Connecticut Tax Deed & Tax Lien Sales 2026

How tax sales work in Connecticut

Connecticut has no counties with tax authority; each of its 169 towns and cities collects its own property taxes and enforces delinquencies. A municipality can either foreclose its tax lien in superior court or hold a tax sale under Section 12-157, and most active towns choose the sale. The tax collector, usually working with an outside law firm, advertises the parcels, gives statutory notice to the owner and all lienholders, and auctions each parcel to the highest bidder. The collector executes a deed to the buyer but holds it unrecorded during the redemption period. Municipalities may also assign tax liens to private investors under a separate provision, which is a different market from the sale itself.

Redemption and interest

The owner or any lienholder may redeem within six months of the sale by paying the purchase price plus 18 percent annual interest, prorated at 1.5 percent per month, along with any taxes the buyer paid after the sale. If redemption occurs, the buyer receives that sum and the deed is cancelled. If the six months pass with no redemption, the collector records the deed and the buyer takes title free of the liens that were properly noticed. Any overbid above the amount owed to the town is held for the former owner and junior lienholders.

When and where sales happen

There is no statewide season. A town holds a sale when it has accumulated enough delinquencies to justify one, sometimes annually and sometimes every few years. Sales are held in person at the town hall or a public building and are advertised in the local newspaper and on the municipal or law firm website, usually for several weeks ahead.

What to check before you bid

Read the notice of sale carefully; it lists the amount due, the lienholders noticed and any known encumbrances. Confirm whether the parcel is occupied, since you cannot take possession during the redemption window. Check for sewer and water liens, condominium charges and municipal blight liens, which the town may or may not have included. Be aware that federal liens require separate notice and survive if it was not given. Bring certified funds, as most towns require payment on the day of sale.

How AuctionScouts helps here

AuctionScouts tracks municipal tax sale notices across Connecticut towns, scores each parcel from 0 to 100 against assessed value and lien exposure, and flags recorded liens likely to survive. The calendar keeps the scattered town-by-town sale dates in one place.