Northampton County, NC tax sales

County offices

County notes

• •Northampton County's own website (northamptonnc.com) has no tax foreclosure or delinquent sale page; the Tax Department page covers rates, payment, and staff only, so the ZLS listings page is the practical official notice channel for sales.
• •Zacchaeus Legal Services confirms Northampton County on its client list at zls-nc.com/clients; ZLS describes itself as the only NC firm exclusively representing local governments in mortgage-style and in rem tax foreclosures.
• •Per the ZLS listings page: sales are held at the courthouse, opening bids post the day before the sale, the high bidder owes an immediate 20 percent cash deposit, and each sale is subject to upset bid under N.C.G.S. 1-339.25.
• •Northampton parcel listings and sale dates sit behind an I AGREE gate on the ZLS listings page, so accept that disclaimer or call the Tax Department to get current per-parcel sale dates.
• •Tax Department staff per the county page: Jaime B. Mason, Tax Administrator; Daniela Byer, Assistant Tax Administrator. Additional lines: Land Records 252-534-5941, Listing 252-534-3431, Fax 252-661-4113.

North Carolina rules

Redemption

North Carolina has no fixed redemption period of the certificate-state type and no post-sale redemption right. In a G.S. 105-374 foreclosure, redemption is allowed before confirmation of the foreclosure sale: paying the taxes, penalties, interest, and costs discontinues the action, and the clerk may confirm the sale once 10 days pass after the report of sale with no upset bid or exception. In an in rem foreclosure, payment in full of the docketed judgment with interest and costs requires the tax collector to certify the payment and cancel the judgment. Because every sale also sits through the 10-day upset bid window, an owner in either path retains a last window to pay after the auction itself but before the sale is final.N.C. General Statutes 105-374 - Foreclosure of tax lien by action in nature of action to foreclose a mortgageN.C.G.S. 105-374Verified Aug 16, 2026

Deed deposit

At a G.S. 105-374 sale the commissioner may require the successful bidder to make a deposit of up to 20 percent of the bid; no deposit may be required of a taxing unit. An upset bidder always files a deposit of 5 percent of the upset bid, minimum $750, with the clerk.N.C. General Statutes 105-374 - Foreclosure of tax lien by action in nature of action to foreclose a mortgageN.C.G.S. 105-374Verified Aug 16, 2026

Surplus proceeds

Sale proceeds are applied first to the costs of the action, including the commissioner's and attorneys' fees, then to the taxes, penalties, and interest of the foreclosing unit, then to special assessments and the taxes of other taxing units. Any surplus is paid as the court directs or held by the clerk of superior court, where the former owner, junior lienholders, and other claimants can file a special proceeding under G.S. 1-339.71 to establish ownership of the funds.N.C. General Statutes 105-374 - Foreclosure of tax lien by action in nature of action to foreclose a mortgageN.C.G.S. 105-374Verified Aug 16, 2026

Governing statute

N.C.G.S. Chapter 105, Article 26N.C. General Statutes Chapter 105, Article 26 - Collection and Foreclosure of TaxesN.C.G.S. Ch. 105, Art. 26Verified Aug 16, 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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