Passaic County, New Jersey — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law, the post-P.L.-2024-c.39 reform) lives on the parent page → new-jersey. This page covers how Passaic County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

Critical jurisdictional note — NJ sales are MUNICIPAL, not county. Under New Jersey law, all 16 Passaic County municipalities conduct their own independent tax-lien-certificate (TSC) sales — there is no county-level tax sale aggregator or consolidated platform. Passaic County itself does not hold tax sales. The Passaic County Sheriff conducts mortgage foreclosure (and post-P.L.-2024-c.39 judicial/Internet tax-cert) sales, which are a distinct proceeding from the municipal tax-lien sales. Surplus from sheriff sales is deposited with the NJ Superior Court Trust Fund and held by the Superior Court Clerk. See C1 and C3 for full detail.

C0. Identity

• County seat: Paterson, NJ 07505
• Population: 524,118 (2020 Census)
• Recording unit: county — deeds, mortgages, and TSCs recorded at the Passaic County Clerk’s Office (Registry Division), 401 Grand St, Room 113, Paterson, NJ 07505 · phone 973-881-4777 (NETR Online — Passaic County)
• FIPS: 34031
• Number of municipalities: 16 (Bloomingdale, Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne, West Milford, Woodland Park, Pequannock) (Passaic County — Municipalities)
• Parent legal framework: new-jersey

C1. Local Tax Sale

Municipal — not county — sales. All 16 Passaic County municipalities independently schedule and conduct at least one annual tax-lien-certificate sale, as required by N.J.S.A. 54:5-19. There is no county-wide tax sale platform or consolidated bidding portal. Investors must monitor each municipality separately. (NJ DLGS — Elements of Tax Sales)

• Conducts own county-level sale? No. TSC sales are conducted by each of Passaic County’s 16 municipal tax collectors. The county’s role is limited to recording TSCs and sheriff’s deeds at the County Clerk (Registry Division).

• Platform (examples retrieved from official municipal sources):

  • City of Clifton: Online auction at clifton.newjerseytaxsale.com (the newjerseytaxsale.com subdomain platform, operated by RealAuction). 2025 sale date: October 16, 2025. Interested participants register online at the subdomain and preview sale items in advance. (Clifton — Tax Collector)
  • City of Passaic: Posts annual tax sale notice on the city website (2025 notice: Tax Sale Ad PDF). Online payment portal for taxes: wipp.edmundsassoc.com/Wipp/?wippid=1607. Tax Collector: Sean Nolan, 330 Passaic Street, Passaic NJ 07055, 973-365-5530. (Passaic — Tax Collector)
  • City of Paterson: Upcoming online tax lien auction scheduled December 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Tax Collector: Linda Broncano, 155 Market Street, Paterson NJ 07505, 973-321-1300, lbroncano@patersonnj.gov. (TaxSaleResources — Paterson)
  • Wayne Township: Tax Collector: Beth Territo, 475 Valley Road, Wayne NJ 07470, 973-694-1800 x3324. Platform needs_verification (not retrieved from primary Wayne source). (TaxSaleResources — Wayne)
  • Other municipalities: contact the individual municipal tax collector. needs_verification (specific platform/dates for remaining 12 municipalities not retrieved from official primary sources).

• Sale calendar: At minimum one annual sale per municipality, typically held in the fall/winter (October–December) for the current/prior year’s delinquencies. Paterson December, Clifton October confirmed from retrieved sources. (NJ DLGS)

• Bidding method: Bid-down interest (from 18% statutory max) then premium, per N.J.S.A. 54:5-32. See new-jersey § 1 for full mechanics.

• Registration & deposit: Varies by municipality. For online newjerseytaxsale.com sales (e.g., Clifton), bidders register at the municipal subdomain and pay upon winning; deposit/payment terms are set per sale notice. For in-person sales, municipal tax collectors typically require payment immediately after the sale. needs_verification (specific deposit requirements for each municipality not retrieved against primary sources.)

• Delinquent list location: Each municipality publishes its own delinquent list. Clifton and Passaic post sale notices on their official city websites. Paterson’s notice is published on the Paterson NJ government site.

