Tax Sale Information for Bidders
Legally, a tax is a lien in favor of the City that arises by operation of law upon the date of assessment. When real estate taxes become delinquent the municipality is empowered to offer a third party the City’s lien in exchange for payment of the tax and interest. A tax sale is not a sale of the property. Third parties cannot pay the tax at any other time in exchange for a lien outside of the tax sale.
Providence is conducting its next tax sale at 10 am EDT on May 25, 2023. The sale will be hosted online by Civic Source, www.civicsource.com . Advance registration for the tax sale is required and will be open between April 24 and 4:30 pm EDT May 12, 2023.
Registration requirements have changed from past years. Business entities must submit their last annual report. If no annual report exists, the bidder will need to register under a SSN.
All bidders must furnish a certified check for $1,500 as a bond to guarantee payment of the tax upon winning a bid. The bond will be forfeited if the tax is not paid post-sale. The bond will not be applied toward payment of any bid and will be returned if you furnish us a SASE with payment.
Registrations must be mailed/couriered or hand carried to Room 203 in City Hall for receipt by the end of business on May 12.
Once your City registration is approved you will be able to register with Civic Source directly and set up payment arrangements. Civic Source’s website has information and tutorial lessons for online bidding.
After the tax sale the City will record in the land evidence records a tax sale lien in favor of the winning bidder within 60 days and mail the Collector’s Deed to the lienholder.
The City Collector handles redemptions of tax sale liens in the year following the sale, including recording Redemption of Liens and payment of tax and interest back to the lienholder. Beyond one year, the lienholder is responsible for receipt of redemptions and recording a Redemption of Lien.
Contact us at taxsale@providenceri.gov. Rather than calling, email us your phone number and a time to call and we will reach out to you.
