Tax Sales and Sheriff Sales in Colorado

How tax sales work in Colorado

Colorado sells tax lien certificates: the buyer pays the taxes and holds a lien that earns interest, and gets the property only if the owner never redeems.

What the buyer earns. Federal discount rate on Sept. 1 plus 9 percentage points, rounded, fixed for the life of the certificate (14% for liens sold in late 2025; counties report 13% for 2026 sales).

Redemption. At least 3 years after the sale; the owner may redeem until a few days before the treasurer's deed auction (intent to redeem must be filed at least 7 days before it). Liens sold after Jan. 1, 2026 expire after 7 years if no deed is sought..

When and where the sales are held

Who runs them: County treasurer.

When: Annually in October–December (Weld County Nov. 5 and Larimer County Nov. 19 in 2026).

Where: Many counties sell online through RealAuction sites (e.g., weld.coloradotaxsale.com); others, such as Larimer County, hold in-person sales.

The list of parcels for each sale is published by the office that runs it, usually a few weeks ahead, in the county's legal newspaper and on the county or platform site. UX Search does not list tax sale parcels; these sales are run by the counties and the platforms they contract, and the links on this page go to the official sources.

Sheriff sales and foreclosure sales in Colorado

Colorado mortgage foreclosures are handled by the county Public Trustee under a deed of trust (C.R.S. § 38-38-101 et seq.): the lender files a notice of election and demand, obtains a Rule 120 court order authorizing the sale, and the Public Trustee publishes notice for five weeks and sells at public auction, usually at the county building or online. The owner can cure the default up to 15 days before the sale but has no right of redemption after it; only junior lienors may redeem, in order of priority, within a short period after the sale (C.R.S. § 38-38-302).

A tax sale and a sheriff sale are different animals even when the same office runs both. A tax sale clears unpaid property taxes and in most states wipes out junior liens; a mortgage foreclosure sale pays the lender and may leave tax liens in place. Before bidding at either, pull the title, read the judgment or the tax certificate, and know which liens survive the sale in Colorado.

Official sources for Colorado

• Colorado General Assembly – SB 26-144 session law (tax liens and treasurer's deeds)
• Division of Banking – 2025 tax delinquency interest rate memo
• Larimer County Treasurer – Tax Lien Sale
• Weld County Treasurer – Tax Lien Sale Information

Statute: C.R.S. § 39-11-101 et seq. (sale of tax liens); § 39-12-103 (redemption and interest); Title 39, Article 11.5 (treasurer's deeds, as enacted by SB 26-144).

Questions people ask

Does Colorado sell tax liens or tax deeds?

Colorado sells tax lien certificates: the buyer pays the taxes and holds a lien that earns interest, and gets the property only if the owner never redeems. Colorado county treasurers sell tax lien certificates each fall; bidders compete by paying a cash premium above the tax amount (premiums are not refunded and earn no interest), and the certificate earns interest at a rate set every September 1 at nine points above the federal discount rate. The owner redeems by paying the treasurer the taxes plus that interest. After three years the certificate holder may apply for a treasurer's deed; since the 2024 and 2026 reforms the treasurer holds a public auction for the deed option and any overbid above the tax debt goes to the former owner, who may still redeem up to shortly before that auction.

How long is the redemption period after a tax sale in Colorado?

At least 3 years after the sale; the owner may redeem until a few days before the treasurer's deed auction (intent to redeem must be filed at least 7 days before it). Liens sold after Jan. 1, 2026 expire after 7 years if no deed is sought.

What does the buyer earn if the owner redeems in Colorado?

Federal discount rate on Sept. 1 plus 9 percentage points, rounded, fixed for the life of the certificate (14% for liens sold in late 2025; counties report 13% for 2026 sales)

Who runs tax sales in Colorado?

County treasurer. Many counties sell online through RealAuction sites (e.g., weld.coloradotaxsale.com); others, such as Larimer County, hold in-person sales

When are tax sales held in Colorado?

Annually in October–December (Weld County Nov. 5 and Larimer County Nov. 19 in 2026)

Are sheriff sales in Colorado judicial?

Colorado mortgage foreclosures are handled by the county Public Trustee under a deed of trust (C.R.S. § 38-38-101 et seq.): the lender files a notice of election and demand, obtains a Rule 120 court order authorizing the sale, and the Public Trustee publishes notice for five weeks and sells at public auction, usually at the county building or online. The owner can cure the default up to 15 days before the sale but has no right of redemption after it; only junior lienors may redeem, in order of priority, within a short period after the sale (C.R.S. § 38-38-302).

Can anyone bid at a tax sale or sheriff sale in Colorado?

Generally yes, with registration through the office or platform that runs the sale, and often a deposit or proof of funds. Payment is usually due the same day or within a few days in certified funds, and the property is sold as is with whatever title questions come with it. Read the county's terms for the sale you are bidding in; they differ from one county to the next in the same state.

Written from the Colorado statutes and official county pages, last checked October 27, 2026. Rules change by session and by county; the official sources above control. UX Search is independent, lists no tax sale parcels and never takes a bid.