Process
Redemption Period
The window during which an owner can keep a property by paying the delinquent taxes, interest, and fees.
Every tax sale system gives owners time to redeem. Some states end redemption before the sale; others let owners redeem after the sale, which means a buyer can lose the property and receive their money back, sometimes with interest.
Redemption is the main reason auction lists shrink. Many parcels on an early list are paid off before sale day.
How it works by state
- California
- The right of redemption ends at the close of business on the last business day before the sale begins. There is no redemption after a California tax sale.
- Florida
- An owner can redeem a tax certificate any time before the tax deed is issued, including after a tax deed application is filed.
- Michigan
- Owners can generally redeem until the foreclosure becomes final, usually March 31 after the judgment.
General information, reviewed 2026-10-12. Not legal advice. Rules change and each county publishes its own sale terms; confirm with the county before bidding.
Related terms
- Right to RedeemThe owner's legal right to pay the tax debt and keep the property before the government's sale or deed becomes final.
- Tax CertificateThe document a tax lien buyer receives, representing the right to be repaid the taxes plus interest.
- Withdrawn ParcelA parcel removed from an auction list before or during the sale.