One of the most common questions from tax auction investors — beginners and experienced alike — is simply: when does my target state hold auctions? The answer is never simple, because tax sale timing varies not just by state, but often by county, by the type of sale (tax lien vs. tax deed), and by whether the county uses an online or in-person format.
This guide gives you a state-by-state breakdown of 2026 tax auction timing for the highest-volume states in the country — plus the platforms they use, the sale types, and what you need to do before you can bid.
How to Use This Calendar
Two things to keep in mind before reading the state breakdown:
- State = legal framework, County = actual schedule. A state may hold tax sales "monthly" — but that means each county holds sales monthly, often on different days. You need to check your specific target county, not just the state.
- Verify before you travel. Auction dates shift for holidays, courthouse conflicts, and administrative delays. Always confirm the specific date with the county at least 2 weeks before attending.
Texas — Monthly Tax Deed Sales
Sale type: Tax Deed (you buy the property, not a lien)
Timing: First Tuesday of every month, statewide
Format: In-person (courthouse steps) for most counties; some larger counties use online supplements
Platform: Each county's tax assessor-collector and constable/sheriff websites
Texas is one of the most straightforward states for tax auctions because the schedule is universal: every county holds its tax sale on the first Tuesday of every month, year-round. The 2026 dates:
| Month | Sale Date |
|---|---|
| January | January 6, 2026 |
| February | February 3, 2026 |
| March | March 3, 2026 |
| April | April 7, 2026 |
| May | May 5, 2026 |
| June | June 2, 2026 |
| July | July 7, 2026 |
| August | August 4, 2026 |
| September | September 1, 2026 |
| October | October 6, 2026 |
| November | November 3, 2026 |
| December | December 1, 2026 |
County-specific guides: Harris County (Houston) | Dallas County | Tarrant County (Fort Worth)
Florida — Hybrid: Tax Certificate Sales in May/June, Tax Deed Auctions Year-Round
Sale type: Hybrid — Tax Lien Certificates (May/June annually) + Tax Deed Auctions (rolling, year-round)
Timing: Certificate sales: May–June 2026. Tax deed auctions: nearly every week, rolling schedule
Format: Online — RealTDM platform (most counties), some use GovEase or Bid4Assets
Platform: County Clerk of Court websites; miami-dade.realtdm.com for Miami-Dade
Florida's two-step system is unique. First, counties sell tax lien certificates annually in late spring — investors bid down the interest rate (from 18% to near 0%) to earn interest on the delinquent taxes. Then, starting 2+ years after the certificate is issued, certificate holders who haven't been paid can apply for a tax deed auction. This means there are tax deed auctions happening nearly every week throughout the year.
2026 Florida tax certificate sale window: Typically held in May and early June. Exact dates vary by county — check your county's Clerk of Court website in March/April for the published date.
County-specific guides: Miami-Dade County | Duval County (Jacksonville) | Orange County (Orlando)
California — Bi-Annual Tax Deed Auctions (Spring and Fall)
Sale type: Tax Deed
Timing: Most counties hold 1–2 major auctions per year — typically one in spring (April–June) and one in fall (October–November)
Format: Online — most California counties use Bid4Assets
Platform: bid4assets.com (filter by California county)
California counties do not hold monthly auctions. Most conduct one major tax deed auction per year, with some larger counties holding two. The timing varies by county — Los Angeles typically holds its sale in the spring, while Sacramento and Riverside often schedule fall auctions.
Unlike Texas or Florida, California's auctions tend to have weeks-long bidding windows rather than a single auction day. Bid4Assets runs 10-day auctions with a proxy bidding system and an anti-snipe extension.
California note: California uses a "power of sale" process with a minimum 5-year delinquency before the county can sell. Properties at California tax auctions have typically been delinquent for 5+ years, meaning significant back taxes, penalties, and fees are already accrued into the opening bid.
County-specific guides: Los Angeles County | San Diego County | Riverside County | San Bernardino County
Arizona — Annual Tax Lien Certificate Sales (February)
Sale type: Tax Lien Certificates (annual), Tax Deed Auctions (subsequent years for unredeemed liens)
Timing: Tax lien certificate sales: February annually
Format: Online — most Arizona counties use the state's online auction portal or GovEase
Platform: Arizona Department of Revenue auction portal; individual county treasurer websites
Arizona holds its primary tax lien certificate sale in February each year. The statutory interest rate is 16%, bid down competitively. For Maricopa County (Phoenix) — the largest county — the online auction typically spans multiple days in mid-to-late February.
