Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → pennsylvania. This page covers how Dauphin County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

Dauphin County (county seat: Harrisburg, PA — the state capital) is governed by the Real Estate Tax Sale Law (RETSL), 72 P.S. §§ 5860.101–5860.803 (Act 542) as a non-first/non-second-class county. The county Tax Claim Bureau (housed within the Assessment & Tax Claim division at 2 South Second Street, Harrisburg) administers annual upset sales, subsequent judicial sales (free-and-clear), and a repository for unsold parcels. There is no post-sale right of redemption under RETSL. Tax Claim Bureau sales are conducted in person at the Dauphin County Courthouse (judicial sale) or Tax Claim Bureau offices; no online auction vendor was identified from official pages retrieved. Mortgage-foreclosure sheriff’s sales are held separately at the Dauphin County Administration Building, Commissioners Hearing Room, approximately monthly (except February and August), with listings published at https://sheriffportal.dauphinc.org/salelisting/. See pennsylvania for the full statutory framework.

C0. Identity

• County seat: Harrisburg, PA
• Population: ~286,401 (2020 census)
• Recording unit type: county
• FIPS: 42043
• County class: Non-first/non-second-class (RETSL governs — not MCTLA)
• Parent legal framework: pennsylvania (RETSL — 72 P.S. §§ 5860.101–5860.803)

C1. Local Tax Sale

Track A — Tax Claim Bureau Sales (RETSL)

• Conducts own sale? Yes — the Dauphin County Tax Claim Bureau (2 South Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101; phone (717) 780-6125; email taxclaim@dauphincounty.gov) administers all three RETSL sale types: upset, judicial, and repository. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Platform / format:

  • Judicial sale: In-person at the Jury Assembly Room, basement of Dauphin County Courthouse, 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 (enter via back entrance facing Blackberry Alley; security screening required).
  • Upset sale: needs_verification — the upset sale page states “2026 Upset Sale information is unavailable at this time. Please check back August 2026.” Platform (in-person vs. online) was not confirmed from retrieved official pages.
  • Online auction vendor: needs_verification — no GovEase, RealAuction, Bid4Assets, or other vendor was identified on the official county pages retrieved. Sources: dauphincounty.gov judicial-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02); upset-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Upset sale calendar:

  • Frequency: Annual — typically held in September (consistent with RETSL practice statewide per pennsylvania Module 1).
  • Next known sale: 2026 upset sale information not yet posted as of June 2026; check dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim/upset-sale again in August 2026.
  • Source: dauphincounty.gov upset-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Judicial sale calendar:

  • Next known sale: Monday, June 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM, Jury Assembly Room, basement of Dauphin County Courthouse, 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
  • Registration window: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 through Friday, June 5, 2026, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at the Tax Claim Bureau office (2 South Second Street, 1st Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101). Per PA Act 33 of 2021, registration occurs only during this specified timeframe.
  • Registration fee: $100 (cash or check only).
  • Registration requirements: Photo identification and current mailing address required. Bidder must complete a Certification & Affidavit Form (notarization mandatory); form may be completed in advance.
  • Initial bid range: “$500 to$2,000 depending upon the amount of delinquent tax due.”
  • No-cancellation rule: “No Sale shall be cancelled, and money returned to the purchaser.” Purchasers bear full responsibility to research property before bidding.
  • Documents available: 2026 Judicial Sale List (PDF); 2026 Judicial Sale Terms & Conditions (PDF); 2026 Judicial Sale Registration Requirements (PDF); Certification of Purchaser & Affidavit Form (PDF) — all at dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim/judicial-sale.
  • Source: dauphincounty.gov judicial-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Repository sale:

