Jackson County Tax Sale Redemption
Short answer: After Jackson County's August tax lien sale, you've got 1 year to redeem by paying back taxes plus 10% interest. Miss that window and the investor gets a collector's deed — you lose the house. Saving KC can buy before or during redemption and settle everything at closing. Call Ernest at 816-429-2900.
Every August, Jackson County holds its tax lien sale at the courthouse on 12th Street. Investors show up with cash. They buy the right to collect your unpaid property taxes — plus 10% interest. If you don't pay up within a year, they get your house.
I've sat across the table from homeowners in South KC, Independence, and Raytown who didn't know they had options. You do. Here's what they are.
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Here's the deal.
You fell behind on property taxes. After three consecutive years of non-payment, Jackson County put your home on the tax sale list. Every August, the county holds its tax lien sale at the courthouse — 415 E 12th St in downtown Kansas City.
An investor bought your tax lien. They paid the county what you owe. They didn't buy your house. Not yet. They bought a certificate of purchase — a legal claim on your debt that earns them 10% annual interest.
You still own your home after the tax sale. The investor owns your debt, not your property. But that changes fast if you don't act within the redemption window.
Under RSMo Chapter 140, you've got exactly 1 year from the date of a first or second offering sale to pay everything back. All back taxes. All interest. All the buyer's costs. Do that, and the certificate gets cancelled. You keep the house.
Skip that deadline? The certificate holder petitions the Jackson County Circuit Court for a collector's deed. Once the judge signs off, the deed transfers. Your home — and every dollar of equity in it — belongs to someone who paid your back taxes.
You own your home during the redemption period. But the clock started the day your lien sold at the August sale. In Jackson County, that clock is either 1 year or 90 days — depending on the sale type. Call 816-429-2900 to find out where you stand.
Missouri uses a 3-tier system. Your deadline depends on how many times the county offered your property at sale.
Don't assume you've got a year. If your property's been on the Jackson County delinquent rolls for multiple years, you may be in third-year or post-third-year territory. Call the Collector at (816) 881-3232 and confirm your sale type today.
Missouri law protects you during the redemption window. Here's what you can and can't do.
You've got more options than you think. The worst thing you can do is nothing. If you're in the redemption period, you can pay, sell, or have a family member step in. Call Ernest: 816-429-2900.
Here's what a typical Jackson County redemption looks like. Say you own a home in Independence or South KC with a tax bill around $2,500 a year. You fell behind three years ago.
| Year | Taxes Owed | + 10% Interest | Running Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $2,500 | $250 | $2,750 |
| Year 2 | $2,500 | $525 | $5,775 |
| Year 3 | $2,500 | $828 | $9,103 |
| + Penalties, admin fees, purchaser's costs | $10,000 - $12,000 | ||
Jackson County's tax rate runs about $8-$10 per $100 of assessed value. On a modest home assessed at $25,000-$30,000, that's $2,000-$3,000 a year in taxes. Three years of that, plus compounding interest, plus fees? You're looking at $10,000-$12,000 to make this go away.
If you live within Kansas City proper, you're also paying the 1% earnings tax (e-tax). That's separate from property taxes, but if you owe both, the total debt against your property gets ugly fast.
Jackson County Collector's Office: (816) 881-3232 — 415 E 12th St, Floor 1, Kansas City, MO 64106. They'll tell you your exact redemption balance down to the penny. Bring your parcel number or property address.
Most people who fall behind on taxes don't have $10,000 sitting in a bank account. That's the whole reason they fell behind. Sound familiar?
Can't come up with $10,000+ to redeem? You can sell instead and walk away with your equity. A $120,000 home with $12,000 in back taxes still has over $100,000 in value. Get your cash offer here.
Tax delinquency doesn't happen evenly across Jackson County. Some areas show up on the sale list more than others.
The Prospect Ave and Troost Ave corridors consistently have some of the highest delinquency rates in the county. Older homes, lower values, and owners who've been in place for decades on fixed incomes.
Properties near 24 Highway and the older neighborhoods east of Noland Road appear on the sale list year after year. Tax bills around $1,800-$3,000.
Raytown south of 63rd St sees steady delinquencies. Homes from the 1950s-1970s where original owners or their families are hanging on.
Grandview properties regularly appear on the Jackson County delinquent rolls. Moderate tax bills that compound fast with 10% interest.
If your home is in one of these areas, you're not alone. I've bought homes on Prospect, in Raytown, near 24 Highway in Independence — and helped the sellers walk away with cash instead of losing everything to a certificate holder. See the full Jackson County back taxes guide.
You don't have to lose your home over back taxes. If you can't pay the redemption amount, selling to a cash buyer like Saving KC gets you out clean. We pay the taxes at closing and you keep the remaining equity. Call 816-429-2900.
If you've got the money and you want to keep your home, here's the process.
