Davis County, IA tax sales
How tax lien certificate sales work in Davis County, seat of Bloomfield: sale calendar, auction platform, over-the-counter lists, and the offices that run each sale.
Verified Jul 29, 2026 against official county and state sources.
New here? Read how Iowa tax sales work, the difference between a lien and a deed, and redemption periods.
How Davis County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
- Run by
- Davis County Treasurer
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- Third Monday in June. The Davis County Treasurer's Important Dates page lists: "Third Monday in June annual tax sale of outstanding property taxes, manufactured homes, mobile homes, weed assessments, special assessments, rates or charges, and drainage taxes." No start time or physical location is published, and the office posts no separate county sale notice.
- Next expected
- on the third Monday in June, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
Registration and deposit
Create a free account on the Iowa Tax Auction Program site, then apply for the county auction separately. The platform states bidders must sign up for each auction individually because each jurisdiction sets its own rules and payment terms, and bidding is blocked until the seller reviews the forms and approves the application. There is no platform registration fee, though an individual auction may charge one. Auctions that require it collect a W-9 with a tax identification or Social Security number. The platform does not accept payments; wire transfers to the county's bank are the usual method and instructions come with each auction. Confirm current Davis County requirements and deadlines with the Treasurer's office at (641) 664-2155.
Davis County publishes no county-specific tax sale page, terms sheet, or bidder packet. The Treasurer's entire web presence sits on the Iowa State County Treasurers Association portal, and the county's own daviscountyiowa.gov site links straight to that portal with no tax sale content of its own. The third-Monday-in-June timing comes from the portal's Important Dates page, which matches the statewide schedule under Iowa Code Chapter 446 rather than a Davis-specific announcement. The Treasurer's Property Tax menu and Forms page both send bidder registration to the Iowa Tax Auction Program at iowataxauction.com, but that link is the standard statewide portal link and the auction list is behind a login, so call the Treasurer at (641) 664-2155 to confirm whether Davis County sells online there or in person at the courthouse before you plan a trip or wire funds. No delinquent tax list or sale list is posted online.
Register on SRI / ZEUSFrom lien to deed
- Run by
- County Treasurer
- Frequency
- none
- Typical timing
- Iowa holds no tax deed auction. The treasurer makes out a treasurer's deed to the certificate holder immediately after 90 days have expired from completed service of the notice of expiration of the right of redemption, once the holder returns the certificate and pays the deed and recording fees.
There is nothing for an investor to bid on at the deed stage in Iowa. The only auction is the June certificate sale. The certificate holder must return the certificate of purchase and remit the deed and recording fees within 90 calendar days after the redemption period expires, or the treasurer cancels the certificate.
Over-the-counter (leftover) purchases
Two routes reach parcels after the June sale. Parcels that remain unsold for want of bidders are carried to adjourned sales, which the treasurer sets at intervals of not more than two months until the next annual sale. Separately, certificates struck to the county at the public bidder sale may be assigned by the county for the total amount due on the date of assignment, or for a compromised amount, under a written agreement filed with the treasurer and a 10 dollar assignment transaction fee. Ask the county treasurer which county-held certificates are available for assignment.
New to this path? Read how over-the-counter certificates work.
County offices
Tax Collector (runs the certificate sale)
Notes for Davis County
- The Treasurer is Mike Johnson, in office since January 1, 2015. Property tax questions go to [email protected]; the Treasurer can be reached at [email protected].
- Property tax and motor vehicle counters are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Certificate holders pay subsequent taxes through the Treasurer portal's subsequent-tax registration, which accepts electronic check or Visa, MasterCard, and Discover with a non-refundable service fee. The portal warns that payments made during the annual sale or an adjourned sale may be refunded.
- The Treasurer's FAQ states redemption requires the amount sold plus interest of 2 percent per month plus $20 each for the certificate and redemption fees, with added cost if notice had to be served.
- No delinquent tax list, sale list, or over-the-counter list is published on the county or portal site, so the list must be requested from the office.
- Parcel research for Davis County runs through the Beacon/Schneider property search linked from the county site.
Iowa statewide rules
- Minimum return
- No statutory minimum return; what you earn is set by the share of ownership taken at the sale
- Redemption
- A parcel may be redeemed at any time before the right of redemption expires. After one year and nine months from the date of sale, the certificate holder may serve a notice of expiration of the right of redemption on the person in possession, the person in whose name the parcel is taxed, and every mortgagee, contract vendor, recorded lessor, and other party of record. The right of redemption then ends 90 days after that service is complete, which means the affidavit of service has been filed with the county treasurer. Three shortened tracks exist: nine months from a public bidder sale under section 446.18, and three months from an abandoned-property or public nuisance sale under section 446.19A or 446.19B. After the treasurer delivers the deed, redemption is possible only through an equitable action in district court, and only by a person who could have redeemed during the 90-day window.
- Surplus proceeds
- No surplus arises. The deed conveys the parcel to the certificate holder rather than selling it to the highest bidder, so there are no excess proceeds to distribute. Where the winning bid was less than 100 percent, the deed conveys only that undivided percentage interest in the parcel.
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 Davis County, Iowa sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Davis County follows Iowa's tax lien state system.
When is the Davis County tax certificate sale?
- Third Monday in June. The Davis County Treasurer's Important Dates page lists: "Third Monday in June annual tax sale of outstanding property taxes, manufactured homes, mobile homes, weed assessments, special assessments, rates or charges, and drainage taxes." No start time or physical location is published, and the office posts no separate county sale notice.. Registration and bidding happen on the county's online platform. Always confirm the exact date with the Tax Collector before the sale.
How often does Davis County hold tax deed sales?
- none. 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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