Are Colorado tax sales a good opportunity?

Colorado sells tax lien certificates under Colorado Revised Statutes Title 39, Articles 11 and 12 (§§39-11-101 et seq., 39-12-103) and Article 11.5 (§§39-11.5-101 et seq.) for treasurer's deed auctions. Whether a specific sale is a good opportunity depends on the parcels listed, the competition at that county's sale, and your max number — which is why investors research the list, not the headline.

Colorado Tax Sales: What Investors Need to Know This Season

Q: How do I get notified about Colorado tax sales?

Counties publish sale lists on their own schedules — Annual county treasurer tax lien sales in the fall, typically October-November (most counties in November) LienToDeed watches those publications and alerts members when new Colorado properties are listed.

Blog / State spotlights

Colorado tax sales: the season preview

Quick answerColorado sells tax lien certificates for unpaid property taxes. Lien buyers can earn Federal discount rate (Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City) in effect Sept. 1 plus 9 percentage points, rounded to the nearest whole percent, set Oct. 1 and fixed for the life of the certificate (C.R.S. §39-12-103) — e.g. 14% for certificates in the Oct. 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2026 period, 13% announced by El Paso County for its 2026 sale (a county announcement; the statewide rate is whatever the formula sets each Oct. 1). Interest accrues only on taxes/subsequent taxes, not on any premium bid. Redemption: Owner may redeem at any time before issuance of a treasurer's deed / completion of the treasurer's deed public auction; the lienholder may apply for that auction no sooner than 3 years from the date of the tax lien sale (C.R.S. §§39-12-103, 39-11.5-102) Sales: Annual county treasurer tax lien sales in the fall, typically October-November (most counties in November) Governing law: Colorado Revised Statutes Title 39, Articles 11 and 12 (§§39-11-101 et seq., 39-12-103) and Article 11.5 (§§39-11.5-101 et seq.) for treasurer's deed auctions.

What's actually for sale

Colorado sells tax lien certificates. Premium bidding: the winning premium over the lien amount is not refunded on redemption and earns no interest, so effective yield is below the headline rate. HB 24-1056 (eff. July 1, 2024) replaced automatic issuance of a treasurer's deed with a public auction of a certificate of option for treasurer's deed, so surplus value can return to the former owner.

The rate that decides your return

Federal discount rate (Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City) in effect Sept. 1 plus 9 percentage points, rounded to the nearest whole percent, set Oct. 1 and fixed for the life of the certificate (C.R.S. §39-12-103) — e.g. 14% for certificates in the Oct. 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2026 period, 13% announced by El Paso County for its 2026 sale (a county announcement; the statewide rate is whatever the formula sets each Oct. 1). Interest accrues only on taxes/subsequent taxes, not on any premium bid

The clock you're investing against

Sale schedule: Annual county treasurer tax lien sales in the fall, typically October-November (most counties in November)

Redemption: Owner may redeem at any time before issuance of a treasurer's deed / completion of the treasurer's deed public auction; the lienholder may apply for that auction no sooner than 3 years from the date of the tax lien sale (C.R.S. §§39-12-103, 39-11.5-102)

Where the sales happen

Online via RealAuction, GovEase, SRI Inc., and Zeus Auction depending on the county; some counties still hold in-person sales — see the Colorado County Treasurers' association sale list for the county-by-county split. Lists post on the county's schedule, change as owners redeem, and registration typically closes before sale day — the investors who see the list first set the market.

Watch Colorado lists for me

LienToDeed scans the published lists and texts you when new Colorado properties post — scored, with a max bid or max rate.

Get Colorado alerts

Deep dives: Colorado laws · Colorado investing guide · Colorado sale calendar. Law verified 2026-10-30.