Kanawha County Tax Delinquent Property List
Find tax delinquent properties and investment opportunities in Kanawha County. We're actively building this dataset — sign up to get notified when it's ready.
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About Kanawha County
- Region
- West Virginia - Major Metro
- Data Status
- Coming Soon
How Tax Delinquent Property Sales Work in West Virginia
West Virginia is a tax-lien-certificate state. Since the 2022 SB552 reforms, the State Auditor's Office — rather than county sheriffs — conducts a single annual tax-lien sale per county after the sheriffs certify their delinquent lists. Investors buy a certificate of sale, which is a lien on the property, not the property itself. The delinquent owner can redeem the lien within the statutory window by repaying the certificate holder with interest; if the property is not redeemed, the buyer completes a notice-to-redeem process and receives a deed from the State Auditor. Note that the older 18% interest figure often quoted for West Virginia predates the SB552 overhaul and no longer applies — model returns at the current statutory rate of 1% per month. Because this is a lien system, the realistic outcome for most certificates is redemption with interest rather than acquiring the property outright.
Bidding & Auctions
West Virginia uses a premium (overbid) method. The opening bid is the taxes, interest, and charges due, and investors bid the price up from there. A key detail: only the delinquent-tax base earns the redemption interest that flows back to the buyer — the excess or overbid amount above that base does not earn interest and is largely at risk of not being recovered. Bidding up aggressively therefore destroys yield. Sales are run by the State Auditor's Office (WVSAO) county-collections program following the 2022 SB552 changes, using the online platforms adopted for the Auditor-run sales. Registration ahead of the sale is required.
Redemption & Penalties
The redemption period is 18 months from the date of the tax-lien sale. The property is certified to the State Auditor and held during that window. A redeeming party pays the taxes, interest, and charges that were due at the date of sale, with interest at 1% per month (12% per year) running from the sale date, plus statutory notice and title-examination costs. Subsequent taxes the purchaser pays also accrue at 1% per month. If the property is not redeemed, the Auditor makes a deed available and the purchaser must request it — the deed is then executed within roughly 120 days of the request.
See W. Va. Code Chapter 11A, Article 3, as amended by 2022 SB552 (redemption and interest at § 11A-3-56). Specific procedures vary by county — always verify with the local tax assessor/collector before bidding.
Resources for West Virginia - Major Metro Investors
How to Buy Tax Delinquent Property in Kanawha County
Step-by-step guide: tax sale process, redemption periods, deal types, and investor tips for West Virginia - Major Metro.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How often is the Kanawha County list updated?▾
County release schedules vary. Some counties publish weekly or monthly; others publish quarterly or annually. We update the download after collecting a new official release from County Records. A list can be current for the county's release cycle without changing every day. Verify property and tax details with the county before acting.
What data fields are included?▾
Each record includes property address, owner name, mailing address, assessed value, property type, and legal description.
Is the download really free?▾
Not yet. We are validating the next publishable Kanawha County list. Join the notification list and we will let you know when a verified sample is ready.
How much interest does a West Virginia tax lien earn?▾
1% per month — 12% per year — simple interest on the taxes, interest, and charges due at the date of sale, under W. Va. Code § 11A-3-56. The older 18% figure predates the 2022 SB552 overhaul and no longer applies.
Who runs the tax sale in West Virginia now?▾
Since the 2022 SB552 reforms, the State Auditor's Office conducts a single annual sale per county after the sheriffs certify their delinquent lists. It moved the sale away from the individual county sheriffs.
How long is the redemption period in West Virginia?▾
18 months from the date of the tax-lien sale. The property is certified to the State Auditor and held for that window; if it isn't redeemed, the Auditor makes a deed available and the purchaser must request it.
Does the amount I overbid earn interest?▾
No. Only the delinquent-tax base accrues the 1%-per-month redemption interest. Any overbid premium above that base earns nothing and is largely at risk of not being recovered, so bidding up aggressively cuts your yield.