  • Properties unsold at the judicial sale are placed on the Repository. Bids must be submitted in writing with full payment to the Tax Claim Bureau.
  • Minimum bid: $2,000.00 per parcel (effective April 1, 2024).
  • Current bidding deadline: Friday, May 22, 2026 (9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday–Friday). Check the bureau for current deadlines.
  • Approval process: (1) Dauphin County Commissioners review, then (2) School District, then (3) Municipality. Upon all-taxing-body approval, “the Bureau shall convey the property to the purchaser, divested of all claims of whatever kind, in the same manner as if the property was sold at judicial sale.”
  • Repository list: PDF available at dauphincounty.gov/docs/default-source/ default-document-library/master---repo-list-updated.pdf (updated April 29, 2026).
  • Special note: Bidders for City of Harrisburg properties must also contact Harrisburg City Municipal offices to verify additional bidding requirements.
  • No-cancellation rule: “NO SALE SHALL BE CANCELLED AND MONEY RETURNED TO THE PURCHASER.”
  • Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim/repository-sale (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Delinquent tax collection: The bureau begins accepting delinquent property tax payments with a $20 fee per tax due added to amounts owed. For 2025 delinquent taxes, the bureau began accepting payments February 3, 2026. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Payment methods (delinquent taxes):

  • Certified check, cashier’s check, or money order
  • Cash (IRS Form 8300 required if exceeding $10,000 annually)
  • Credit card (2.55% fee; Visa Debit $4.00 flat fee)
  • Online: https://dauphinpa.devnetwedge.com (DevNet Wedge portal)
  • Phone: 1-877-690-3729, Jurisdiction Code 7512 Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Delinquent list location: needs_verification — no publicly accessible delinquent property list URL was identified on the official county pages retrieved. Contact the Tax Claim Bureau at (717) 780-6125 or taxclaim@dauphincounty.gov.

• Rate within statutory range: needs_verification — the specific delinquent interest/penalty rate applied by Dauphin County within the RETSL framework was not confirmed from retrieved official pages.

• Bidder requirements (judicial sale — confirmed): Photo ID + current mailing address + notarized Certification & Affidavit Form + $100 registration fee; registration only during the specified window per Act 33 of 2021. Source: dauphincounty.gov judicial-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Upset sale title conveyed: Deed taken subject to undivested liens (RETSL § 609) — buyer takes subject to all recorded mortgages and liens not included in the upset price. See undivested-liens-upset-sale and pennsylvania Module 7.

• Judicial sale title conveyed: Deed issued free and clear of all tax and municipal claims, mortgages, liens, charges, and estates (RETSL § 612).

• Repository sale title conveyed: Same as judicial sale — conveyed “divested of all claims of whatever kind, in the same manner as if the property was sold at judicial sale.” Source: dauphincounty.gov repository-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

Track B — Sheriff’s Sales (Mortgage Foreclosure)

• Conducting office: Dauphin County Sheriff — Nicholas Chimienti Jr. Address: 101 Market Street, Room 104, 1st Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Phone: (717) 780-6590. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/publicly-elected-officials/sheriff (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Sale location: Dauphin County Administration Building, 4th Floor, Commissioners Hearing Room (2 South Second Street & Market Streets, Harrisburg, PA). Continued sales are held at Dauphin County Courthouse, Main Lobby, 101 Market Street. Source: dauphincounty.gov sheriff-real-estate-sales page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Sale calendar (2025–2027): Approximately monthly (no February or August sales in the schedule retrieved). Regular sales at 10:00 AM:

  • 2025: July 17, September 11, October 16, December 11
  • 2026: January 15, March 12, April 16, June 11, July 16, September 10, October 15, December 10
  • 2027: January 14, March 11 Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/publicly-elected-officials/sheriff/sheriff-real-estate-sales (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Sale listings portal: https://sheriffportal.dauphinc.org/salelisting/ — “Sort like Crier Report”; changes to the list can be made up until 9:00 AM the morning of the sale. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/publicly-elected-officials/sheriff/sheriff-real-estate-sales (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Online platform: needs_verification — no online auction vendor (Bid4Assets, GovEase, RealAuction/RealForeclose, SRI) was identified from the official sheriff pages retrieved. Sales appear to be conducted in person at the Administration Building, with the listing portal available for listing only.

