How to buy tax-sale property in Alaska (2026)
You buy the property itself, not a lien. The owner has 1 year to pay you back. You earn 15% interest a year. The bidding method is not documented. Sales are held on a schedule that varies by county.
- Redemption period
- 12 mo
- Interest / penalty
- Flat rate · 15%
- Bid method
- Unknown
- Sale timing
- Varies
How to bid here · Alaska
Unknown- 1.The municipality enforces delinquent real property tax liens by annual foreclosure unless an ordinance provides otherwise (AS 29.45.320(a))
- 2.The municipality presents a petition for judgment with a certified copy of the foreclosure list and publishes or posts the list for four consecutive weeks or at least 30 days (AS 29.45.330(a)(2))
- 3.The owner or another interested person may clear the delinquency by paying the taxes, penalty, interest, and costs up to the time the property is transferred to the municipality (AS 29.45.340)
- 4.The superior court enters judgment foreclosing the tax liens, and foreclosed properties are transferred to the municipality for the lien amount (AS 29.45.390(a))
- 5.The municipality holds the property for at least one year, during which an interested party may redeem it by paying the lien amount plus penalties, interest, and costs (AS 29.45.400)
- 6.After the redemption period expires, unredeemed property is deeded to the borough or city (AS 29.45.450(a))
- 7.The municipality determines by ordinance whether to retain the property for a public purpose or to sell it; property not required for a public purpose may be sold (AS 29.45.460(a)-(b))
- 8.The former record owner may repurchase the property within 10 years and before the municipality's sale or contract of sale (AS 29.45.470(a))
- Registration
- Required: UnknownUnknown
Not verified from a source yet.
- Deposit
- Required: UnknownUnknown
Not verified from a source yet.
- Forms
- Bidder ID card: UnknownW-9: Unknown
- Eligibility
- Residency required: UnknownNo delinquent taxes: Unknown
- Payment
- Unknown
Not verified from a source yet.
Alaska does not auction tax liens or conduct a competitive bidder sale under state statute. Real property tax delinquencies are enforced by annual, in rem foreclosure: the municipality publishes a foreclosure list, obtains a judgment, and takes property directly for the lien amount (AS 29.45.320, 29.45.330, 29.45.390). The property is held at least one year for redemption (AS 29.45.400) and then deeded to the borough or city (AS 29.45.450); the municipality decides by ordinance whether to keep it or sell it, and property not needed for a public purpose may be sold (AS 29.45.460). Because the state statute leaves the method and terms of any later sale of tax-foreclosed property to municipal ordinance, bidder registration, deposits, bidder identification, payment instruments, eligibility limits, and the sale format are all unknown at the state level. The former record owner has a 10-year statutory right to repurchase before the municipality sells (AS 29.45.470(a)).
Citations
Sale type
Alaska Stat. 29.45.450
official source“Unredeemed property in the area of the borough outside all cities is deeded to the borough by the clerk of the court.”
Redemption
Alaska Stat. 29.45.400
official source“Properties transferred to the municipality are held by the municipality for at least one year.”
Interest / penalty
Alaska Stat. 29.45.470
official source“interest not to exceed 15 percent a year from the date of entry of the judgment of foreclosure to the date of repurchase”
Bid method
Alaska Stat. 29.45.390
official source“Foreclosed properties are transferred to the municipality for the lien amount.”
Sale schedule
Alaska Stat. 29.45.320
official source“The municipality shall enforce delinquent real property tax liens by annual foreclosure, unless otherwise provided by ordinance.”
No statewide property tax; municipalities foreclose in rem. Unredeemed property is deeded to the borough/city (AS 29.45.450). | Prose: deed | repurchase interest not to exceed 15%/yr | 1 year | n/a - property deeded to the municipality; no competitive investor auction | varies by municipality
Frequently asked questions
- What do I actually buy at a Alaska tax sale?
- The investor buys the property itself at sale. No redemption period usually follows, so title transfers directly.
- How long does the owner have to redeem the property in Alaska?
- 12 months (1 year)
- What interest or penalty do I earn on a Alaska tax sale?
- A flat rate up to 15% per year.
- How is the winning bidder chosen in Alaska?
- Not verified from an official source yet, so treat it as unknown and confirm with the county.
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Not legal, tax, or investment advice. Read the full disclaimer.