Real Estate Tax Lien Questions

Treasurer

Tax Liens

What will be the interest rate for tax liens sold in 2023?

For any Tax Liens issued in 2023, the interest rate is set at 15% per annum. The annual rate of interest is set nine (9) percentage points above the discount rate effective September 1 each year per 39-12-103 (3) C.R.S.

What is the redemption period of a tax lien?

Three (3) years from the original sale date.

If the tax lien is not redeemed within the three (3) year period, what do I do?

You may apply for a tax deed to the property.

Application may be made four (4) months prior to the third anniversary of the sale date.

Is there a fee to apply for a tax deed?

Yes. The deed application fee is $550.00 per tax lien sale certificate of purchase.

Do tax liens expire?

Yes. Unredeemed tax liens will expire on the 15th anniversary of the sale date.

What happens to unsold tax liens?

Unsold tax liens are struck to the County and are available for assignment.

Is a list of unsold tax liens available?

Yes. The list of County Held Tax Liens is available on our website under “Tax Lien Sale” > “County Held Tax Liens” or a hard copy may be requested from our office for a $5.00 fee made payable to the El Paso County Treasurer.

Tax Deeds

If the tax lien is not redeemed within the three (3) year period, what do I do?

You may apply for a tax deed to the property.

Application may be made four (4) months prior to the third anniversary of the sale date.

Is there a fee to apply for a tax deed?

Yes. The deed application fee is $550.00 per tax lien sale certificate of purchase.

What do I receive from a tax deed?

The issuance of a valid tax deed creates new title to the property.

The recipient should establish their interest in the property through a suit to quiet title.

Can a tax deed be challenged?

Yes. Action may be brought within five (5) years of the date of issuance, or within nine (9) years if a person is under legal disability, to set aside a tax deed.

Tax Sale

How often are tax lien sales held?

Tax lien sales are held once a year.

When will the next tax lien sale be held?

October 17, 2023

When and where are the tax liens to be sold advertised?

The list of unpaid real estate taxes is published in the Gazette for three (3) consecutive weeks beginning September 13th, 2023 .

How are the tax liens offered at the tax sale?

The Tax Lien Sale for the 2022 taxes payable in 2023 will be hosted online, with RealAuction. Additional information will be available after September 1st.

What governs tax sales in your County?

Tax sales are governed by Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.), Title 39, Articles 10, 11 & 12.

What happens to tax lien sale overbids?

Per 39-11-115 of C.R.S., the excess amount is credited to the county general fund and is not recovered by the investor.

Buyers

What do I have to do to be able to buy tax liens at the tax sale?

You must register with Real Auction to participate in our Tax Lien Sale. Registration for the 2023 Tax Sale will open on September 20, 2023.

How much do I have to put on deposit?

The required deposit with Real Auction is 10% of what you are intending to bid. Example: If you have $30,000 you would like to invest in tax liens, a minimum of $3,000 is required as deposit.

When I purchase a tax lien, what type of documentation do I receive?

You will receive a report which shows:

Reference number of the lien purchased
The book and certificate number of each lien purchased
The amount of the lien
The amount of any bonus bid
The schedule number of the property

Statistics

How many real estate parcels were taxed in El Paso County for the 2019 taxes payable in 2020?

251,997

How many tax liens did you advertise for sale in 2020?

4,717

How many tax liens were sold in 2020?

2,361 (1,974 of which were sold in Category 2 – Automatic Rotation)

What was the total dollar amount of tax liens sold in 2020?

$4,875,242.77

How many buyers participated in the 2020 tax sale?

494 (468 in the Automatic Rotation)

How many tax liens were not purchased?

130