Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Personal Property Tax Sales

  • How Do I Get Information On The Properties To Be Auctioned?

    Your search may include, but not limited to, the County Recorder's records, State of Nevada Manufactured Housing Division's records, and the Nevada Secretary of State.

  • Should I Investigate Before I Bid?

    It is the responsibility of the prospective buyers to conduct their own research prior to the auction and to make a personal inspection of the property to determine suitability.

    The County makes no representation or claims as to the fitness for purpose, ingress/egress, conditions, covenants or restrictions.  The County's sole interest is the recovery of all delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and costs.

  • What Is The Minimum Bid?

    The minimum bid is the amount equal to the delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and cost.

  • What If A Property Does Not Sell At The Auction?

    If a property does not sell, it will be offered at the next annual auction.  Properties are not sold over the counter.

  • If I Pay The Taxes, Will The Property Transfer To My Name?

    No, if you are not the owner, you must bid for the property through auction.

  • Must I be Present to Bid?

    Yes, you must be present to bid.

  • Is There A Redemption Period?

    There is no redemption period on property acquired through the tax auction.

  • What Type Of Document Is Issued When The Sale Is Completed?

    A Certificate of Sale, Statement of Taxes, Penalties, and Cost and a Statement of Final Disposition of the Proceeds.

  • When Are the Washoe County Treasurer Personal Property Auctions Held?

    The Treasurer's Office conducts mobile home auctions annually, usually in June.  The date, time, and location of the auction are available in May.  The information is available on our website or by calling our office.

    Commercial Personal Property auction times and dates vary and will be listed on our website.

  • When is Payment Required?

    A $100 non-refundable deposit is due for any successful bid and the remaining balance is due in full by 12:00pm the next working day.

    Only cash, cashier's check, certified check and/or money orders are accepted for payment.

  • When Can I Register To Bid?

    Registration is conducted the day of the auction at no cost.  A valid driver's license or I.D. is required.  All bidders must arrive and be in the registration line by 9:45 am to be eligible to register and receive a bidder number and instruction prior to the start of the auction.

    Prospective bidders who arrive after the 9:45am deadline will not be registered or allowed to bid. 

    The auction is scheduled to begin at 10:00am.  In the event bidders are still being registered, the auction will begin when all eligible bidders have been registered and are seated.

  • Which Properties Will Be Sold At Auction?

    A list of mobile home properties is available in May each year.

    The property owner has up to the start of the auction to pay the taxes and prevent the sale of their property.  The properties listed may be paid and therefore not sold at auction.

Property Taxes

  • Where can I get real estate tax information?

    You can obtain tax information by either calling our office at (775) 328-2510 or by going to our website at www.washoecounty.gov/treas

    Having your parcel number available will help obtain the information more quickly.

  • When are property taxes due?

    Our tax year begins on July 1st and ends on June 30th. Real property and mobile home taxes are payable in 4 installments with due dates as follows:

    1st Installment due on the 3rd Monday in August

    2nd Installment due on the 1st Monday in October

    3rd Installment due on the 1st Monday in January

    4th Installment due on the 1st Monday in March

    If a tax bill is $100 or less, the full amount is due on the 3rd Monday of August.

    Personal Property taxes are billed in monthly cycles. They are due upon receipt and delinquent after 30 days.

  • What is a supplemental tax bill?

    A supplemental tax bill is for new construction on a property that was in place on July 1st, but was not assessed and billed on the original real estate tax bill due to the Assessor's Office having to close the tax rolls.

  • How are property taxes calculated?

    Property taxes are calculated by taking the current year tax rate and multiplying it by the assessed value. If that amount is greater than a 3% to 8% increase over the prior year's taxes, an abatement may be applied to limit the increase.

  • What is Renewable Energy Credit and who qualifies to receive this credit?

    The renewable energy program is run by the Dept of Energy at the State of Nevada. This credit applies to renewable energy production facilities and not residential property. For more information on the requirements for this program see:  https://energy.nv.gov/Programs/RETA/RETA_Program_Requirements/

    This program is administered in accordance with NRS 701A.300 through NRS 701A.450, and NAC 701A.500 through NAC 701A.660.

  • What is LEED Abatement Credit and who qualifies to receive this credit?

    The Nevada Governor's Office of Energy (GOE) administers the green building tax abatement program (LEED) pursuant to NRS 701A.100-701A.110 and NAC 701A.010-701A.370, and as amended under R128-18. As of July 1, 2021, the program was discontinued and no longer accepting applications. However, there are existing businesses receiving the credit that were approved or had an application pending prior to the program being discontinued.

Real Property Tax Sales

  • Why does a property go into the name of Trustee Washoe County Treasurer?

    Per NRS 361.585 and 361.590, property which is delinquent three consecutive fiscal years is deeded into the name of Washoe County Treasurer as trustee for the state and county.

    Once property is placed in the name of the County Treasurer as Trustee, the property is subject to be auctioned for non-payment of taxes.

  • When can I register to bid?

    Registration will open at 9:00 am two business days prior to the auction and be conducted in the office of the Washoe County Treasurer. 

