Blog / State spotlights

Missouri tax sales: the season preview

Quick answerMissouri sells tax lien certificates for unpaid property taxes. Lien buyers can earn Interest at the rate specified in the certificate of purchase, not to exceed 10% per annum, on the purchase money up to the delinquent taxes plus costs of sale (no interest is owed on any amount bid in excess of taxes plus costs); subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser earn 8% per annum (RSMo 140.340). Bidding is by premium (highest bid), not by bidding the rate down.. Redemption: 1 year from the date of sale for first- and second-offering parcels (RSMo 140.340), with a defeasible right to redeem thereafter until the purchaser actually acquires the collector's deed; parcels sold at a third offering are sold with no right of redemption. Sales: Annual county collector's sale on the fourth Monday in August (RSMo 140.170). Jackson County and the City of St. Louis instead use judicial delinquent land tax sales under RSMo ch. 141 on court-set schedules. Governing law: Revised Statutes of Missouri ch. 140 (esp. 140.170, 140.190, 140.340); ch. 141 for Jackson County / City of St. Louis judicial sales.

What's actually for sale

Missouri sells tax lien certificates. Non-Missouri residents must appoint a Missouri resident agent and all buyers must file an affidavit that they are not delinquent on taxes. A purchaser who fails to take a tax deed within 6 months after the 1-year redemption period stops earning interest against a later redeemer (RSMo 140.340.4).

The rate that decides your return

Interest at the rate specified in the certificate of purchase, not to exceed 10% per annum, on the purchase money up to the delinquent taxes plus costs of sale (no interest is owed on any amount bid in excess of taxes plus costs); subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser earn 8% per annum (RSMo 140.340). Bidding is by premium (highest bid), not by bidding the rate down.

The clock you're investing against

Sale schedule: Annual county collector's sale on the fourth Monday in August (RSMo 140.170). Jackson County and the City of St. Louis instead use judicial delinquent land tax sales under RSMo ch. 141 on court-set schedules.

Redemption: 1 year from the date of sale for first- and second-offering parcels (RSMo 140.340), with a defeasible right to redeem thereafter until the purchaser actually acquires the collector's deed; parcels sold at a third offering are sold with no right of redemption.

Where the sales happen

Mostly in-person at the county courthouse; some counties run the sale online via GovEase (e.g., Clay County), St. Louis County takes sealed bids through its Collector of Revenue, and ch. 141 sales are sheriff / land-tax sale proceedings. No single statewide platform.. 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 Missouri lists for me

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

Get Missouri alerts

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