Passaic County, New Jersey

Tax Lien526,597 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

2 years from sale (statutory minimum before foreclosure)

Investor returnstate default

Up to 18% per annum, bid down at auction; additional 2–6% penalty on larger liens

Governing statutestate default

New Jersey Statutes Title 54, Ch. 5

Notes

New Jersey municipal tax-lien system: each of Passaic County's municipalities (Paterson, Passaic, Clifton, Wayne, etc.) runs its own annual tax sale under N.J.S.A. 54:5. City of Passaic example: online sale at passaiccity.newjerseytaxsale.com (Dec 2025 cycle). Buyers receive a tax sale certificate — not a deed. Foreclosure after statutory wait is Superior Court process. Separately, Passaic County Sheriff conducts weekly mortgage foreclosure sales (CivilView) — not tax-deed sales. NJ A5664 community wealth preservation rules can affect sheriff sale bidder eligibility.

Auction logistics

Format

Online (most municipalities) / varies by town

Frequency

Annual per municipality (commonly fall–winter; e.g. City of Passaic electronic sale mid-December cycle)

Platform

Municipal tax sales (often RealAuction / newjerseytaxsale.com) — check each city/township ↗

Deposit rules

Set by each municipal tax collector and platform: pre-register online, follow deposit/premium and same-day payment rules in the sale notice. Record certificate with County Clerk; redeem through the municipal tax collector.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Tax sale certificate is a lien senior to most private liens but does not wipe junior interests until foreclosure judgment and deed. Federal tax liens require careful analysis. No possessory rights before foreclosure.

Quiet title

Marketable title after tax foreclosure generally requires completed Superior Court foreclosure of the tax certificate.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Municipal tax collectors (Passaic County municipalities) — not a single county collector for tax sales ↗

Clerk of court

Passaic County Clerk (records certificates) / Sheriff Civil (mortgage sales) ↗

Property appraiser

Passaic County Board of Taxation / municipal assessors ↗

GIS / parcel map

Passaic County / municipal assessment resources ↗

Areas trending up

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

Paterson downtown / Great Falls edge

Urban revitalization and relatively affordable multifamily stock with transit access to NYC metro

Clifton / Passaic River corridor

Dense suburban demand between Paterson and Bergen with strong rental liquidity

Wayne / north county suburbs

School-driven single-family demand with higher price points and tighter inventory