Washington tax lien & tax deed sales

Washington has no general post-sale redemption period: once the treasurer sells the parcel, the sale is final for a competent adult owner. The one exception protects minors and persons adjudicated legally incompetent, whose property may be redeemed at any time within three years after the date of sale, on payment of the amount for which the property was sold plus interest at the statutory delinquent-tax rate from the date of sale, plus the reasonable value of improvements made in good faith on the property, less the value of their use. No fee may be charged for any redemption.RCW 84.64.070 - redemption until the close of business the day before the sale; three-year window for minors and legally incompetent personsRCW 84.64.070Verified Aug 16, 2026

Delinquent taxes bear interest computed monthly from the date of delinquency: 9 percent per year on residential real property with four or fewer units per taxable parcel, and 12 percent per year on all other property. Other property also takes a penalty of 3 percent of the delinquent tax on June 1 and a further 8 percent on December 1; penalties may not be assessed on residential real property with four or fewer units. The tax lien has priority over mortgages, judgments, and other obligations, which is why a completed tax foreclosure clears most junior encumbrances.RCW 84.56.020 - taxes due April 30 and October 31, delinquency, interest at 9 or 12 percent, penaltiesRCW 84.56.020Verified Aug 16, 2026

When no bidder covers the minimum bid at the foreclosure auction, the county is deemed the bidder and takes title in trust for the taxing districts. That inventory becomes tax-title property, and the county resells it under chapter 36.35 RCW: the county legislative authority orders the sale and fixes a minimum price, and the treasurer publishes notice once a week for three consecutive weeks and sells at not less than that price. Counties may accept installment contracts of thirty percent down with ten equal annual installments at twelve percent interest. In listed cases the county may sell without calling for bids at all, including a sale made within twelve months after an auction that drew no acceptable bid, a sale to a government agency, a sale of a parcel assessed under five hundred dollars to an adjoining owner, and transfers to land bank authorities or for affordable housing. Inventory and process vary widely by county, so check the county's tax-title or surplus property page.RCW 36.35.120 - resale of county tax-title property: minimum price set by the county legislative authority, published notice, installment contractsRCW 36.35.120Verified Aug 16, 2026