How do I start tax sale investing in Arizona?

Learn the system first: Arizona sells tax lien certificates under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 42, Chapter 18, esp. §§42-18053, 42-18112, 42-18114, 42-18152. Register with the county or its auction platform before the sale, post any required deposit, research each parcel in the property appraiser and clerk records, and set your max number before bidding.

Arizona Tax Sale Investing Guide — Buy the tax debt, earn the rate

Investing guides / Arizona

Arizona tax sale investing: buy the tax debt, earn the rate

Quick answerArizona sells tax lien certificates for unpaid property taxes. Lien buyers can earn Up to 16% per year, bid down — bidding starts at 16% and the lowest rate wins (0% bids allowed); interest is simple, a fraction of a month counts as a whole month (A.R.S. §§42-18053, 42-18114). Liens struck to the state earn the full 16%. Redemption: Owner may redeem at any time until a court judgment forecloses the right to redeem; the certificate holder may not begin judicial foreclosure until 3 years after the sale, and the lien expires if foreclosure is not commenced within 10 years (A.R.S. §§42-18152, 42-18201) Sales: Annual county treasurer tax lien sales in February Governing law: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 42, Chapter 18, esp. §§42-18053, 42-18112, 42-18114, 42-18152.

How it works in Arizona

In Arizona you are not buying property at the sale — you are buying the county's tax lien certificate for the amount of taxes owed, and the owner owes you interest until they redeem.

Interest / penalty: Up to 16% per year, bid down — bidding starts at 16% and the lowest rate wins (0% bids allowed); interest is simple, a fraction of a month counts as a whole month (A.R.S. §§42-18053, 42-18114). Liens struck to the state earn the full 16%

Redemption: Owner may redeem at any time until a court judgment forecloses the right to redeem; the certificate holder may not begin judicial foreclosure until 3 years after the sale, and the lien expires if foreclosure is not commenced within 10 years (A.R.S. §§42-18152, 42-18201)

When sales happen: Annual county treasurer tax lien sales in February

Where sales run: Primarily online via RealAuction on county-specific arizonataxsale.com portals (including Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai and Coconino); Cochise County via GovEase; unsold/state-assigned liens resold via Bid4Assets

Governing law: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 42, Chapter 18, esp. §§42-18053, 42-18112, 42-18114, 42-18152

The investor's edge

Your edge is rate discipline: know the statutory maximum, know what the sale historically bids down to in your target counties, and set a floor rate you will not cross before the sale starts.

Competition is intense in Maricopa County, where winning rates commonly bid down to 0-3%, vs. the 16% headline rate. Foreclosure is judicial in Superior Court (not an administrative treasurer's deed), and under post-Tyler amendments the owner may request an excess-proceeds sale under §42-18204.

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Full legal reference: Arizona tax sale laws. Verified 2026-10-30 against the sources on that page. Educational only, not investment advice.