Orange County Property Tax Auction set for March 15

Treasurer-Tax Collector: Property Tax Auction March 15

Orange County Treasurer Shari L. Freidenrich announced that the next tax auction is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at 1 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room located at 333 W. Santa Ana Boulevard, Building 10, in Santa Ana.

“We currently have 11 improved parcels and three unimproved parcels to auction, and we expect to actually auction off between five and 10 parcels,” stated Treasurer Freidenrich. The Treasurer will only auction off those properties that have not paid all delinquent taxes and penalties in full by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, or those properties that are otherwise ineligible for sale.

The current list of parcels and all information on the upcoming tax auction is available online at ocgov.com/taxauction. The list of parcels is updated daily. You can also view a listing of the properties and a GIS map of the auction properties by clicking on the map icon on the website.

All bidders must pre-register on Tuesday, March 14. Bidders can register and pick up the registration packet between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on March 14 in the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector at 625 N. Ross Street, Building 11, Room G58. A $5,000 refundable deposit (cashier’s check only) and a valid government issued photo identification are required to register. Registration information is available on our website at ocgov.com/taxauction. Unsuccessful bidders can pick up their unused deposits either right after the tax auction concludes or on a subsequent day.

Under California law, properties become subject to the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s “power to sell” and can be sold at a tax auction after at least one property tax installment payment has been delinquent for five or more years. The Treasurer sets the minimum bids based on the total amount of delinquent taxes, penalties and selling costs. This is a “buyer beware sale,” and the properties are sold “as is.” Some liens may not be discharged by the sale; check out the detailed information on the tax auction website. In addition, the Office of the Assessor is responsible for determining the assessed value of all properties in the County of Orange based on the California Constitution and property tax laws. Upon a change in ownership, properties will be assessed at the market value. Therefore, the price you pay for the property at the tax auction will not necessarily be the new assessed value of the property.

To register your e-mail for upcoming tax auction information, go to ocgov.com/taxauctionreminder.