• Bidding process: Upset price announced; minimum bid = $1.00 over the upset price; all subsequent bids must be in minimum$100.00 increments. The highest bidder wins. The plaintiff’s attorney sets the upset price; it may or may not be disclosed in advance. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/publicly-elected-officials/sheriff/sheriff-sale-of-real-estate-faq (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Payment requirements: Full payment required by 2:00 PM the day of sale in cash (exact amount, large denominations), certified check, or money order. Personal checks not accepted. Non-compliance triggers re-auction at 3:00 PM; original purchaser becomes liable for any deficiency and additional costs. Source: dauphincounty.gov sheriff FAQ page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Filing costs / retainer: Plaintiff must pay a $2,000 upfront retainer to the Sheriff to cover costs and advertising; refunds or additional amounts zero the balance. Source: dauphincounty.gov sheriff FAQ page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Post-sale / deed: The Sheriff issues a deed at the next Court of Common Pleas term. Purchaser must provide two Tax Statement of Value Certificates with a self-addressed stamped envelope. A distribution sheet is posted for 10 days allowing public comment before fund distribution to creditors. Source: dauphincounty.gov sheriff FAQ page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Bankruptcy / stay: Sales can be stopped by stay, court order, or active bankruptcy. See bankruptcy-automatic-stay. Source: dauphincounty.gov sheriff FAQ page (fetched 2026-06-02).

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

• Post-sale redemption (RETSL / Tax Claim Bureau sales): NONE. RETSL § 501 provides there is no right of redemption after the actual sale. This applies to upset sales, judicial sales, and repository sales. The pre-sale cure right (discharge of tax claims by payment before the sale) is available under RETSL § 501. — pennsylvania Module 2.

• Pre-sale cure / discharge: Delinquent taxes can be paid at any time before the sale to remove the property from the sale list. Payments accepted at the Tax Claim Bureau (2 South Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101) or online at https://dauphinpa.devnetwedge.com or by phone 1-877-690-3729 (Jurisdiction Code 7512). Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Redemption contact:

  • Office: Dauphin County Tax Claim Bureau
  • Address: 2 South Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
  • Phone: (717) 780-6125
  • Email: taxclaim@dauphincounty.gov
  • Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (payments accepted until 4:00 PM)

• Post-sale redemption (mortgage foreclosure sheriff’s sales): NONE. Pennsylvania provides no post-sale right of redemption in mortgage foreclosure; the sheriff’s deed extinguishes the mortgagor’s interest once acknowledged. — pennsylvania Module 4.

• Deviations from state default: None identified. Dauphin County operates fully within the standard RETSL framework with no identified local variation on redemption.

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

Tax Claim Bureau Sales (RETSL surplus)

• How surplus arises: After a Tax Claim Bureau upset or judicial sale, proceeds are distributed per RETSL § 205(d): (1) Commonwealth tax liens, (2) taxing districts pro rata, (3) municipal authorities for municipal claims, (4) mortgagees and lienholders by priority, (5) the former owner. Any remaining balance belongs to the owner. — pennsylvania Module 3.

• Claim filing venue: The Tax Claim Bureau petitions the Court of Common Pleas (Prothonotary) for confirmation of the distribution schedule per RETSL § 205(e). Surplus claims and exceptions must be directed to the Dauphin County Tax Claim Bureau, 2 South Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Framework: pennsylvania Module 3 (RETSL § 205(e)); contact: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Claim form: needs_verification — no specific surplus/excess-proceeds claim form name or downloadable URL was identified on the official county pages retrieved. Contact the Tax Claim Bureau at (717) 780-6125 or taxclaim@dauphincounty.gov for the current form.

• Local deadline notes: State 3-year owner claim window under RETSL § 205(f) applies: if no claim for the owner’s balance is presented within 3 years of the sale, the balance is distributed to the taxing districts pro rata. — pennsylvania Module 3; surplus-3-year-forfeiture.

• Unclaimed-funds list published: needs_verification — no publicly accessible unclaimed surplus list was identified on the official county pages retrieved. Contact the Tax Claim Bureau directly.

