returned when the owner redeems, so the premium is a real cost against the investor's return, not a deposit.
- How long is the redemption period in Colorado?
- The certificate holder must wait until after August 1 of the third calendar year following the sale before applying for a treasurer's deed. The owner can redeem at any time before a treasurer's deed is executed, but once the deed process is underway the owner must file an intent to redeem with the treasurer at least seven calendar days before the scheduled public auction. The treasurer sets that auction 30 to 60 calendar days after mailing the notice of public auction.
- When is the Colorado tax lien sale held?
- The auction must commence on or before the second Monday in December each year. If a lien cannot be advertised and offered by that date, the treasurer holds the sale on a later date that still allows time for published notice. Counties in practice schedule in the fall, so check the treasurer's page for the exact date.
- Can you buy Colorado tax liens over the counter?
- Sometimes. Liens that draw no bid are struck off to the county, which receives a certificate of purchase. A county may then assign, sell, or transfer those certificates on terms its board of county commissioners sets by resolution, which is how county-held liens are sold between annual auctions. Practice varies by county.
- What happens to surplus money if the property is sold at the deed auction?
- The overbid is not kept by the buyer or the county. Junior lienors recorded before the deed application who file a claim within eight business days after the auction are paid first, in recording priority, up to each lien's unpaid amount plus fees and costs, and anything left goes to the property owner. The treasurer mails the owner a notice, holds unclaimed money in escrow for two years, and then sends amounts of twenty-five dollars or more to the state treasurer as unclaimed property.
- How long does a Colorado tax certificate stay valid?
- A certificate of purchase issued on or after January 1, 2026 remains a lien for no longer than seven years from issuance. One issued before that date may remain a lien for fifteen years. No treasurer's deed can issue on a certificate that has expired unless a deed application was already pending when the limitation period ran out, and the treasurer then issues a certificate of cancellation. The limit does not apply while the county itself holds the certificate.
Ready to act on these rules? Follow how to buy Colorado tax liens for the registration, bidding, and post-sale sequence in order.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 against Colorado 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 office that runs the sale before you bid.