Pennsylvania delinquent tax lists by county
Short answer: Pennsylvania is a deed state, so a winning bidder gets the deed itself, so a winning bid transfers ownership of the property. September Upset Sales convey deeds subject to liens; later Judicial Sales wipe them clear. Each county publishes its own delinquent roll through the County Tax Claim Bureau. Below is every Pennsylvania county we cover, with the live count of distressed owners in each.
Counties covered
13
Every one has its own ranked list and county-level rules page.
Flagged owners statewide
6,047
Carrying at least one distress signal in public records, refreshed daily.
Sale type
Deed
None for mortgage sales (limited local exceptions exist for tax sales).
Every Pennsylvania county we cover
Sorted largest first. Each county page carries the official list source, the sale rules and the live ranked list of owners under pressure right now.
| County | County seat | Population | Flagged owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County | Philadelphia | 1,570,000 | 428 |
| Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | 1,240,000 | 471 |
| Montgomery County | Norristown | 860,000 | 165 |
| Bucks County | Doylestown | 646,000 | 298 |
| Delaware County | Media | 576,000 | 398 |
| Lancaster County | Lancaster | 553,000 | 875 |
| Chester County | West Chester | 545,000 | 360 |
| York County | York | 458,000 | 336 |
| Berks County | Reading | 429,000 | 290 |
| Lehigh County | Allentown | 375,000 | 710 |
| Luzerne County | Wilkes-Barre | 325,000 | 451 |
| Northampton County | Easton | 313,000 | 674 |
| Dauphin County | Harrisburg | 288,000 | 591 |
Pennsylvania tax sale rules
| Tax sale system | Pennsylvania is a deed state. A winning bidder gets the deed itself, so a winning bid transfers ownership of the property. |
|---|---|
| Rate and cadence | September Upset Sales convey deeds subject to liens; later Judicial Sales wipe them clear. |
| Owner redemption | None for mortgage sales (limited local exceptions exist for tax sales). |
| Who publishes the list | The County Tax Claim Bureau in each county. |
| Foreclosure path | Judicial, typically 9 to 15 months from filing to sale. |
| Deficiency after sale | Allowed via a fair-value petition. |
| Local note | Act 91 notices and diversion programs front-load the timeline before filing. |
The Pennsylvania delinquency clock
Pennsylvania delinquent tax list FAQ
Is Pennsylvania a tax lien or tax deed state?
Pennsylvania is a deed state. A winning bidder gets the deed itself, so a winning bid transfers ownership of the property. September Upset Sales convey deeds subject to liens; later Judicial Sales wipe them clear.
Where do I find the Pennsylvania delinquent tax list?
Each county publishes its own list through the County Tax Claim Bureau, usually as a PDF before a scheduled sale. Pick your county below for the official source plus the year-round ranked list of distressed owners in that area.
How long does an owner have to redeem in Pennsylvania?
None for mortgage sales (limited local exceptions exist for tax sales). That window is the single biggest thing separating a good tax-sale trade from a bad one, because it decides how long your money sits before you can act.
How many tax-delinquent properties are there in Pennsylvania?
Across the 13 Pennsylvania counties we track, roughly 6,047 properties currently carry at least one distress signal in public records, including tax delinquency, foreclosure filings, vacancy and long-distance ownership. The counts refresh daily.
Can I buy Pennsylvania tax-delinquent property before the auction?
Yes. The delinquency appears in the public record months before any sale is scheduled, and during that window the owner can still sell normally. That is the whole opportunity: no bidding war, an inspection is possible, and an owner with equity walks away with money instead of nothing.