Suffolk County Tax Delinquent Property List
Find tax delinquent properties and investment opportunities in Suffolk County. We're actively building this dataset — sign up to get notified when it's ready.
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About Suffolk County
- Region
- Massachusetts - Major Metro
- Data Status
- Coming Soon
How Tax Delinquent Property Sales Work in Massachusetts
Massachusetts enforces delinquent property taxes at the municipal level, in one of two ways. A city or town can make a "tax taking," acquiring title directly, or it can conduct a tax sale where a third party buys the tax title. Either way, the buyer receives a tax title — a lien interest in the land, not the fee. To actually acquire the property, the holder must file a petition in the Land Court and win a judgment foreclosing the owner's right of redemption; until then the owner can redeem. There is no uniform statewide competitive-bid mechanic: municipalities either take title themselves or sell tax titles or receivables, often in bulk, to third-party buyers. Third-party holders cannot take possession — they must litigate foreclosure in the Land Court. Sales and takings happen year-round on each municipality's own schedule, and Land Court foreclosure timing is case-by-case.
Bidding & Auctions
There is no uniform statewide bidding mechanism. Chapter 60 permits public auction of tax receivables and titles, but in practice municipalities either take title themselves or sell tax titles or receivables — often in bulk — to third-party buyers. Auctions, where held, are run by individual municipalities in person or online, and practices vary widely from town to town. There is no dominant statewide platform. Because much of the volume moves as bulk assignments of tax titles rather than parcel-by-parcel public auctions, deal flow is uneven and must be tracked municipality by municipality. A third-party buyer acquires only a tax title and the right to litigate, not immediate possession.
Redemption & Penalties
There is no fixed calendar clock. The owner or any interested party may redeem at any time up until the holder files a foreclosure petition in the Land Court, and even after filing the court sets a redemption deadline in the case. A foreclosure petition generally cannot be filed until 6 months after the taking or sale, so the practical minimum window is about 6 months, but redemption often stays open for years. Tax-title accounts accrue simple interest: 16% per year for titles entered before Nov 1, 2024, reduced to 8% per year for titles entered on or after that date. Redemption requires paying the tax-title amount plus interest and lawful charges.
See Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 60. Specific procedures vary by county — always verify with the local tax assessor/collector before bidding.
Resources for Massachusetts - Major Metro Investors
How to Buy Tax Delinquent Property in Suffolk County
Step-by-step guide: tax sale process, redemption periods, deal types, and investor tips for Massachusetts - Major Metro.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How often is the Suffolk 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 Suffolk County list. Join the notification list and we will let you know when a verified sample is ready.
What is a "tax taking" in Massachusetts?▾
A tax taking is when a municipality acquires the tax title directly, rather than selling it at auction. The alternative is a tax sale where a third party buys the tax title. In both cases the holder must foreclose the owner's right of redemption in the Land Court to get clear title.
What interest does a Massachusetts tax title earn?▾
Tax-title accounts accrue 16% simple interest per year for titles entered before Nov 1, 2024, and 8% per year for titles entered on or after that date, under Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024. A redeeming owner pays that interest plus the tax-title amount and lawful charges.
How long is the redemption period in Massachusetts?▾
There is no fixed clock. An owner can redeem until the holder files a foreclosure petition in the Land Court, and even then the court sets a deadline. A petition generally can't be filed until 6 months after the taking or sale, but in practice redemption can stay open for years.
Do I get the property when I buy a tax title?▾
No. A tax title is a lien interest, not the fee. Third-party holders cannot take possession — they must file a Land Court petition and win a judgment of foreclosure to acquire the property. Recent reform also returns "excess equity" above the debt to the former owner.