Counties / District of Columbia counties / District of Columbia
District of Columbia tax sales
How tax sales work in District of Columbia
District of Columbia law controls every tax sale in District of Columbia — the county runs the sale, but what is sold, what it pays and how long the owner can redeem are all set by the state:
| What District of Columbia sells | Tax lien certificates |
|---|---|
| Interest / penalty | 18% per year (1.5% per month or part thereof) on the amount in the certificate of sale, exclusive of surplus (D.C. Code §§ 47-1306, 47-1361) |
| Redemption period | Owner may redeem at any time until the foreclosure judgment is final; the purchaser may file to foreclose the right of redemption after 6 months from the sale and must do so within 1 year or the certificate is void (§§ 47-1360, 47-1370) — commonly described as a 6-month redemption period |
| When sales happen | Annual real property tax sale, typically in July (the 2026 sale was postponed from July 15 to Aug. 19, 2026) |
| Governing law | D.C. Code §§ 47-1330–47-1385 (real property tax sales), esp. §§ 47-1360, 47-1361, 47-1370; older provisions at §§ 47-1304, 47-1306 |
| County (Census) | District of Columbia — district, District of Columbia · FIPS 11001 |
Correction to a common description: DC is a tax lien jurisdiction, not a redeemable deed jurisdiction — the buyer receives a certificate of sale, not a deed, bidding is premium bid-up, and interest is earned only on the certificate amount exclusive of any surplus/premium paid. A deed issues only after Superior Court foreclosure of the right of redemption.
The process, step by step
1 · The list publishes. District of Columbia sales run on this rhythm: Annual real property tax sale, typically in July (the 2026 sale was postponed from July 15 to Aug. 19, 2026) The county's sale list — the parcels actually being sold — is published ahead of the sale by the county office that runs it, and in many District of Columbia counties also through the state's sale channels (mostly in-person — Office of Tax and Revenue sale at 1101 4th St. SW, Washington, DC, with registration through MyTax.DC.gov; MyTax.DC.gov (over-the-counter sale of bid-off liens after the annual sale)).
2 · Register and fund — before sale day. Registration and bidder deposits are handled by the county or its sale platform and close before the sale, in most counties the day before. The amount and ID requirements are set in the county's own sale notice, not in state law — confirm them on the current published notice before you rely on them.
3 · Research every parcel. Compare the taxes owed against assessed value and recorded sales, check property type and occupancy signals, and price in the state's redemption rule above: it decides whether your money comes back with the statutory return, or your path runs to the property itself.
4 · Bid the number you wrote down. Set your max bid (deeds) or floor rate (liens) from the research, before the sale opens. The state's return is paid on the tax obligation — not on whatever extra a bidding war adds on top of it.
5 · After the sale. Owners redeem inside the window above; lists change as they do. Track the parcels you care about, because a watched property redeeming or withdrawing is information you want before — not after — you wire a deposit for the next sale.
What District of Columbia publishes — live feed
LienToDeed ingests this county's sale list directly from its published source: District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue published Tax Lien Sale list. Every new listing is scored as it posts, and watched properties that redeem or withdraw are flagged before sale day.
Coverage status: District of Columbia — live alerts active
Paid members are alerted when new District of Columbia properties are listed — and if a watched property redeems before the sale.
All District of Columbia counties: District of Columbia county index · Rules: District of Columbia tax sale laws · District of Columbia sale calendar · District of Columbia investing guide · New to a term? Glossary · FAQ
County facts (name, state, FIPS 11001) from the US Census Bureau county list; state rules verified 2026-10-30 — sources on the District of Columbia law page. Educational only, not investment advice.