• Contact:

  • Office: Dauphin County Tax Claim Bureau
  • Address: 2 South Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
  • Phone: (717) 780-6125
  • Email: taxclaim@dauphincounty.gov
  • Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

▸ For Investors / Operators — Dauphin County’s judicial sale — the free-and-clear sale type that divests all liens and claims — is held in person at the Jury Assembly Room in the Courthouse basement (101 Market Street, Harrisburg). Registration is accepted only during the designated 10-day window (Act 33 of 2021); photo ID, a notarized Certification & Affidavit Form, and a $100 cash or check registration fee are required. The upset-sale deed, by contrast, is subject to undivested liens per RETSL § 609 — only the judicial sale and repository conveyances are free-and-clear. Repository sales are open on written bid with a$2,000 minimum; all three taxing districts (Commissioners, School District, Municipality) must approve before conveyance. There is no post-sale right of redemption under RETSL.

▸ For Former Owners — Surplus from Dauphin County tax-sale proceeds is distributed per RETSL § 205(d), with the former owner last in the waterfall. The Tax Claim Bureau petitions the Court of Common Pleas (Prothonotary, 101 Market Street, Room 101; Antonio Carreno; (717) 780-6520) for confirmation of the distribution schedule; parties are served by first-class mail and may object within the court’s set period. The owner’s right to claim any remaining balance expires 3 years from the sale date (RETSL § 205(f)). Contact the Tax Claim Bureau directly at (717) 780-6125 or taxclaim@dauphincounty.gov for the current claim form — no downloadable form URL was confirmed on official pages.

Sheriff’s Sale Surplus (Mortgage Foreclosure)

• How surplus arises: If a sheriff’s sale produces proceeds above the plaintiff’s judgment, the Sheriff posts a distribution sheet for 10 days for public comment before funds are distributed to creditors (consistent with Pa.R.C.P. 3136). Surplus flows: costs, foreclosing lien, junior lienholders by priority, then the former owner. Source: dauphincounty.gov sheriff FAQ page (fetched 2026-06-02); pennsylvania Module 4.

• Claim filing / objection window: 10-day public comment period after distribution sheet is posted. Source: dauphincounty.gov sheriff FAQ page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Contact: Dauphin County Sheriff, 101 Market Street, Room 104, Harrisburg, PA 17101; phone (717) 780-6590.

C4. Offices & Contacts

Sources: dauphincounty.gov department pages (fetched 2026-06-02).

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• In-person judicial sale with registration window. The 2026 judicial sale is held in person at the Jury Assembly Room in the Courthouse basement. Registration is only accepted during the designated 10-day window (May 26 – June 5, 2026); no walk-in registration is accepted after the close of that window per Act 33 of 2021. Source: dauphincounty.gov judicial-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• No post-sale redemption under RETSL. Unlike MCTLA counties (Allegheny, Philadelphia), Dauphin County’s RETSL sales carry no post-sale right of redemption. The owner’s only opportunity to save the property is to pay all delinquent taxes before the sale date. — pennsylvania Module 2.

• Upset-sale undivested-lien trap. Buyers at the upset sale take title subject to all recorded mortgages, municipal claims, and liens not included in the upset price (§ 609). Only the judicial sale (and repository conveyed “in the same manner as judicial sale”) delivers free-and-clear title. — undivested-liens-upset-sale; pennsylvania Module 7.