2026 Maricopa County tax lien sale: Typically held during the third week of February. Check the Maricopa County Treasurer's website for the exact 2026 date — registration usually opens in January.
County-specific guides: Maricopa County (Phoenix) | Pima County (Tucson)
Georgia — Monthly Tax Deed Sales
Sale type: Tax Deed (sheriff's sale)
Timing: First Tuesday of every month (same as Texas)
Format: In-person (courthouse steps) for most counties
Platform: County sheriff and tax commissioner websites
Georgia, like Texas, holds tax sales on the first Tuesday of every month. The process is a sheriff's sale — the sheriff's department conducts the auction on the courthouse steps, and the winning bidder receives a Sheriff's Deed.
Georgia has a 12-month right of redemption on tax deed properties. Former owners can reclaim by paying the purchase price plus 20% premium within one year. This is a significant consideration for renovation planning.
County-specific guide: Fulton County (Atlanta)
Illinois — Annual Tax Lien Sales (November)
Sale type: Tax Lien Certificates
Timing: Annual — Cook County typically holds its tax sale in November; other counties vary
Format: Online bidding (Cook County uses a specialized online system)
Platform: Illinois County Collector websites
Illinois is a tax lien state. Counties sell tax lien certificates annually, typically in the fall. Cook County (Chicago) — the second-largest county in the US — is the highest-volume Illinois market and runs a distinctive "scavenger sale" for properties with multiple years of delinquency in addition to the annual tax sale.
Illinois liens earn up to 18% interest, but the bidding process is unique — investors bid down the penalty percentage (not the interest rate), and the system can be confusing for first-timers. Illinois also has a 2.5-year redemption period after which certificate holders can petition for deed.
County-specific guide: Cook County (Chicago)
Nevada — Quarterly Tax Deed Sales
Sale type: Tax Deed
Timing: Quarterly — Clark County typically holds sales in March, June, September, and December
Format: Online — Clark County uses Bid4Assets
Platform: bid4assets.com (Clark County Nevada auctions)
Nevada is a tax deed state. Clark County (Las Vegas) — which contains roughly 75% of Nevada's population — is by far the most active market and runs quarterly online auctions through Bid4Assets. Registration requires a refundable deposit ($500–$2,000) deposited into your Bid4Assets account before the auction opens.
County-specific guide: Clark County (Las Vegas)
Ohio — Annual Tax Lien and Tax Deed Sales
Sale type: Both — Tax Lien Certificates and Tax Deed (foreclosure) sales
Timing: Varies by county; most hold 1–2 major sales per year
Format: Mix of in-person and online
Platform: County auditor/treasurer websites; some counties use Realauction.com
Ohio's system is complex because counties can sell both tax lien certificates (called "tax certificates") and conduct full foreclosure sales. The process varies significantly county by county. Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) is the most active Ohio market and runs regular foreclosure sales throughout the year.
County-specific guide: Cuyahoga County (Cleveland)
Key Dates Summary: 2026 Tax Auction Calendar
| State | Type | Typical 2026 Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Tax Deed | Monthly (1st Tuesday) |
| Georgia | Tax Deed | Monthly (1st Tuesday) |
| Florida | Hybrid (lien + deed) | Cert sales: May–June; Deed auctions: weekly year-round |
| Nevada | Tax Deed | Quarterly (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec) |
| California | Tax Deed | 1–2x per year (spring / fall) |
| Arizona | Tax Lien | Annual (February) |
| Illinois | Tax Lien | Annual (November) |
| Ohio | Both | Varies by county (1–4x/year) |
Need county-level detail? This calendar gives you the state framework — but registration deadlines, deposit amounts, auction platforms, and surviving liens all vary county by county. DeedDrop publishes county-specific guides for the highest-volume markets in each state. Browse available guides at the DeedDrop resource library or go directly to your target county's guide page.
Ready to bid? Get the county-specific guide.
Auction procedures, registration deadlines, deposit requirements, and a full due diligence checklist — specific to your county. Instant PDF download.
Get Harris County, TX Guide → Get Miami-Dade County, FL Guide → Get Maricopa County, AZ Guide → Get Los Angeles County, CA Guide → Get Fulton County, GA Guide → Get Cook County, IL Guide → $12.99 · Instant PDF download · Updated 2026