State Foreclosure Law Library

fairfax-va

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Fairfax County, Virginia — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

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

C0. Identity

  • County seat: Fairfax (an independent city under Virginia law; not part of the county)
  • Population: ~1,190,000 (2024 county estimate; most populous locality in Virginia) — source: Fairfax County 2024 Demographics Report
  • Recording unit type: County (Fairfax County is a county recording unit; the City of Fairfax is a separate independent city with its own records)
  • FIPS: 51059
  • Parent legal framework: virginia

C1. Local Tax Sale

  • Conducts own sale? No. Fairfax County does not administer its own real-estate tax sale. The county contracts with Taxing Authority Consulting Services, PC (TACS), which serves as the court-appointed special commissioner and administers the judicial sale process under Va. Code §§ 58.1-3965–58.1-3969. — source: Fairfax County DTA Auction page

  • Platform: Online-only timed auction via For Sale At Auction, Inc. (At Auction, Inc.) at www.forsaleatauction.biz. No GovEase, RealAuction, or Bid4Assets involvement identified. Registration and bidding on the platform are free. — sources: TACS Fairfax 2026 sale page; forsaleatauction.biz auction detail bw161622

  • Sale calendar: Fairfax County holds approximately two sales per year — one in spring (May–June) and one in fall (November). Confirmed dates from retrieved sources:

    • May 31, 2022 (closing) — 26 properties
    • November 15, 2022 (closing) — 14 properties
    • May 28, 2024 (closing) — 17 properties
    • November 18, 2024 (closing) — 5–6 properties
    • June 25, 2026 (closing, 11:00 AM EDT) — 15 properties — NEXT KNOWN SALE

    Auctions are not on a fixed calendar; TACS notifies registered bidders by email approximately 3 weeks before each scheduled sale. “Any unsold property will be offered for sale again at the next auction, whenever that may be.” — sources: TACS 2026 sale; forsaleatauction.biz bw161622; forsaleatauction.biz bw118970; forsaleatauction.biz bw129440

  • Rate within statutory range: Real estate tax rate is 100 of assessed value (Tax Year 2026, per adopted FY 2027 budget). Delinquency triggers a 10% penalty (applied automatically after the due date) plus 1% annual interest on real estate taxes. Real estate taxes are due in two installments: July 28 and December 5. — sources: Fairfax County Tax Rates; Missed due date page

  • Registration & deposit (June 2026 sale):

    • Special Commissioner’s Sales (J-series, judicial): 25% of bid or 20,000 per parcel; plus 5% buyer’s premium (minimum $150). Deposit due within 7 days of auction close (by July 2, 2026). Balance due within 15 days of court confirmation.
    • Delinquent Tax Sales (N-series, non-judicial): Full bid amount due within 7 days; plus 5% buyer’s premium (minimum $150).
    • Payment methods: certified funds, cashier’s check (payable to County of Fairfax), money order, or wire transfer. Cash and personal checks not accepted.
    • Note: buyer’s premium has varied across sales (5% or 10%) — always check the specific sale advertisement. — source: forsaleatauction.biz bw161622

  • Bidder requirements: Bidders may not owe delinquent taxes to Fairfax County, the Town of Herndon, or the Town of Vienna, and may not be a defendant in any pending delinquent tax matter filed by those jurisdictions. — source: TACS 2026 sale

  • Delinquent list location: TACS publishes the initial advertisement of delinquent taxes and proposed judicial sale on taxva.com prior to filing suit. The advertisement lists owner names, tax map numbers, account numbers, district, street address, and lot size. Publication also runs in a local newspaper of general circulation as required by Va. Code § 58.1-3967. Example initial advertisement retrieved: taxva.com/rs-tax-sales/fairfax-county-initial-advertisement-2/. The county’s own auction page links to TACS for current listings: fairfaxcounty.gov/taxes/pay/auction-real-property

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

  • Where/how to redeem locally: The former owner must pay all accumulated taxes, penalties, interest, costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees (including the pro-rata cost of publication) to Fairfax County through TACS before the date of sale. TACS mailing address: P.O. Box 31800, Henrico, VA 23294-1800. — source: TACS initial advertisement

  • Local fees: The 10% penalty and 1% annual interest on real estate taxes (locality-set), plus TACS attorney’s fees and costs added to the redemption payoff per Va. Code § 58.1-3965. — source: Missed due date page

  • Redemption contact:

  • Deviations from state default: None identified. Virginia provides no post-sale redemption right (see virginia); redemption must occur before the auction date. An installment agreement (≤72 months) may be available through the DTA to suspend the sale action per Va. Code § 58.1-3965. (Local installment agreement form or specific DTA procedure — needs_verification.)

