West Virginia requires tax-sale property purchasers to satisfy municipal liens before securing a deed

Original title: Amending the duties of a purchaser to secure a deed

Last action · January 21, 2026: To House FinanceSponsors: Joe Funkhouser and 9 others

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Introduced

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What This Bill Proposed

Purchasers of property sold by the state Auditor for unpaid taxes must now satisfy any of record on the property and provide the Auditor with a certified record of satisfaction in order to secure a deed.

Why it matters

Property buyers at tax sales face an additional financial obligation before they can obtain the title to real estate purchased from the state.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Tax-sale property purchasers

Purchasers must satisfy any municipal lien of record and provide proof of satisfaction to the Auditor in order to secure a deed for the real estate.

Directly affected

Municipalities

Key Facts

Tax-sale purchasers must satisfy any municipal lien of record on the property within 120 days of sale approval by the Auditor.
Purchasers must provide the Auditor with a certified record of satisfaction issued by the levying municipality.
Failure to fulfill the requirement to satisfy municipal liens results in the purchaser losing all benefits of the purchase.
Purchasers may request an additional 60-day extension to comply with requirements by paying a fee of $100 or 10 percent of the total amount paid on the day of sale, whichever is greater, plus a $25 certificate fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a tax-sale purchaser do to secure a deed under this bill?

In addition to previous requirements, the purchaser must satisfy any of record on the property and provide the Auditor with a certified record of satisfaction.

What happens if a purchaser fails to satisfy the municipal liens?

The purchaser shall lose all the benefits of his or her purchase.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Finance
Jan 21, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
To Finance
Jan 21, 2026HouseIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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