Michigan Tax Deed & Tax Lien Sales 2026

How tax sales work in Michigan

Michigan runs a strict, calendar-driven forfeiture and foreclosure system administered by county treasurers, with the state treasurer acting for a few counties. Taxes unpaid on March 1 of the year after they were levied are returned to the county as delinquent. On March 1 of the following year the parcel is forfeited to the treasurer, and the treasurer then petitions the circuit court for a judgment of foreclosure, which is entered early in the third year. Title vests in the foreclosing governmental unit if the taxes are not paid by March 31 after judgment. The treasurer then sells the parcel at public auction, typically in a first round with a minimum bid equal to the taxes and costs and a second round with no minimum. Buyers receive a quitclaim deed.

Redemption and interest

There is no redemption for investors to worry about, because the auction happens only after the owner’s right to redeem has expired. The owner’s last chance is the March 31 deadline after the foreclosure judgment, at which point the debt includes interest and fees that accrue at statutory rates. Buyers earn no interest. Because the process is judicial and the deadline absolute, Michigan tax deeds are relatively strong, although the deed is a quitclaim and buyers commonly obtain a quiet title judgment or title commitment before resale. Since the Michigan Supreme Court’s Rafaeli decision, former owners may claim proceeds above the tax debt by following a notice procedure.

When and where sales happen

Auctions run from July through October. Most counties use a shared online auction platform; Wayne County and a few others run their own online sales. Before the public auction, the state, the county, the local city or township and any land bank may purchase parcels at the minimum bid, so the published list can shrink. Registration, deposits and payment deadlines are set by each treasurer.

What to check before you bid

Confirm the parcel survived the government right of first refusal. Check the city for blight tickets, demolition orders, unpaid water bills and rental registration requirements, which follow the property. Verify whether the county bars bidders with local delinquencies. Look at the assessor record and street imagery for occupancy and structural condition. Note that easements, some special assessments and federal liens with proper notice may survive.

How AuctionScouts helps here

AuctionScouts aggregates first- and second-round auction lists from Michigan treasurers and the state, scores each parcel from 0 to 100, and flags recorded liens and municipal claims. The calendar tracks each county’s auction dates through the summer and fall.