    A five hundred dollar ($500.00) per bidder pre-bid deposit, in certified funds, is required at the time of registration.  A valid driver's license or photo I.D. is required.

    All bidders must be registered prior the date of the auction.  All eligible bidders will receive their bidder number prior to the start of the auction.

    Prospective bidders who arrive after the Tuesday 5:00 pm deadline will not be registered or allowed to bid.

  • When is payment required?

    A $500 non-refundable deposit is due for any successful bid and the remaining balance is due in full by 5:00 p.m. the day after the sale.

    We only accept cash, cashier's check, certified check and/or money orders for payment.

  • What type of document is issued when the sale is completed?

    A quitclaim deed will be prepared using the information on the bidder registration form.

    The Treasurer's Office will record the deed to the property within 30 days of the auction date.

  • What if a property does not sell at the auction?

    If a property does not sell, it will be offered at the next annual auction. Properties are not sold over the counter.

  • Is there a redemption period?

    There is no redemption period on property acquired through the tax auction.

    There is a two year period in which the previous owner may protest the sale. During this period, you may not be able to obtain title insurance. You should contact a title company for more information regarding issuance of title insurance.

  • If I pay the taxes, will the property transfer to my name?

    No, if you are not the owner, you must bid for the property through auction.

  • When are the Washoe County Treasurer Trustee auctions held?

    The Treasurer's Office conducts one Real Estate Tax Auction annually, usually in April. The date, time and location of the auction will be available in February. The information is available on our website or by calling our office.

  • Which properties will be sold at auction?

    We will have a list of properties available by the end of February each year.

    The property owner will have up to 5:00 p.m. on the third business day before the day of the sale to pay the taxes and prevent the sale of their property. Therefore, the properties listed may be redeemed and not sold at auction.

  • How do I get information on the properties to be auctioned?

    The County Assessor's Office will have maps on all properties to be sold. You may search the County Recorder's records for any recorded documentation you deem relevant.

    Both of these offices are located within the County Government Center located at 1001 East Ninth St., Reno, Nevada. You may also want to contact the various county or city zoning/planning departments.

  • Should I investigate before I bid?

    It is the responsibility of prospective purchasers to conduct their own research, prior to the auction, as to the use of the property for their intended purpose, and to make a personal inspection of the property to determine if it will be suitable for the purpose for which it is being purchased.

    The County makes no representation or claims as to fitness for purpose, ingress/egress, conditions, covenants or restrictions. The County's sole interest is the recovery of all delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and costs.

  • Are all items cleared as a result of the auction?

    Not all liens are satisfied by a tax auction. Some government liens and other encumbrances may remain.

  • What is the minimum bid?

    The minimum bid will vary for each property to be auctioned. Opening bid is for the amount of delinquent taxes, delinquent assessments, costs, interest and penalties OR the assessed valuation, whichever is greater. The assessed value is approximately 35% of the appraised value and, in some instances, is greater than the delinquent taxes, etc.

  • Must I be present to bid?

    Yes, you must be present to bid.

Special Assessments

General
General questions about certificate sales

  • What is a tax lien certificate?

    A tax lien certificate is a Certificate of Sale note issued on a property that is sold for nonpayment of a special assessment.

  • Where are the tax sales held?

    1001 East Ninth Street, Reno, Nevada. Specific room is announced when sale is scheduled.

  • How do I find out what parcels are subject to a certificate sale?

    The available parcels will be posted on the Special Assessment website: www.amgnv.com, at the beginning of the sale month. They will also be published in the Reno Gazette Journal, one time each week, for the three consecutive weeks prior to the sale date. It should be noted that property owners, or their mortgage company, may bring the assessment current up to the day of the sale. On the sale date, they may pay the assessment off before the time of the sale.
Questions for Buyers - Post Sale

  • Is the Certificate of Sale a public document?

    Yes. The Certificate of Sale note is recorded with the Washoe County Recorder's office. The original note will be mailed to the buyer after it is recorded.

  • Who can redeem the Certificate of Sale note?

    The property owner and other major lien holders (e.g.,mortgage company) may redeem the Certificate of Sale at any time during the redemption period. Payment must be in the form of cash, cashiers check or money order.

  • How long must I hold the Certificate of Sale before requesting a deed to the property?

    The redemption periods are 120 days for vacant land and 2 years for improved property per N.R.S. 271.595(1)

  • What documentation do I need to submit to the Treasurer in order to request a deed?

    The Original Certificate of Sale

    Notarized statement of steps taken to notify property owner

    Copy of Notice to Property Owner Affidavit (proof of service on property owner)

    Affidavit of Search (if unable to locate, what did you do to locate the property owner)

    Affidavit of Publication (proof of publication)

  • How do I obtain the deed to the property once I have purchased a Certificate of Sale?

    Notice of the purchaser’s intention to request a deed to the property must be given to the property owner no earlier than the day after the expiration of the redemption period (120 days for vacant land, 2 years for improved property). The property owner then has 60 days in which to redeem the property.