You can't redeem with a partial payment or a payment plan. The full amount is due by the deadline. If you're $500 short on the last day, you don't get 90% credit — you lose the house. That's the law under RSMo Chapter 140.
Yes. And for most people in this situation, selling is the smarter move.
Here's why. You owe $10,000-$12,000 to redeem. If you had that kind of cash, you probably wouldn't be behind on taxes. But your house is worth $100,000, $120,000, maybe more. That equity doesn't disappear because of a tax sale — it's still yours during the redemption period.
When you sell to Saving KC:
The math is straightforward. A home worth $120,000 with $12,000 in back taxes has $108,000+ in equity. If you let the deadline pass, the certificate holder paid $12,000 and walks away with the whole asset. You get nothing.
When you sell, the title company handles everything — the collector payoff, the certificate holder's costs, the recording fees. You don't need to track down the investor or negotiate with the county. That's our job.
This comes up a lot in Jackson County. Mom or Dad passed away. The house was never put through probate. The taxes went unpaid. Now the lien's been sold and nobody knows who can even sign paperwork.
Here's what you need to know: under Missouri law, an heir or beneficiary can redeem the property — even if probate isn't complete. And if you need to sell, we work with probate attorneys who can fast-track the process.
We've handled dozens of inherited homes in Jackson County where there's a tax sale clock running at the same time as probate. It's messy, but it's fixable — if you start now.
Inherited a home with a tax lien already sold? Don't wait for probate to finish. Call us at 816-429-2900 and we'll figure out the fastest path forward. Time matters here.
Your Jackson County tax lien's been sold. You've got two paths forward.
| Sell to UsSaving KC | Redeem Yourself | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Close in 14 days | Must pay full amount within 1 year |
| Out-of-Pocket Cost | $0 — we handle everything | $10,000-$12,000+ in taxes, interest, fees |
| Cash in Your Pocket | Keep your equity — walk away with cash | You pay $10K+ and keep the house |
| Stress Level | One phone call, we do the rest | County paperwork, tight deadlines, uncertainty |
| Risk | Guaranteed close — we never back out | Miss the deadline and lose everything |
| Repairs Required | None — we buy as-is | You still own a home you may not be able to maintain |
| Back Taxes | We pay every dollar at closing | You pay every dollar yourself |
| Closing Costs | $0 — we cover all | N/A |
| Future Tax Risk | Clean break — no future liability | Same cycle if you fall behind again |
You've got exactly 1 year from the date of a first or second offering sale. For third-year offerings, that drops to 90 days. Post-third-year sales have no redemption — the buyer gets an immediate deed. Call the Jackson County Collector at (816) 881-3232 to find out which type your sale was.
Every dollar of delinquent taxes, plus 10% annual interest, plus the certificate holder's costs and fees. A $2,500/year tax bill that went unpaid for three years typically totals $10,000-$12,000. Your exact amount depends on your assessed value and how long you've been behind. The Collector's Office will give you the precise number.
Jackson County Collector's Office at 415 E 12th St, Floor 1, Kansas City, MO 64106. Call (816) 881-3232 first to get your exact redemption balance. Bring your parcel number or property address. You'll need to pay the full amount — no partial payments accepted.
Yes. You can sell at any point during the redemption window. The title company pays off all back taxes, interest, and the certificate holder's costs from your sale proceeds. You keep the remaining equity. We close in as few as 14 days and handle the entire tax payoff. Call 816-429-2900.
The certificate holder petitions the Jackson County Circuit Court for a collector's deed. Once granted, ownership transfers to the investor. No extensions. No appeals. No second chances. An investor who paid $12,000 at the tax sale walks away with a home that could be worth $120,000+. You get nothing.
The e-tax is separate from property taxes and doesn't trigger a tax sale on its own. But if you owe both, the debts stack up. Property tax liens take priority — that's the one that costs you your house. Handle property taxes first, then deal with the e-tax.
The property owner, their spouse, any heir or beneficiary, a mortgage holder, a judgment creditor, or anyone with a recorded interest. If you inherited a Jackson County home that went to tax sale, you can redeem as an heir — even during probate.
Call Ernest immediately at 816-429-2900. If you're still within the redemption window, we can buy your home and close in as few as 14 days. We've helped homeowners with as little as 30 days left. Every day you wait is one day closer to losing your home for good.
"I was behind on taxes and scared of losing my house. Ernest took care of everything. Closed fast and I walked away with cash in hand."
"We inherited my mother's home and had no idea what to do. Saving KC walked us through every step. Fair price, no games."
"Ernest made a stressful situation simple. We had an offer in 24 hours and closed in 2 weeks. Couldn't have asked for a better experience."
More help if you're dealing with back taxes, probate, or a tough situation in Jackson County.
Wherever you are in Jackson County, we buy homes facing tax sale.
Don't lose your home — or your equity — over back taxes. Get a no-obligation cash offer in 24 hours. We pay the taxes at closing. You walk away clean.