What Matters Right Now
- Clay and Platte (MO) use a tax certificate sale, you usually get about one year to redeem after the sale.
- Jackson County (MO) is the exception: a court-supervised Delinquent Land Tax sale with no long post-sale redemption, you must pay before the court confirms.
- Kansas (Wyandotte and Johnson) uses a sheriff sale, your last chance is the day before the auction, with no redemption after.
- In every county, selling before the sale lets the title company pay the back taxes at closing so you keep your remaining equity.
All 5 County Deadline Pages
How the Deadline Usually Builds
Missouri certificate sale, about a year to redeem
These Missouri counties sell a tax-lien certificate (a paper claim, not the house) at the August sale under RSMo Chapter 140. You keep title and usually have about one year to redeem by paying the back taxes, interest, and costs.
Court-supervised DLT sale, no long window after
Jackson County is the Missouri exception. Under RSMo Chapter 141, the 16th Circuit Court runs a Delinquent Land Tax sale. You must pay before the court confirms the sale; there is no year-long post-sale redemption, and for vacant homes the cutoff can come sooner.
Kansas sheriff sale, act before the auction
Kansas counties sue in court and the sheriff sells the actual house under K.S.A. 79-2801. Your right to save it ends the day before the auction. Once the deed is issued, there is no buying it back.
Your Main Options
Check the county page
Start with your county, not just your city name. Kansas City addresses can cross county and state lines.
Ask for the payoff
Get the current taxes, court costs, interest, and fees before deciding whether to pay, plan, or sell.
Sell before the deadline
Best when you cannot keep the house long term or the property has repairs, heirs, vacancy, or title problems.
Where Saving KC Fits
We are not the county and we are not a law firm. We buy houses as-is in the Kansas City metro. If selling makes more sense than trying to keep the house, we can make a cash offer, open title, and let the title company check taxes, liens, mortgages, and payoff amounts.
If the numbers work, the back taxes can often be paid from the sale money at closing. You do not need to fix, clean, or list the house first.
Watch a Real Closing Walkthrough
This closing-process video shows how title, payoff checks, paperwork, final inspection, and payment work when a seller chooses a cash sale.
Quick Questions
Can I sell my house in Kansas if I am behind on taxes?
Yes, as long as you act before the sheriff sale. In Wyandotte and Johnson counties there is no redemption period after the sale, so selling beforehand lets you pay the taxes at closing and keep your remaining equity.
Do I get a redemption period in Missouri?
In most Missouri counties, including Clay and Platte, yes, usually about one year after the August tax sale, and shorter for a third-time sale. Jackson County is different and does not give a long window after its court sale.
Why is Jackson County different from the rest of Missouri?
Jackson County handles delinquent taxes through the court, the 16th Circuit Court Delinquent Land Tax sale under RSMo Chapter 141, instead of the standard certificate sale. You generally must pay before the court confirms the sale, with no long redemption period afterward.
When are the Kansas City area tax sales held?
In Clay and Platte counties, the fourth Monday in August. In Johnson County, Kansas, the sheriff sale is often in September. Jackson County follows the court schedule. Always confirm the current year date with the county.
Can back taxes be paid at closing?
Yes. When you sell, the title company pays the back taxes out of the sale proceeds before you get your check. You do not have to pay them up front.