Tax lien & tax deed states, ranked
Same underlying data as every state page on this site, just sorted a different way. A high statutory rate on paper isn't the same as a high real-world return — see the notes under each list before assuming the top of a ranking is the best place to bid.
Highest statutory rates
Iowa is the only state on this list with a truly flat, non-negotiable rate — everywhere else with an "up to" figure, that ceiling gets bid down at auction, so the rate you actually win is usually lower. Illinois is a special case: its 18% accrues per six-month period, not per year, so an unredeemed certificate can compound well past what a single-period comparison suggests.
Iowa
24% flat, no bid-down (rotational)
Maryland
8–24%, bid down
Illinois
Up to 18% per 6-month period, bid down
Wyoming
15% + 15% penalty
Florida
Up to 18%, bid down to 0.25%
New Jersey
Up to 18%, premium bidding
District of Columbia
Up to 18%, bid down
Connecticut
18% flat
Ohio
18% flat
New Hampshire
18% flat
Shortest redemption periods
Mixing two different mechanics here on purpose: Delaware and Texas are deed states with a fixed buy-back window (plus a premium if redeemed), while the rest are lien-certificate states with a true redemption period. Faster redemption means faster resolution either way, but what you're actually holding in the meantime is different — see the lien vs. deed breakdown if the distinction isn't clear yet.
Longest redemption periods
A longer redemption window means your money is tied up longer before you know whether the certificate redeems or you can move toward a deed — capital efficiency matters as much as the headline rate.
Lien states vs. deed states
Of the 50 states covered on this site: 30 sell tax lien certificates (you buy the debt, not the property), and 20 sell tax deeds or redeemable deeds (you buy the property, sometimes subject to a buy-back window).
Iowa, Florida, New Jersey, Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming, New York, Louisiana
Texas, Georgia, Vermont, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, Nevada, Michigan, Kansas, Utah, New Mexico, Minnesota, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii, Delaware, Arkansas, Alaska
Rates and redemption periods are set by state statute and can change by county or legislative session — this ranking reflects the same sourced data as each individual state page. Always confirm current numbers against the county's own auction notice before bidding. Not financial or legal advice.