Virginia delinquent tax lists by county
Short answer: Virginia is a deed state, so a winning bidder gets the deed itself, so a winning bid transfers ownership of the property. Judicial tax sales auction deeds for long-delinquent parcels; localities also use nonjudicial sales for low-value lots. Each county publishes its own delinquent roll through the County or City Treasurer. Below is every Virginia county we cover, with the live count of distressed owners in each.
Counties covered
133
Every one has its own ranked list and county-level rules page.
Flagged owners statewide
35,213
Carrying at least one distress signal in public records, refreshed daily.
Sale type
Deed
The deed transfers at the sale. Whether the former owner can still redeem afterward depends on Virginia law and the kind of sale, so read the county's sale notice before bidding.
Every Virginia 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.
Virginia tax sale rules
| Tax sale system | Virginia is a deed state. A winning bidder gets the deed itself, so a winning bid transfers ownership of the property. |
|---|---|
| Rate and cadence | Judicial tax sales auction deeds for long-delinquent parcels; localities also use nonjudicial sales for low-value lots. |
| After the tax sale | The deed transfers at the sale. Whether the former owner can still redeem afterward depends on Virginia law and the kind of sale, so read the county's sale notice before bidding. |
| Who publishes the list | The County or City Treasurer in each county. |
| Foreclosure path | Non-judicial, typically 2 to 3 months from filing to sale. |
| Deficiency after sale | Allowed. |
| Local note | With minimal statutory notice, Virginia rivals Texas and Georgia for speed. |
The Virginia delinquency clock
Virginia delinquent tax list FAQ
Is Virginia a tax lien or tax deed state?
Virginia is a deed state. A winning bidder gets the deed itself, so a winning bid transfers ownership of the property. Judicial tax sales auction deeds for long-delinquent parcels; localities also use nonjudicial sales for low-value lots.
Where do I find the Virginia delinquent tax list?
Each county publishes its own list through the County or City Treasurer, 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 Virginia?
The deed transfers at the sale. Whether the former owner can still redeem afterward depends on Virginia law and the kind of sale, so read the county's sale notice before bidding. 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 Virginia?
Across the 133 Virginia counties we track, roughly 35,213 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 Virginia 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.