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

  • Claim filing venue: Per Va. Code § 58.1-3967, surplus from the judicial tax sale is deposited with the clerk of the circuit court in which the suit was filed. For Fairfax County tax suits, this is the Fairfax Circuit Court Accounting Department, Suite 318, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. Phone: (703) 246-2502. The claimant must petition the circuit court for release of registry funds and bears the burden of scheduling a hearing within the 2-year claim window. — sources: Fairfax Circuit Court Accounting; Va. Code § 58.1-3967

  • Claim form: No Fairfax County-specific surplus claim form was identified on the county’s official websites. The circuit court provides fillable civil forms (fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/circuit/fill-form-instruction) but the retrieved page did not list a specific surplus/excess-proceeds petition form. Claimants should contact the Accounting Department or Civil Division at (703) 691-7320 for current form guidance. (Specific surplus petition form name/number — needs_verification.)

  • Local deadline notes: 2-year deadline from the date of sale confirmation (Va. Code § 58.1-3967). The Fairfax Circuit Court Accounting Department notes a general 31-day withholding period before disbursements to allow orders to be vacated or modified. Fairfax property values are among the highest in Virginia, so surplus amounts can be substantial. — sources: Fairfax Circuit Court Accounting; Va. Code § 58.1-3967

  • Unclaimed-surplus list published: Not identified. The Circuit Court Accounting page directs individuals to check the Virginia Department of the Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Program at vamoneysearch.gov for potentially unclaimed funds, but does not publish a county-specific unclaimed tax-sale surplus list. (Whether Fairfax County publishes a standalone unclaimed tax-sale surplus list — needs_verification.) — source: Fairfax Circuit Court Accounting

  • Unclaimed-surplus list URL: Not found. See vamoneysearch.gov for state unclaimed property (which is a separate program from court-registry surplus).

  • Contact: Fairfax Circuit Court Accounting Department; (703) 246-2502; Suite 318, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030; hours 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Monday–Friday. — source: Fairfax Circuit Court Accounting

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeNameAddressPhoneURL
Dept. of Tax Administration (Treasurer / Tax Collector function)Jay Doshi, Director12000 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 223, Fairfax, VA 22035703-222-8234 (TTY 711)fairfaxcounty.gov/taxes
DTA Collections & Delinquent TaxesGreg Bruch, Division Directorsame as DTA above703-222-8234; email dtarcd@fairfaxcounty.govContact Us
Clerk of Circuit Court (also Land Records & Surplus Registry)Christopher J. Falcon, Clerk4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030(703) 691-7320 (TTY 711)fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit
Circuit Court Accounting Dept. (surplus registry)—Suite 318, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030(703) 246-2502Circuit Court Accounting
Recorder / Register of Deeds (Land Records Division)Christopher J. Falcon, Clerk (same office)Suite 317, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030(703) 691-7320, ext. 3, then 3Land Records
Sheriff (judgment/money lien sales only; not tax sales)—4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030703-246-3227 (TTY 711)Sheriff’s Sales
Special Commissioner / Tax Sale Administrator (TACS)Taxing Authority Consulting Services, PCP.O. Box 31800, Henrico, VA 23294-1800(804) 548-4408; taxsales@taxva.comtaxva.com

Note on Fairfax County’s structure: Fairfax County does not have a separately elected “Treasurer” in the traditional sense for real estate tax collection — the Department of Tax Administration (DTA) performs the assessment and collection functions. The DTA is a county executive agency, not an independently elected office. (Whether Fairfax County has a separately elected Treasurer — needs_verification.)

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • No tax lien certificates: “The Code of Virginia does not authorize the sale of tax lien certificates. Sales only occur at public auction, and the sale conveys title to the property itself.” Fairfax County confirms this on its DTA auction page. — source: DTA auction page

  • Two sale tracks run concurrently: Each Fairfax auction typically includes both (1) Judicial / Special Commissioner’s Sales (J-series): full circuit-court process under Va. Code § 58.1-3967, confirmed by the court, deed conveyed on confirmation; and (2) Non-Judicial / Delinquent Tax Sales (N-series): streamlined track under Va. Code § 58.1-3975 for minimal-value properties, full payment at hammer. — source: forsaleatauction.biz bw161622

  • Buyer’s premium varies: The buyer’s premium on N-series (non-judicial) sales has been 10% (2022 and 2024) or 5% (2026 sale). Always check the specific sale advertisement for the current rate.