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

• Where to redeem: Redemption is made through the municipal tax collector for the municipality where the property is located. Each of the 16 municipal tax collectors maintains the redemption records. For example:

  • City of Passaic: Sean Nolan, 330 Passaic Street, Passaic NJ 07055; form: Lien Redemption Request Form (Passaic — Tax Collector)
  • City of Paterson: Linda Broncano, 155 Market Street, Paterson NJ 07505, 973-321-1300 (TaxSaleResources)
  • City of Clifton: Sanjana Parab, 900 Clifton Avenue, Clifton NJ 07013, 973-470-5830 (Clifton — Tax Collector)
  • Wayne Township: Beth Territo, 475 Valley Road, Wayne NJ 07470, 973-694-1800 x3324 (TaxSaleResources)

• Local fees: The tax collector must provide two free redemption calculations per calendar year; each subsequent calculation costs $50 (N.J.S.A. 54:5-54). City of Passaic also charges $25 per mailing of delinquency notices, payable upon redemption. (Passaic — Tax Collector)

• Deviations from state default: No county-level deviations identified; individual municipalities follow NJ Tax Sale Law (N.J.S.A. 54:5-1 et seq.). Once a foreclosure is filed, redemption requires intervention in the Superior Court action — see new-jersey § 2 and Simon v. Cronecker, 189 N.J. 304.

• Redemption contact: Each municipality’s tax collector office (see above).

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

Post-P.L. 2024, c.39 reform context. Under the pre-July-10-2024 law, the TSC holder kept all equity; that regime was held unconstitutional in 257-261 20th Avenue Realty v. Roberto, 259 N.J. 417 (2025), and the Legislature created surplus rights in P.L. 2024, c.39 (new N.J.S.A. 54:5-98.1/98.2). See new-jersey § 3 for the full statewide framework.

• For sheriff’s sale surplus (mortgage foreclosure and post-reform judicial/Internet tax-cert sales):

  • Claim filing venue: The sheriff deposits surplus funds with the Superior Court Clerk for Passaic County (Vicinage 7), located at the Passaic County Courthouse, 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505, phone 973-653-2910. (NJ Courts — Passaic Vicinage)
  • Parties named in the foreclosure judgment file their surplus application directly with the NJ Office of Foreclosure (statewide, Trenton). Non-parties file a motion in the Chancery Division (General Equity) at Passaic County, ext. 24250 (via the Civil Division main line 973-653-2910). (NJ Courts — Passaic Offices; Metrick Esq. — Surplus Funds NJ)
  • Claim form: No single dedicated Passaic County form; claimants file a motion with a supporting Affidavit / Certification per NJ Court Rules 4:64-3 and 4:57-2, attaching: identity info, relationship to foreclosure, computation of amounts, and a copy of the Writ of Execution. (Metrick Esq.; Stark & Stark)
  • Claim deadline: Claimants typically have up to 10 years from the foreclosure sale date (general New Jersey limitations period for these claims). Acting promptly is strongly advised. (Metrick Esq.)
  • Demand to convert to a sale (post-P.L. 2024 c.39): Must be filed before entry of final judgment in the Superior Court via NJ Courts e-filing. (P.L. 2024, c.39 / new-jersey § 3)

• Unclaimed surplus list: Surplus funds deposited with the Superior Court Trust Fund are subject to escheat under NJ’s Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. needs_verification (Passaic-specific unclaimed surplus list URL not found at a primary official source; contact the Passaic vicinage Civil Division 973-653-2910 to inquire.)

• Contact for surplus claims: Passaic Superior Court Civil Division, General Equity, 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson NJ 07505, 973-653-2910 ext. 24250. (NJ Courts — Passaic Offices)

▸ For Investors / Operators — All tax-lien-certificate sales in Passaic County are municipal, not county-wide — each of the 16 municipalities holds its own independent sale (Clifton on newjerseytaxsale.com/RealAuction, Paterson and Passaic City post separate notices). The Passaic County Sheriff conducts mortgage-foreclosure sheriff’s sales weekly on Tuesdays via CivilView (salesweb.civilview.com, countyId=17), with a 20% deposit for general public bidders (3.5% for Community Wealth Preservation Program–eligible buyers under N.J. A5664). TSC recording must occur at the County Clerk’s Registry Division, 401 Grand St, Room 113, Paterson, within ~90 days of the sale.