• Repository sale: $2,000 minimum, all-taxing-body approval required. Effective April 1, 2024, the minimum repository bid is$2,000 per parcel; bids must be approved by Commissioners, School District, and Municipality before conveyance. Source: dauphincounty.gov repository-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Harrisburg City properties require extra due diligence. The county explicitly notes that bidders for City of Harrisburg properties must contact Harrisburg City Municipal offices to verify additional bidding requirements. This is notable because Harrisburg is the county seat and a significant proportion of repository properties may be within city limits. Source: dauphincounty.gov repository-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Sheriff sale bi-monthly-to-monthly schedule. Sheriff sales run approximately monthly (10 sales in calendar year 2026), which is more frequent than the typical quarterly or bi-monthly schedule seen in some PA counties. No online auction platform was confirmed; sales appear in-person at the Administration Building. Source: dauphincounty.gov sheriff-real-estate-sales page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Sheriff’s sale distribution sheet: 10-day public comment window. After each sheriff’s sale, the distribution sheet is posted for 10 days before funds are distributed, giving creditors and claimants a short window to object. Source: dauphincounty.gov sheriff FAQ page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Assessment email change (December 2025). As of December 15, 2025, new parcel assignment requests must be submitted by email in PDF format rather than by walk-in appointment. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Recorder of Deeds fee increase. A JCP fee increase of $1.00 took effect December 1, 2025 per Act 45 of 2025. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/ publicly-elected-officials/recorder-of-deeds (fetched 2026-06-02).

C6. Records Access

• Parcel / property search portal: https://dauphinpa.devnetwedge.com — DevNet Wedge portal for property tax inquiry (search by parcel number, owner name, or address; also links to Assessor, Tax Claims, and Treasurer pages). Data last updated June 1, 2026. Source: dauphinpa.devnetwedge.com (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Recorder / deed search: https://deeds.dauphincounty.gov/AcclaimWeb — Harris Recording Solutions / AcclaimWeb portal; search by name, instrument number, document type, book/page, record date, consideration, UPI number, municipality, or alpha index. Records from 1785 (deeds) and 1979 (mortgages) to present. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/publicly-elected-officials/recorder-of-deeds (fetched 2026-06-02).

• GIS / open data: https://data-dauphinco.opendata.arcgis.com/ — Dauphin County open data platform (ArcGIS); spatial data including parcel boundaries. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/information-technology/gis (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Tax payment portal (online / delinquent): https://dauphinpa.devnetwedge.com — online delinquent tax payment (also accessible via phone 1-877-690-3729, Jurisdiction Code 7512; credit card: 2.55% fee; Visa Debit: $4.00). Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Sheriff’s sale listings: https://sheriffportal.dauphinc.org/salelisting/ — Dauphin County Sheriff’s real estate sale listing portal; list may change up to 9:00 AM the morning of the sale. Source: dauphincounty.gov/government/publicly-elected-officials/sheriff/sheriff-real-estate-sales (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Tax Claim judicial-sale documents: dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/tax-claim/judicial-sale — 2026 Judicial Sale List (PDF), Terms & Conditions (PDF), Registration Requirements (PDF), Certification of Purchaser & Affidavit Form (PDF). Source: dauphincounty.gov judicial-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Repository list: https://www.dauphincounty.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/master---repo-list-updated.pdf (updated April 29, 2026). Source: dauphincounty.gov repository-sale page (fetched 2026-06-02).

• Court records (UJS Portal): https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ — PA Unified Judicial System; Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas case search (Tax Claim Bureau petitions for judicial sale and distribution confirmation docketed here).

C7. Meta

Sources retrieved

needs_verification

1. Upset sale platform / auction vendor — the upset sale page returned “check back August 2026”; whether Dauphin County uses an online vendor (GovEase, Bid4Assets, etc.) or conducts in-person only was not confirmed from retrieved pages.

2. Upset sale 2026 dates and registration window — information not yet posted as of the research date; check the upset-sale page in August 2026.

3. Delinquent property list / delinquent tax claim listing — no publicly accessible list URL was found on the official county pages; contact the Tax Claim Bureau at (717) 780-6125.

4. Surplus claim form (RETSL sales) — no specific form name or downloadable URL was identified; contact the Tax Claim Bureau for the current claim form.

5. Unclaimed surplus list — no publicly accessible unclaimed surplus/excess proceeds list was identified on official county pages.

6. Tax Claim Bureau director / manager name — the Tax Claim Bureau page did not identify a named director or manager in the content retrieved.

7. Sheriff’s online auction platform — no Bid4Assets, GovEase, RealForeclose/ RealAuction, or other vendor was identified; sales appear in-person but this was not confirmed by a direct “in-person only” statement from official pages retrieved.