  • What information does the notice have to contain?

    The notice must state that the purchaser holds the Certificate of Sale and that he will demand a deed to the property, if not redeemed by the property owner, at the end of the 60 day notice. The property owner must remit payment to the Washoe County Treasurer's Office in certified funds within the 60 day notice period.

  • How do I serve notice on the property owner?

    Notice must be given by personal service upon the owner. Personal service means that the notice must be delivered to the person of the owner. Certified mail does not suffice. (Suggestion: process server). You may also wish to publish a notification in addition to the personal service notification per N.R.S. 271.190.

  • What if the property owner is not a resident of Nevada or cannot be located within the state?

    If the owner is not a resident of Nevada, or cannot be found within the state after diligent search, the notice may be given by publication. Diligent search requires more than one attempt to locate the property owner. Notice by publication is defined by N.R.S. 271.190 and includes publication at least once a week in a newspaper of general circulation in the County. The publication must be verified by the affidavit of the publisher.

  • What constitutes a "diligent" search?

    You must make more than one attempt to locate the property owner. If they do not reside at the address of record, you must try to locate them by other methods. You may search the telephone directory, contact the Secretary of State's office for information on business or corporations, etc. All efforts must be documented and submitted as an affidavit.

  • What do I do at the end of the 60 day notification period?

    At the end of the 60 day notification period, if the property has not been redeemed, the Treasurer must provide a deed to the purchaser or his assignee when he surrenders to the Treasurer the Certificate of Sale and documentation of the notice provided by the purchaser to the owner of the property. Before a deed will be issued, all delinquent taxes or assessments must be paid current.
Questions for Buyers - Pre Sale

Tax Payments

  • What are my payment options?

    We offer several payment options:
    • There is no cost for payment by e-check, but a fee applies if you choose to pay by credit card from the Treasurer's website.
    • Mail To:  Washoe County Treasurer, P.O. Box 30039, Reno, NV 89520-3039.
    • Use your personal bank's online bill payment system.
    Mail To:  Washoe County Treasurer, P.O. Box 30039, Reno, NV 89520-3039

  • How does the echeck option work? What are the fees?

    When the e-check option is chosen, the user will be prompted to enter their bank routing and account information. There is no charge for this payment option. Important to note when paying by e-check, should your e-check not be honored by your financial institution it will be processed in the same manner as any other returned item. The payment will be cancelled and a $25.00 returned item fee will be added.

    An eCheck is limited to $500,000 per transaction. Payments greater than $500,000 must be paid with multiple eChecks.

  • What credit cards are accepted?

    We accept all major credit cards, both online and at our counter.

    Visa

    MasterCard

    Discover

    American Express

     

    Credit card transactions are limited to $150,000 per transaction.

  • How can I make a credit card payment?

    Go to Treasurer's website:  https://nv-washoe.publicaccessnow.com

    Enter parcel ID number

    Follow payment instructions

    Credit card transactions are limited to $150,000 per transaction.

  • Why is there a service fee added to my property tax payment

    Whenever a credit card is used for payment, there is typically a "merchant fee" deducted from the payment amount that gets passed from the credit card company back to the merchant.

    This means that the merchant does not collect the full price of the items sold when customers use credit cards for their purchases.

    The Treasurer's Office is mandated by state law (NRS 361.470, NRS 361.475) to collect the full amount of property tax billed on a parcel. In order to comply with this regulation and allow property taxes to be paid by credit card, the cost of the transaction is added as a service fee, to be paid by the taxpayer, rather than being taken as a merchant fee from the amount paid.

  • Credit Card Fees (Customer pays service fees)

    Credit card service fees are approximately 2.45% of the amount of taxes being paid.

    For example: A tax bill of $500.00 would have a service fee of $12.25.

  • What do I do if I don’t agree with the service fee to be charged?

    Fees are prominently displayed and acknowledged before the taxpayer finalizes the transaction. Transactions can be canceled if the taxpayer does not agree to pay the service fees.

    How can I dispute the charge or the fee after the fact? Disputes are filed the same way any other credit card dispute is handled, between the customer and their credit card issuer.

  • Can I make an online payment if my credit card address is outside the U.S.?

    Yes we are able to process credit card payments with a foreign mailing address.

  • What about debit cards? What are the fees?

    Both debit and credit cards have the same service fee, whether online or at our front counter.

  • Can I pay with my bank using bill pay?

    You can use your bank's bill pay service using your parcel number or identifier number (with no dashes or slashes) as the "account number" in the merchant field set up. Please complete a separate transaction for each parcel. Please allow 5 days for payment to be delivered to our office.

  • Can I make payment by phone?

    Security of your financial information is important.  Therefore, we are unable to accept payments by telephone.  We do however offer simple online payment options that can be made in a secure environment.

    Payment by credit card or e-check at:  https://nv-washoe.publicaccessnow.com

  • Is there a charge for duplicate bills?

    There are no charges for duplicate bills or memo bills. You can see and print current amounts due on our Property Tax Search page at:  https://nv-washoe.publicaccessnow.com

Tax Rates