If you’re behind on property taxes in Bucks County, you can still sell your house, and a sale that closes before the tax sale lets the overdue taxes be paid out of your proceeds at settlement. Bucks County’s next tax sales, a Judicial Sale and an Adjourned Upset Sale, are scheduled for December 8, 2026, so if your property is on a list, time matters. A cash sale can close in days, while a traditional listing usually takes longer but may bring a higher price if you have the time.
How Bucks County’s Tax Sale Timeline Works
Unpaid real estate taxes don’t lead to a sale overnight. According to the Bucks County Tax Claim Bureau, the process generally goes like this:
- Year 1: Taxes not paid by December 31 are turned over by your local tax collector to the Tax Claim Bureau.
- Spring of Year 2: The Bureau usually mails a Notice of Claim by certified mail.
- December 31 of Year 2: If still unpaid, the claim becomes “absolute.”
- July of Year 3: Owners are notified that the property will be advertised, posted and sold. After June 1, the Bureau requires payment by cashier’s check or money order.
- September of Year 3: The Upset Sale is held. The last chance to pay and avoid it is before the courthouse closes the day before the sale.
Properties that don’t sell at the September Upset Sale can be listed for a Judicial Sale. The county’s Upset and Judicial Sales page shows the 2026 Upset Sale was held September 15, and the December 8, 2026 Judicial Sale and Adjourned Upset Sale lists are posted. All sales are now held online through GovEase.
Why a Tax Sale Can Cost You Much More Than the Taxes
A tax sale isn’t designed to get you the best price for your home. The Tax Claim Bureau’s goal is to collect the delinquent taxes, and the opening price is based on what is owed, not on what your house is worth.
A Judicial Sale is especially serious. Under Section 610 of Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Tax Sale Law, a court can order a property sold free and clear of most liens and mortgages. Interested parties get notice and a chance to respond first, but if the sale goes forward, you lose the house and you no longer control the price or the timing.
Selling on your own terms before that date lets you keep control: you choose the buyer, the price and the closing date, and the taxes are paid from the sale proceeds.
Your Options if You’re Behind on Property Taxes
Selling isn’t the only answer, and it isn’t always the best one. Consider all of these:
- Pay the taxes in full. If you can, this is the simplest fix. You can look up what’s owed through the county’s online property tax inquiry or call the Tax Claim Bureau at 215-348-6274.
- Ask about an agreement to stay the sale. The county notes that liens may be settled by payment or by an agreement to stay the sale. Call the Bureau early to ask whether you qualify.
- Refinance or borrow against your equity. If you have good credit and equity, a lender may be able to pay off the taxes.
- List with a real estate agent. If your house is in good shape and you have several months before a sale date, listing may get you a higher price. Our cash offer vs. listing comparison walks through the trade-offs.
- Sell for cash. If the sale date is close, the house needs work, or you can’t keep up with the bills, a cash sale can often close before the sale date.
If you’re also behind on your mortgage, see our page on stopping foreclosure in Bucks County.
How a Cash Sale Pays Off Back Taxes
When you sell, the title company orders a lien search and finds every amount owed on the property, including delinquent taxes held by the Tax Claim Bureau. At settlement those taxes, along with any mortgage, are paid from the sale price, and you receive the rest. You don’t need to come up with the tax money first.
Because We Buy In Bucks pays cash and buys houses as-is, there’s no waiting on a buyer’s mortgage approval, appraisal or repair requests. That speed matters most when a sale date is only weeks away.
How It Works With We Buy In Bucks
- Request an offer. Tell us about the house online or by phone. Let us know if you’ve received a tax sale notice so we can plan around the date.
- Get a written cash offer within 24 hours. We’ll explain how we arrived at the number.
- Close in as little as 5 days through a licensed title company, which pays off the back taxes and any liens at settlement.
- You pick the closing date. Close quickly to beat a sale date, or later if you need time to move.
There’s no obligation. If our offer doesn’t make sense for you, we’ll tell you if we think listing or another option may work better.
Act Before the Sale Date
The closer you get to a tax sale, the fewer choices you have. If your property is on the December 8, 2026 list, or you’ve gotten a notice from the Tax Claim Bureau, reach out now, whether it’s to the Bureau, a lender, an agent or us. Getting answers early gives you the most room to protect your equity.
Or call us at (267) 751-9256
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.