▸ For Former Owners — Sheriff’s-sale surplus (from mortgage foreclosures and post-P.L. 2024, c.39 judicial/Internet tax-cert sales) is deposited with the Superior Court Clerk for Passaic County (Vicinage 7), 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505, (973) 653-2910. Named parties in the foreclosure judgment file through the NJ Office of Foreclosure; non-parties file a motion in the Chancery Division, General Equity (ext. 24250). Claimants typically have up to 10 years from the sale date under the general NJ limitations period. Under P.L. 2024, c.39, a former owner may demand conversion to a sheriff’s sale before entry of final judgment to preserve equity.

C4. Offices & Contacts

Selected municipal tax collectors (examples):

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• Municipal tax-lien structure: All 16 municipalities hold independent TSC sales; no county-wide platform or single aggregation point. Monitor each municipality separately. (NJ DLGS)

• Sheriff sale platform: Passaic County Sheriff uses salesweb.civilview.com (CivilView) for the mortgage foreclosure sale listing; sales are held weekly on Tuesdays (confirmed from live listing showing June 2–16, 2026 dates). As of June 2, 2026, 97 active listings. (Passaic County Sheriff Sale — CivilView)

• Sheriff sale pre-registration cutoff: Defendant adjournments and third-party bidder registrations no longer accepted after 2:00 PM on Tuesdays (day of sale). Pre-Registration Bidder Forms are submitted to the Sheriff’s Civil Process Unit at 77 Hamilton Street by the day before the sale (by 2:00 PM); fax: 973-881-4241. (CivilView; pcsheriff.org)

• Sheriff sale deposit: General public bidders must deposit 20% of the purchase price. Under the NJ Community Wealth Preservation Program (N.J. A5664, eff. January 12, 2024), eligible buyers (foreclosed-upon defendant, next of kin, tenant, qualifying nonprofit, or 84-month residency committed buyer) pay a reduced 3.5% deposit of the original upset price (certified/official bank check or money order). (Search result from pcsheriff.org — Community Wealth Preservation Program notice; needs_verification against primary PDF text which was binary-only.)

• Notice for sheriff sale advertising: Published in at least two newspapers in Passaic County at least once per week for at least four weeks before the sale; also posted on the property and at the Sheriff’s Office at least three weeks before the sale. (Metrick Esq.)

• TSC recording deadline: Winning buyer must record the TSC at the County Clerk’s Registry Division within ~90 days of the sale. (NJ DLGS)

• Post-reform (P.L. 2024, c.39) judicial/Internet sales: When a former owner demands conversion to a sheriff’s sale or Internet auction to preserve equity (new N.J.S.A. 54:5-98.1/98.2), the Passaic County Sheriff conducts the sale; surplus deposited with the Superior Court Clerk. (P.L. 2024, c.39)

• County Clerk satellite offices (2025–2026): Clifton Satellite: 900 Clifton Ave, Clifton (Mon/Wed 9 AM–1 PM). Haskell/Wanaque Satellite: 1237 Ringwood Ave, Haskell NJ 07420 (Tue/Thu 9 AM–1 PM). Main counter extended hours: Wed to 7:00 PM (Recording Division only). (Search results from passaiccountynj.org — multiple pages)

C6. Records Access

• Parcel search / block-lot lookup (state): NJ Property Explorer (ArcGIS) — official NJ state tool showing owner, block/lot, assessed value, taxes, and property classification for all Passaic County parcels. (NJ Transparency — Property)

• Recorder / deed search (county): PRESS Portal — Passaic County Clerk — Public Records Electronic Search System; searchable by name, block/lot, municipality, document type (deeds, mortgages, liens, TSCs, foreclosure docs), and instrument number. (Retrieved: records.passaiccountynj.org)

• GIS map: Passaic County GIS Services — maintained by the Department of Planning and Economic Development; data compiled from digitized tax maps. needs_verification (county GIS viewer URL — main passaiccountynj.org page returns 403; direct GIS viewer link not retrieved from a primary fetched page.)

• Tax payment portal: Each municipality operates its own portal. Examples:

  • City of Passaic: wipp.edmundsassoc.com/Wipp/?wippid=1607 (Edmunds/WIPP) (Passaic — Tax Collector)
  • City of Clifton: cit-e.net/clifton-nj/cit-e-access/TaxBill_Std/?TID=169&TPID=15641 (Clifton — Tax Collector)
  • Other municipalities: needs_verification (portals not retrieved for remaining 14 municipalities).

