Step Five to Building Your Profitable Tax Lien Portfolio

This is the six article in a series of eight articles aboutSometimes you will be allowed time to go the bank
how to build a profitable portfolio of tax lienand get payment after the sale. In this case you will
certificates or tax deeds. If you missed the previousbe able to go to your bank and get the certified
articles in this series you can read them atfunds in the exact amount that you need. When
Once you've done your due diligence on the tax saleyou're not allowed the time to go to the bank, you
properties that you intend to bid on it's time towill have to have the certified funds, made out to
prepare to go to the tax sale. Preparing to go to thethe county tax collector, with you at the sale. In this
sale consists of registering to bid at the sale alongcase, come up with your best estimate of what you
with getting your paperwork and payment in order.think is the most that you will spend and get certified
In most states you need to register before the salechecks made up in different denominations that total
in order to bid. Depending on what state and countythe amount you think that you'll need. This way if
you are investing in, you may need to register as faryou have to wait for a refund check from the
as two weeks before the sale, or you may be ablecounty for your change, at least it won't be for a
to register as close to the sale as a few minutesvery large amount. Make sure you check with the
before it starts. I've even been to some sales in Newtax collector a couple of days before the sale to find
Jersey where late commers are allowed to registerout what the acceptable forms of payment are and
and bid at the tax sale. Some municipalities do notwhether or not you will be allowed to go to the bank
require you to register ahead of time, only that youand get a check after the sale.
submit the proper paperwork if you are theAnother thing that you'll have to have with you for
successful bidder on a property.the sale is the proper paper work. In some states
Some counties will require a deposit in order toyou will have to fill this out when you register and in
register. The deposit amount could be anywhereothers you will need to bring it to the sale. Most tax
from $100.00 to a few thousand dollars (as in thecollectors will require a W-9 form and a bidder
case of many online tax sales). Large deposits areinformation sheet. The W-9 form is a standard IRS
usually returned to the investor if nothing isform and you can get it online at the IRS web site.
purchased at the sale. Smaller deposits areThe bidder information sheet is usually filled out during
sometimes returned and sometimes not returned,registration and has your personal information, or
depending on the county. Nassue County, NY, foryour business information if you're investing with a
instance has a tax lien sale that typically is 3 daysbusiness name. This form is not always stantardized
lonng. They have a registration fee of $100 for eachand every county may have a different form. For
day that you intend to bid and the registration fee ismost tax deed states there is another form that you
non-refundable.will have to fill out if you are the successful bidder on
You also need to make sure that you have thea tax sale property and that is an affidavit of no
proper funds for payment before you go to the sale.taxes due for the county and/or state that you are
For most tax sales, only certified funds are accepted.purchasing a tax deed from. You see most counties
You need to figure out ahead of time how muchwill not sell a tax deed to someone who has unpaid
money you think that you'll need. This can be a littletaxes in their district. Sometimes a signed affidavit is
difficult because you don't know what properties areall that is necessary, but in some states, as in Texas,
going to be left in the sale and you don't know if youthe county clerk has to sign off on a statement
will be the successful bidder on any of them.verifying the fact that you do not owe any taxes.