Tax Deed Auctions in Arkansas

Deed Trail indexes tax deed auctions across all 75 Arkansas counties. Pick a county below for portal details and how sales are conducted, or read the state-level overview.

How Arkansas tax deed sales work

Arkansas takes a different approach to tax deed sales than most U.S. states: rather than individual counties running their own auctions, the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands (COSL) conducts a single statewide auction program covering all 75 counties.

Under Arkansas Code Title 26, properties that remain tax-delinquent for two consecutive years are forfeited to the state. The Commissioner of State Lands takes custody of these properties and is responsible for selling them to recover the unpaid taxes.

The statewide auction platform

All Arkansas tax deed sales are conducted through auction.cosl.org, the official COSL online auction platform. Properties from across the state are listed together, organized by county. This consolidated model is unique among U.S. states — most use a county-by-county system run by local clerks or treasurers.

COSL conducts public auctions on a county-by-county rotation throughout the year. Each county's sale is typically held annually, with the exact schedule published on the COSL website. After the public auction, unsold properties become available through post-auction negotiated sales.

Redemption and what the buyer receives

Property owners may redeem their property by paying all back taxes, penalties, and interest at any point until the auction itself. Once the property is sold and the deed delivered, the right of redemption is extinguished.

After the auction, COSL issues a limited warranty deed to the successful bidder. The deed transfers the state's interest in the property, but as with any tax deed, buyers should investigate title carefully — outstanding liens may survive, and a quiet title action is commonly required before reselling. Improvements, surveys, and physical inspection are the buyer's responsibility.

How to participate

Bidders must register on auction.cosl.org and may need to provide a deposit before bidding. Auctions run as live online events with predetermined bidding windows. Winning bidders pay the full bid amount plus a deed-issuance fee shortly after the sale closes. Properties that fail to sell at public auction enter the COSL negotiated-sale inventory and remain available year-round to qualified buyers.

Arkansas counties (75)

Track Arkansas tax deed auctions in one feed

Deed Trail aggregates upcoming tax deed auctions from every county in Florida and Arkansas — refreshed daily, with parcel data, FEMA flood zone, and source links. Start a 14-day free trial; cancel anytime.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a tax deed auction in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, tax deed auctions are run by the Commissioner of State Lands rather than by individual counties. Properties tax-delinquent for two or more years are forfeited to the state, then sold at public auction at auction.cosl.org to recover the unpaid taxes.

Why does Arkansas use a single statewide auction platform?

Arkansas state law assigns custody of tax-forfeited properties to the Commissioner of State Lands, who operates a unified statewide sales program rather than delegating to each county. This is unusual among U.S. states and means that all 75 Arkansas counties share a single auction calendar and platform.

How do I find upcoming Arkansas tax deed auctions?

The official source is auction.cosl.org. Deed Trail mirrors the COSL calendar, indexing upcoming sales county by county, so you can browse all 75 Arkansas counties from a single feed without tracking the COSL site directly.

What is the redemption period in Arkansas?

Property owners may redeem their property by paying back taxes, penalties, and interest at any time before the auction. Once the property is sold and the deed delivered, redemption rights are extinguished.