• Sheriff sale listing: salesweb.civilview.com/Sales/SalesSearch?countyId=17 (Passaic County Sheriff)

• E-recording: njcountyrecording.com — NJ County Recording eRecording platform accepted by the Passaic County Clerk’s Registry Division. (Search result from passaiccountynj.org)

• Foreclosure / civil case search: NJ Courts — Civil and Foreclosure Public Access

C7. Meta

• parent_state: new-jersey
• last_verified: 2026-06-02
• confidence: 0.85
• completeness_score: 0.82
• gap_score: 8

Sources

needs_verification

• Sheriff sale deposit PDF: The Community Wealth Preservation Program info (20% standard / 3.5% eligible buyer) was retrieved from search-result snippets referencing pcsheriff.org; the underlying PDFs were binary-only. Verify deposit % directly against General Public Bidders PDF and CWPP Notice.
• Clifton tax sale platform URL (clifton.newjerseytaxsale.com) — server returned 403 on direct fetch; confirmed via Clifton Tax Collector page text which states the URL explicitly. Confirm before the next sale cycle.
• Municipal sale platforms for 12 of 16 municipalities (Bloomingdale, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Totowa, Wanaque, West Milford, Woodland Park, Pequannock) — not retrieved from official primary sources.
• Passaic County GIS viewer direct URL — passaiccountynj.org returned 403; use the NJ state Property Explorer as a fallback.
• Tax payment portals for 14 of 16 municipalities — only Passaic City and Clifton confirmed.
• Unclaimed surplus list / escheat for Passaic County vicinage — specific dormancy period and published list URL not found.
• Sheriff sale location (where the weekly Tuesday sale is physically conducted) — court complex at 77 Hamilton St, Paterson is confirmed for Civil Process; actual auction room not confirmed from retrieved primary source.
• County Clerk name — Danielle Ireland-Imhof confirmed via multiple search snippets referencing passaiccountynj.org but main site returned 403; verify at passaiccountynj.org/government/passaic-county-clerk.

cross_links

new-jersey, tyler-v-hennepin-county, surplus-funds, right-of-redemption, sheriff-sale, treasurer-sale, due-process-notice, 257-261-20th-avenue-realty-v-roberto-2025, simon-v-cronecker-2007, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, third-party-recovery-rules, heirs-property, bergen-nj

changelog

• 2026-06-02 — Initial page. Municipal tax sale structure confirmed (16 municipalities). Clifton, Passaic City, Paterson, Wayne tax collector contacts retrieved. Sheriff sale confirmed weekly Tuesdays via CivilView; CWPP deposit rules retrieved from search snippets. Surplus filing venue confirmed at Passaic Superior Court, 77 Hamilton St. PRESS deed search portal confirmed. 8 needs_verification items flagged (no fabricated facts).

▸ For Investors / Operators — All tax-lien-certificate sales in Passaic County are municipal, not county-wide — each of the 16 municipalities holds its own independent sale (Clifton on newjerseytaxsale.com/RealAuction, Paterson and Passaic City post separate notices). The Passaic County Sheriff conducts mortgage-foreclosure sheriff’s sales weekly on Tuesdays via CivilView (salesweb.civilview.com, countyId=17), with a 20% deposit for general public bidders (3.5% for Community Wealth Preservation Program–eligible buyers under N.J. A5664). TSC recording must occur at the County Clerk’s Registry Division, 401 Grand St, Room 113, Paterson, within ~90 days of the sale.

▸ For Former Owners — Sheriff’s-sale surplus (from mortgage foreclosures and post-P.L. 2024, c.39 judicial/Internet tax-cert sales) is deposited with the Superior Court Clerk for Passaic County (Vicinage 7), 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505, (973) 653-2910. Named parties in the foreclosure judgment file through the NJ Office of Foreclosure; non-parties file a motion in the Chancery Division, General Equity (ext. 24250). Claimants typically have up to 10 years from the sale date under the general NJ limitations period. Under P.L. 2024, c.39, a former owner may demand conversion to a sheriff’s sale before entry of final judgment to preserve equity.

Disclaimer: This page is legal information, not legal advice. Tax-foreclosure law changes frequently; verify every fact against the cited primary sources and consult a licensed New Jersey attorney before acting. Last verified: 2026-06-02.