Washington County, MD tax sales

County offices

County notes

• •The Treasurer is the Collector of Taxes for Washington County. The 2026 advertisement opens: "As authorized by Title 14, Subtitle 8, Tax Property Article, notice having been given as required therein, the undersigned will offer for sale at public sale the following parcels of land situated in Washington County Maryland." The advertisement is signed by Treasurer Robert M. Breeding.
• •The county sets a hard cutoff for inclusion in the sale: "ALL PARCELS WHICH REMAIN UNPAID AS OF 4:00pm ON JUNE 1st, 2026 WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE SALE." Expect the parallel date in later years, the day before the first Tuesday in June.
• •Foreclosure timing splits on occupancy. The county advertises a six month wait after the sale before a certificate holder may file to foreclose the right of redemption on non-owner-occupied property, and nine months on owner-occupied property. Confirm a parcel's occupancy status before modeling a hold period. If no foreclosure action is filed within two years of the sale, the certificate is void and money paid is forfeited.
• •Legal-fee recovery starts at four months. Redemptions in the first four months after the sale do not reimburse the certificate holder's expenses. After four months the holder may charge actual and reasonable expenses, including recording fees, attorney fees, publication and service costs and a necessary title search, and the owner must obtain a release from the holder before redeeming.
• •Unsold liens go to the county. The 2026 sale day report shows 203 liens sold to bidders and 28 with no bid struck to the Washington County Commissioner. The county states that once the tax sale is complete these unsold properties are no longer available for sale, so there is no standing over-the-counter list, though the county reserves the option to offer unsold liens at a later date.
• •The county disclaims title quality: "Neither the Treasurer nor Washington County make any representation as to the status of the title of the various parcels." If a sale is later voided the buyer's exclusive remedy is a refund of the purchase price and any high-bid premium, both without interest, with no redemption interest, attorney fees or title search costs reimbursed.
• •Written questions go to [email protected] or to the Washington County Treasurer's Office, 35 West Washington Street, Suite 102, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30am to 4:00pm and Friday 7:30am to 3:00pm; the office fax is 240-313-2111.
• •Delinquency accrues at 1 percent per month from October 1 for annual billing accounts, and from October 1 and January 1 for semi-annual accounts. The advertised amount rolls in interest, penalty, an advertising fee, any survey and attorney costs, and an administration fee covering the county's cost of holding the sale.

Maryland rules

Max interest rate

6% per year, set by statute (bidding is on price)Md. Code Ann., Tax-Property 14-820 - contents of the certificate of sale and the rate of redemption, 6 percent a year with the county schedule and a 10 percent cap on owner-occupied residential propertyMd. Code Ann., Tax-Prop. 14-820Verified Aug 9, 2026

Minimum return

No statutory minimum return; what you earn is set by the price at the saleMd. Code Ann., Tax-Property 14-820 - contents of the certificate of sale and the rate of redemption, 6 percent a year with the county schedule and a 10 percent cap on owner-occupied residential propertyMd. Code Ann., Tax-Prop. 14-820Verified Aug 9, 2026

Redemption

Maryland sets no fixed redemption deadline. The right to redeem continues until it is finally barred by decree of the circuit court in which the foreclosure proceeding is filed. What the statute fixes is the earliest date the certificate holder may start that case, and the outside date by which the holder must start it. A certificate is void unless a proceeding to foreclose the right of redemption is filed within 2 years of the date of the certificate of sale, and if the certificate goes void the holder's rights end and the money paid at the sale is forfeited and applied to the taxes in arrears. A Baltimore City certificate on abandoned property sold below the lien amount must be filed on within 3 months and reverts to the city otherwise.Md. Code Ann., Tax-Property 14-827 - the owner or other person with an estate or interest may redeem at any time until the right of redemption is finally foreclosedMd. Code Ann., Tax-Prop. 14-827Verified Aug 9, 2026

Surplus proceeds

Any balance over the amount needed for taxes, interest, penalties and the costs of sale belongs to the person entitled to it, which is normally the former owner. Each county must establish a process for claiming that balance, the process must apply uniformly to all claims in the county, and it may not require a court order unless payment of the balance is disputed. Within 90 days after delivering a deed to a purchaser, the collector must notify the prior owner of record of the amount of the balance and of how to claim it. Where the balance is disputed, the collector pays it into a court of competent jurisdiction pending an order on distribution.Md. Code Ann., Tax-Property 14-818 - what the winning bidder pays the day after the sale, the balance held on credit, and the surplus payable to the former ownerMd. Code Ann., Tax-Prop. 14-818Verified Aug 9, 2026

Governing statute

Md. Code Ann., Tax-Prop. Title 14, Subtitle 8, Part IIIMd. Code Ann., Tax-Property 14-801 - definitions for the tax sale sections 14-801 through 14-854, including tax and owner-occupied residential propertyMd. Code Ann., Tax-Prop. 14-801Verified Aug 9, 2026

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.

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