Kern County, CA tax sales

County offices

County notes

• •Deed sale only. The county brochure states "The Kern County Treasurer and Tax Collector does NOT sell tax lien certificates," and properties "that remain tax-defaulted for five years or more can be offered for purchase at a 'tax-defaulted land sale' (auction), in accordance with the California Revenue and Taxation Code."
• •A $5,000 deposit is required to bid, and only bidders registered through GovEase can bid.
• •Bid increments: the county tax sale page states "each raise will be in increments of at least $100 until sold."
• •Redemption cutoff: "Owners of tax-defaulted properties have the right of redemption until 5:00 pm the business day prior to the sale."
• •Payment: "Certified funds (cash, cashier's check, postal money order, or wire payment) within a specified time after the auction." A California documentary transfer tax is added to and collected with the full purchase price at $.55 per $500 or fractional part, if the price exceeds $100.
• •Deed delivery: "After we receive your payment and the deed information stating how you would like the property conveyed to you, the deed will be recorded within 60 days of the sale."
• •Title risk: "ALL PROPERTIES ARE SOLD AS IS." Kern makes no guarantee as to title, location or condition. Most title companies will not insure title for at least one year after the deed is recorded, and any legal challenge to the sale must be commenced within one year of the tax deed recording date.
• •Encumbrances: the county does not maintain a list of surviving encumbrances and directs bidders to R&T Code Section 3712. Special assessments, some bonds, and IRS liens (redeemable by the IRS up to 120 days after the sale) can survive.
• •Bidder support and mailed packets: GovEase Client Services, 1-769-208-5050 (number published in the county brochure).
• •Office email published in the brochure: TTC@KernCounty.com. Fax: (661) 868-3409. The current Treasurer-Tax Collector named on the brochure is Jordan Kaufman; verify the officeholder before publishing a name.
• •Payments-only mailing address shown on the KCTTC homepage is P.O. Box 541004, Los Angeles, CA 90054-1004. The office street address for correspondence and in-person business is 1115 Truxtun Avenue, 2nd Floor, Bakersfield.
• •Title research starting point named in the brochure: Kern County Recorder / Hall of Records, 1655 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301.

California rules

Redemption

Tax-defaulted property may be redeemed until the right of redemption is terminated (section 4101). That right terminates at the close of business on the last business day prior to the commencement date of the tax sale, and the start of the auction counts as the sale date no matter when bidding closes. A redemption payment sent by mail must be received in the tax collector's office before that deadline. California has no post-sale redemption period: once the auction opens, a record owner who has not redeemed loses all legal and equitable interest in the property. Two situations revive the right of redemption. The right revives if the property is not sold, and it revives on the next business day if the tax collector approved a credit sale and the buyer did not pay in full by the deadline the tax collector set.California Revenue and Taxation Code 3707 - right of redemption terminates at close of business on the last business day before the saleCal. Rev. & Tax. Code 3707Verified Jul 25, 2026

Deed deposit

The tax collector may require a deposit and must give public notice before the sale of its amount, payment method, and due date, and of whether it is a condition of bidding or applies toward the purchase price. On a sale the tax collector approves as a deferred-payment transaction, the deposit may be $5,000 or 10 percent of the minimum bid price, whichever is greater. Counties set the specific figure, so confirm it on the county page or auction platform.California Revenue and Taxation Code 3706 - sale at public auction to the highest bidder, no bid below the approved minimum priceCal. Rev. & Tax. Code 3706Verified Jul 25, 2026

Surplus proceeds

Sale proceeds first cover statutory distributions, then taxes, assessments, and county costs. Anything left is excess proceeds held in the delinquent tax sale trust fund. A party of interest may file a claim at any time before one year after the tax collector's deed to the purchaser is recorded. Distribution runs first to lienholders of record before the tax deed was recorded, in order of their priority, then to persons with title of record. Excess proceeds not claimed within that year may be transferred to the county general fund.California Revenue and Taxation Code 4675 - claims for excess proceeds within one year of recordation of the tax deed, and claim priorityCal. Rev. & Tax. Code 4675Verified Jul 25, 2026

Governing statute

Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code, Division 1, Part 6 (sections 3351 to 3972)California Revenue and Taxation Code 3691 - power to sell tax-defaulted property after five years, three years for nonresidential commercialCal. Rev. & Tax. Code 3691Verified Jul 25, 2026

A tax deed does not convey marketable title. Most buyers file a quiet title action before they can resell or insure the property. See the due diligence guide.

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