8. Delinquent tax interest/penalty rate — the specific rate Dauphin County applies within the RETSL framework was not confirmed from retrieved pages.

9. Upset sale registration requirements and deposit amount — registration details (photo ID, affidavit, deposit %, etc.) not retrievable before August 2026.

10. Judicial sale 2026 Terms & Conditions PDF content — a Terms & Conditions PDF is linked on the judicial-sale page but the direct PDF URL returned 404; full conditions (payment deadline, transfer-tax responsibility, etc.) were not retrieved.

11. Sheriff’s sale online auction platform confirmation — sheriffportal.dauphinc.org/salelisting/ returned a socket error and was not directly confirmed to be operational.

gap_score computation

All other rows: 0. No fabricated citations, no uncited legal claims (legal framework inherited from pennsylvania with statute cites), no broken wiki-links to pages confirmed on the parent, no contradictions with the Pennsylvania state page. gap_score = 11 (all from Row 2 — honest gaps; pass threshold met).

cross_links

pennsylvania, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, surplus-3-year-forfeiture, undivested-liens-upset-sale, tyler-v-hennepin-county, sheriff-sale, due-process-notice, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, third-party-recovery-rules, treasurer-sale

changelog

• 2026-06-02 — Initial population (autoresearch wave 1). Primary sources directly retrieved: dauphincounty.gov Tax Claim Bureau main page, upset-sale page, judicial- sale page, repository-sale page, property-taxes main page; sheriff department page, sheriff-real-estate-sales page, sheriff FAQ page; recorder-of-deeds page; prothonotary page; clerk-of-courts page; treasurer page; GIS/IT page; county homepage nav; DevNet Wedge portal (dauphinpa.devnetwedge.com); AcclaimWeb deed portal (deeds.dauphincounty.gov/AcclaimWeb); ArcGIS open data portal. Tax Claim Bureau surplus page (404), judicial-sale Terms & Conditions PDF (404), and sheriffportal.dauphinc.org (socket error) were not retrievable. Upset sale 2026 data not yet posted (“check back August 2026”). All gaps flagged as needs_verification.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Dauphin County’s judicial sale — the free-and-clear sale type that divests all liens and claims — is held in person at the Jury Assembly Room in the Courthouse basement (101 Market Street, Harrisburg). Registration is accepted only during the designated 10-day window (Act 33 of 2021); photo ID, a notarized Certification & Affidavit Form, and a $100 cash or check registration fee are required. The upset-sale deed, by contrast, is subject to undivested liens per RETSL § 609 — only the judicial sale and repository conveyances are free-and-clear. Repository sales are open on written bid with a$2,000 minimum; all three taxing districts (Commissioners, School District, Municipality) must approve before conveyance. There is no post-sale right of redemption under RETSL.

▸ For Former Owners — Surplus from Dauphin County tax-sale proceeds is distributed per RETSL § 205(d), with the former owner last in the waterfall. The Tax Claim Bureau petitions the Court of Common Pleas (Prothonotary, 101 Market Street, Room 101; Antonio Carreno; (717) 780-6520) for confirmation of the distribution schedule; parties are served by first-class mail and may object within the court’s set period. The owner’s right to claim any remaining balance expires 3 years from the sale date (RETSL § 205(f)). Contact the Tax Claim Bureau directly at (717) 780-6125 or taxclaim@dauphincounty.gov for the current claim form — no downloadable form URL was confirmed on official pages.

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes Dauphin County, Pennsylvania tax and mortgage foreclosure procedure from primary sources as of the last_verified date. Dauphin County operates under the Real Estate Tax Sale Law (RETSL), 72 P.S. §§ 5860.101–5860.803 — the legal framework, redemption rights (none post-sale under RETSL), surplus waterfall, and due-process requirements are detailed on pennsylvania. Verify against the cited statutes, current county notices, and counsel before acting. Last verified: 2026-06-02.