County tax sale lists for this fall’s Upset Sales are being published right now — here’s how to find out if your property is one of them, and what to do next.
Every late summer, Pennsylvania counties publish the list of properties headed to that year’s Upset Sale — the public auction for homes with unpaid property taxes. If you’ve been searching “upset sale list” or “is my house on the tax sale list” this month, you’re one of many homeowners trying to find a straight answer before rumors do the worrying for you. Take a breath: being on a list is a notice, not a done deal.
What the Upset Sale list actually is
Each county’s Tax Claim Bureau compiles the Upset Sale list from properties with taxes unpaid for at least two years (a bureau is simply the county office that collects delinquent property taxes). In Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties, the list is published in the local legal journal and posted on the Tax Claim Bureau’s website, usually in August or September, ahead of a sale date that typically falls in September or October. Philadelphia runs its own, separate tax lien and sheriff sale process. A property doesn’t disappear from the list on its own — but plenty of owners get theirs removed every year, often in the final weeks before the sale.
How to check if you’re on it
- Call or check your county’s Tax Claim Bureau website directly — most post a searchable list by owner name and parcel number, or will look it up for you over the phone.
- Look for the legal notice in your local newspaper of record, where the list is required to run for several weeks before the sale.
- If you’ve received a certified letter about unpaid taxes, that’s often your clearest early sign — it’s worth opening, not setting aside.
What you can do if you’re on it
- Pay what’s due. Paying the delinquent amount in full removes the property from the sale.
- Ask about a payment plan. Pennsylvania law gives most homeowners the right to request an installment plan with the Tax Claim Bureau instead of paying everything at once.
- Petition to postpone. In some counties, a petition to the court can delay a sale while you arrange payment or weigh your options.
Free help — call before you do anything else
- Your county’s Tax Claim Bureau can confirm your exact balance and payment plan options at no cost — this is always the first call.
- PA Legal Aid Network (palegalaid.net) can review your notice and explain your rights, free of charge.
- PA 211 connects you to local emergency funds that may be able to help with a past-due tax bill.
Where a trusted partner can help too
If your situation involves an inherited or vacant property with a tangled title, a partner we trust in title and probate work can help sort that out alongside your county’s payment options. It’s entirely optional, and we’d always point you to the free resources above first.
You still have time
Hablamos español — a list is a warning, not a sentence. The sooner you call your Tax Claim Bureau, the more choices stay on the table.
Explore your options — wayoutnow.com/your-way-out — or schedule your free, pressure-free Strategy Session at WayOutNow.com.
Way Out Now Solutions provides real estate guidance and connection to professional resources. We are not attorneys, lenders, or tax advisors, and nothing here is legal, financial, or tax advice. Outcomes vary by situation; nothing is guaranteed.
