Buchanan County, Missouri

Tax Lien83,574 residents

County research last verified 2026-07. Office holders, platforms, and deposit rules change — re-confirm anything time-sensitive.

Sale typestate default

Tax Lien

Redemption periodstate default

1 year (2 years for some parcels) from sale

Investor returnstate default

10% per annum plus 8% on subsequent taxes paid

Governing statutestate default

Missouri Revised Statutes Ch. 140

Notes

Missouri Chapter 140 tax certificate county. Buchanan County Collector runs annual tax certificate sale fourth Monday in August at 10:00 A.M. on the west side of the courthouse (411 Jules, St. Joseph). 2026 handout, affidavits, and deluxe listing posted on co.buchanan.mo.us Collector pages. Certificate of Purchase then collector’s deed path after redemption/notice. St. Joseph / NW Missouri market with agribusiness and logistics employment. Confirm 2026 registration and payment rules with Collector (816-271-1401).

Auction logistics

Format

In-person public auction

Frequency

Annually fourth Monday in August, 10:00 A.M. (confirm 2026 date with Collector)

Platform

Buchanan County Collector — annual tax certificate sale (courthouse west side) ↗

Deposit rules

Attend per Collector handout; payment typically cash or certified funds day of sale. Non-delinquency and agent affidavits as required in the year’s packet. Review current listing PDF and handout on Collector site before sale day.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Certificate stage is a lien interest. Collector’s deed process after redemption may cut off most junior private liens; federal and some governmental liens can survive.

Quiet title

Petition for collector’s deed is required; quiet title often used to strengthen insurable title in St. Joseph inventory.

Deal maths for Missouri

Assessment ratio: 0.19× of market value
Typical quiet title: $1,800–$5,000 · 5 mo
Recording and transfer: $250

RSMo 137.115(5)(1) assesses real property by subclass as a percentage of true value in money: residential 19%, agricultural and horticultural 12%, and utility, industrial, commercial and all other 32%. This entry uses the residential rate.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Buchanan County Collector ↗

816-271-1401

Clerk of court

Buchanan County Clerk / Recorder (land records) ↗

Property appraiser

Buchanan County Assessor / Devnet property tax inquiry ↗

GIS / parcel map

Buchanan County Assessor / parcel tax inquiry ↗

Areas trending up

Directional read from dated market analysis — not a guarantee, and not a substitute for your own comps.

St. Joseph north / hospital-employment edge

Healthcare and institutional jobs supporting rental demand

East Side / I-29 logistics fringe

Distribution and industrial employment with more attainable SF than KC cores

South St. Joseph / Belt Highway retail corridor

Retail and service jobs with liquid entry-level inventory