Stanislaus County Treasurer/Tax Collector's
Public Auction of Tax-Defaulted Property

General Terms and Conditions  

Properties in Stanislaus County that are subject to sale at public auction for non-payment of property taxes must be offered for sale within two years of the time the property becomes subject to the Treasurer/Tax Collector's power to sell (Revenue and taxation Code Section 3692).  The Treasurer/Tax Collector is responsible for the administration of these sales.

Mailed or sealed bids cannot be accepted for this oral, public auction sale.  You or your agent must be present at the auction to bid on the properties.

The right of redemption on a parcel ceases at 5:00 p.m. on the last business day prior to the sale.

   Payment

We will accept only cash, money order, cashier's check, certified check or a letter of credit from a financial institution for the minimum bid. Thereafter, the balance may be paid by personal check.   If you pay by personal check and it does not clear the bank, you will forfeit the minimum bid and legal action may be taken to recover the remaining bid amount.

After each parcel is offered, the successful bidder must pay the full purchase price to the Treasurer/Tax Collector.

The Documentary Stamp Act requires the payment of a "Transfer Tax" at the rate of .55 cents for each $500 or fractional part thereof when the bid exceeds $100.  The transfer tax will be collected at the time the purchase price is paid in full.

There are no refunds on any purchase.

    Tax Deed to Purchaser

The successful bidder may take possession of a property after the Tax Deed to Purchaser has been recorded.  However, most title companies will not insure the title until one year after the tax sale deed is recorded.  Quiet Title action may be needed.  Legal action to challenge a tax sale must be brought within one year of recording the tax deed. 

The Tax Deed to Purchaser conveys title free of all encumbrances of any kind existing before the sale with the following exceptions:

  Any lien for installments of  taxes and special assessments, which installments will become payable upon the secured roll after the time of the sale.

   The lien for taxes or assessments or other rights of any taxing agency which does not consent to the sale under this chapter.

   Liens for special assessments levied upon the property conveyed which were, at the time of the sale under this chapter, not included in the amount necessary to redeem the tax-defaulted property, and where a taxing agency which collects its own taxes has consented to the sale under this chapter, not included in the amount required to redeem from sale to the taxing agency.

   Easements constituting servitude upon or burdens to the property; water rights, the record title to which is held separately from the title to the property; and restrictions  of record.

  Unaccepted, recorded, irrevocable offers of dedication of the property to the public or a public entity for a public purpose, and recorded options of any taxing agency to purchase the property or any interest therein for a public purpose.

  Unpaid assessments under the Improvement Bond Act of 1915 (Division 10, commencing with Section 8500 of the Streets and Highways code) which are not satisfied as a result of the sale proceeds being applied pursuant to Chapter 1.3 (commencing with Section 4671) of Part 8.

  Any federal Internal Revenue Service liens* which, pursuant to provision of federal law, are not discharged by the sale, even though the Tax Collector has provided proper notice to the Internal Revenue Service before that date.

  Unpaid special taxes under Mello-Roos community Facilities Act of 1982 (Chapter 2.5, commencing with Section 53311, of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) that are not satisfied as a result of the sale proceeds being applied pursuant to Chapter 1.3 (commencing with Section 4671) of Part 8.

Deeds will be recorded and mailed within the four to six weeks after the sale to the successful bidders.