  • No cash or personal checks: Payment for J-series deposits and all N-series payments requires certified funds, cashier’s check, money order, or wire transfer.

  • Properties sold “AS IS, WHERE IS, IF IS”: No contingencies; no financing contingencies; binding irrevocable contract upon bid. Failure to complete purchase forfeits deposit plus liquidated damages (2,500 attorney fees and 1,000 auctioneer fees for J-series). — source: forsaleatauction.biz bw161622

  • Sheriff sales are separate from tax sales: The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office conducts sales of seized property to satisfy money judgments (vehicles, etc.), not real-estate tax sales. Those sales are in-person/cash and unrelated to TACS. — source: Sheriff’s Office Sales

  • TACS email notification list: Interested bidders can register for email notification at taxva.com/interested-bidder-form/ and will be notified approximately 3 weeks before each sale.

  • Deviations from state default: None identified beyond operational details above. Fairfax County follows the standard Virginia judicial-sale and minimal-value-sale tracks. (Any local ordinance deviating from the state framework — needs_verification.)

C6. Records Access

ResourceURL
Parcel / assessment search (iCARE)https://icare.fairfaxcounty.gov/ffxcare/search/commonsearch.aspx?mode=address
iCARE map/parcel number searchhttps://icare.fairfaxcounty.gov/ffxcare/search/commonsearch.aspx?mode=parid
Recorder / deed search (CPAN, subscription $150/user)https://ccr.fairfaxcounty.gov/cpan/
GIS / parcel viewer (Jade)https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/geoapps/jade/
Tax payment portal (real estate ePay)https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta_mobileepayre/
TACS tax sale listings & bidder sign-uphttps://taxva.com/real-estate-tax-sales/
Auction platform (forsaleatauction.biz)https://www.forsaleatauction.biz/
Virginia unclaimed property (state program)https://www.vamoneysearch.gov/

Note: The CPAN (Court Public Access Network) provides subscription access ($150/user, billed quarterly) to land records, judgment documents, civil/criminal case information, and other Circuit Court records from 1742 to present. — source: Fairfax Circuit Court CPAN

C7. Meta

sources:

needs_verification:

  • Whether Fairfax County has a separately elected Treasurer (vs. the DTA being the sole collecting authority); research suggests DTA performs treasurer functions but could not confirm the constitutional/charter structure from retrieved pages.
  • Specific surplus petition form name or number at Fairfax Circuit Court (no form was identified on the circuit court’s fillable-forms page; claimants should call (703) 691-7320 or (703) 246-2502 for current guidance).
  • Whether Fairfax County publishes a standalone unclaimed tax-sale surplus list; the Accounting page only directs to vamoneysearch.gov (state unclaimed property program), which is distinct from court-registry tax-sale surplus.
  • Local installment agreement form and specific DTA procedure for suspending a judicial tax sale under Va. Code § 58.1-3965 (72-month maximum).
  • Any local ordinance or administrative rule deviating from the standard state judicial-sale framework (none found; Fairfax County appears to follow state defaults).
  • Whether TACS buyer’s premium for N-series sales will remain 5% (2026) or revert to 10% (2022/2024 rate) in future sales — always check current advertisement.
  • Exact TACS auctioneer contact phone (has varied across retrieved pages: (540) 899-1776, (804) 229-9271, (804) 545-2377 — best confirmed via taxva.com or the specific sale advertisement).

cross_links: virginia, surplus-funds, right-of-redemption, third-party-recovery-rules, treasurer-sale, due-process-notice, mckeithen-v-city-of-richmond, tyler-v-hennepin-county, heirs-property, independent-city-recording, federal-tax-lien-redemption, bankruptcy-automatic-stay

changelog:

  • 2026-06-02 — Initial population. Primary sources retrieved: Fairfax County DTA auction page, DTA contact/tax-rate pages, Circuit Court main/accounting/land-records pages, TACS sale pages (2022/2024/2026), forsaleatauction.biz auction detail pages (bw79678, bw118970, bw129440, bw161622), TACS initial advertisement, Fairfax demographics page. Statutes: Va. Code §§ 58.1-3965, 58.1-3967, 58.1-3975 (via parent page).

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes Fairfax County, Virginia local procedure from the cited primary sources as of the last_verified date. Sale calendars, deposit terms, office personnel, and contact details change frequently; always verify against the current TACS sale advertisement, the Fairfax County DTA website, and the Fairfax Circuit Court before acting. The legal framework governing redemption rights, surplus entitlement, and sale procedure is described on the parent page virginia and the cited statutes. Consult a licensed Virginia attorney before acting. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

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