District of Columbia · County tax sales & foreclosures
District of Columbia, DC Tax Sale: How It Works & Official Source
No upcoming District of Columbia tax sale in our calendar. Every date links to the official source, with the day we last checked it.
Last verified Oct 31, 2026
How District of Columbia tax sales work
District of Columbia is a tax lien state: at the sale, investors buy a lien (certificate) on the property rather than the property itself. The owner can pay off the lien with interest or penalty during the redemption period; if they don't, the certificate holder can eventually seek a deed.
How the auction is won: Highest bid. Maximum interest or penalty: 1.5%/month (18%/yr), excl. surplus. Redemption period: Until foreclosure is final; suit after 6 months, within 1 year.
Sources: D.C. Code §47-1348 · §47-1370 · §47-1346
District of Columbia sale office
- Run by
- DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR)
- Usual timing
- Annually in summer (July; 2026 sale postponed to Aug 19-20)
- Venue
- OTR auction, 1101 4th St SW (in-person sessions 8:30am-4pm)
2026 sale ran Aug 19-20, 2026; OTC sale of unsold liens available afterward. Free OTR seminars in June are strongly encouraged.
Last verified Oct 31, 2026 · Official page: otr.cfo.dc.gov ↗
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Not legal advice. LienDesk is a research tool. This page summarizes public records and statutes for general education; it is not legal, tax or investment advice. Laws, dates and terms change, so confirm everything with the county, the trustee or sheriff running the sale, and a licensed attorney before you bid.