Jefferson County, Missouri

Tax Lien231,888 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 certificate-of-purchase county. Jefferson County Collector Land Sale held once yearly 10:00 a.m. fourth Monday in August, Assembly Room, Administration Center, 729 Maple St, Hillsboro. Highest bidder; first/second offerings receive Certificate of Purchase with ~1-year wait before collector's deed eligibility; third offering can receive deed ~90 days after title-search notification. Must complete title search, certified-mail notices to interested parties, and obtain deed within 18 months of sale or lose interest. Non-residents must file MO resident agent appointment and circuit-court jurisdiction consent. Unsold after three offerings go to County Trustee for separate purchase.

Auction logistics

Format

In-person public auction (highest bidder)

Frequency

Annual fourth Monday in August; Trustee inventory ongoing after third offerings

Platform

Jefferson County Collector — Land Sale ↗

Deposit rules

Payment due day of sale by cash, check, or credit card per county FAQ. Non-residents must pre-file agent/jurisdiction documents. Register per Land Sale FAQs before bidding. Lists published June and in The Countian three consecutive weeks pre-sale.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Certificate period does not give possession. Collector's deed after proper notice generally wipes junior liens except federal tax liens and running covenants/easements. Always run independent title.

Quiet title

Quiet title often recommended after collector's deed for resale liquidity in St. Louis metro south-county market.

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

Jefferson County Collector — Land Sale ↗

636-797-5406

Clerk of court

Jefferson County Recorder of Deeds ↗

Property appraiser

Jefferson County Assessor / Devnet property tax inquiry ↗

GIS / parcel map

Jefferson County Trustee Property / GIS map resources ↗

Areas trending up

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

Arnold / I-55 north county

Closest St. Louis job access with strong retail and workforce housing demand

High Ridge / House Springs corridor

Relative affordability versus north county with continued SF absorption

Hillsboro / county-seat south

Government services and lower price points; thinner luxury liquidity