Author: Jessa May Bautista
Reviewed by: Josh Blanchard
Fact Checked by: Jack Aldous

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Jefferson County does not run a single “tax sale” event. It actually has two different paths that can put a property in front of a buyer: a Treasurer-led tax deed foreclosure, and a Sheriff’s Sale for mortgage foreclosures. People often mix these up, so this guide breaks down both and shows you what to check before you bid on either one.

What Is a Tax Deed?

When a property owner does not pay real estate taxes, the debt becomes delinquent. If the taxes stay unpaid long enough, the county can take legal title to the property. This is called a tax deed. The county then sells these properties to the public to recover the unpaid taxes.

Wisconsin Skips Tax Liens Entirely

If you have looked into tax sales in other states, you may expect to buy a lien certificate and collect interest while you wait. That is not how Wisconsin works. The county takes full legal ownership of a delinquent property first, through a court process called In Rem foreclosure under Wisconsin Statute 75.521. Only after the county holds clear title does it turn around and sell the property. No lien changes hands, ever. This is why Wisconsin counties, including Jefferson, use the term “tax deed” rather than “tax lien.”

The Jefferson County Treasurer’s Office runs this side of things. Their number is 920-674-7250.

The Other Path: Jefferson County Wisconsin Sheriff’s Sales

Separately, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office holds public sales for properties in mortgage foreclosure, meaning a bank or lender sued a homeowner over missed payments, not the county collecting unpaid taxes. These are different cases, filed under different law, but both can end with a buyer picking up a property at a courthouse-style sale.

Sheriff’s Sales happen at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, skipping the third Wednesday of each month, in the main lobby of the Sheriff’s Office at 411 S.

	Tax Deed Foreclosure	Sheriff’s Sale
Reason for sale	Unpaid property taxes	Unpaid mortgage
Who runs it	County Treasurer	Sheriff’s Office
Legal basis	Wis. Stat. 75.521 (In Rem)	Wis. Stat. Chapter 846
Where to check	Treasurer’s Office	Sheriff’s Sales page
Bidder rules	Standard research	Must meet Wis. Stat. 846.155(2)

What Third-Party Bidders Must Prove

If you want to bid at a Sheriff’s Sale in Jefferson County Wisconsin as an outside buyer, state law puts real conditions on you first. Under Wisconsin Statute 846.155(2), you cannot own property anywhere in the state with taxes more than 120 days past due. You also cannot have an unresolved building code judgment against you, or be bidding on behalf of someone who fails those tests. Winners must file a sworn affidavit, form CV-550, with the Clerk of Courts before the sale gets confirmed. Skipping this step can unwind your purchase.

Getting Ready to Bid at Jefferson County Wisconsin

What Buyers Tend to Forget

These properties sell as is. Nobody is fixing a leaking roof, hauling out old furniture, or settling a boundary dispute before you take ownership. A short list of things worth doing anyway:

• Drive by the property in person, since interior walkthroughs are rare
• Set aside extra cash for repairs or unpaid utility bills
• Double-check the legal description matches what you think you are buying
• Ask the local zoning office directly rather than guessing

Jefferson County Wisconsin Snapshot

Detail	Info
Treasurer	Kelly Stade
Treasurer phone	920-674-7250
Sheriff’s Sale day/time	Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m., skips 3rd Wednesday
Sheriff’s Sale place	411 S. Center Avenue, Jefferson, WI
Sheriff’s Sale contact	Lynn, 920-674-7339
Tax deed law	Wis. Stat. 75.521
Sheriff’s Sale law	Wis. Stat. 846.155
Property condition	Sold as is

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources:
Jefferson County Wisconsin Treasurer
Jefferson County Wisconsin Sheriff Foreclosure
Jefferson County Wisconsin Website

Related Links:

• Wisconsin Tax Deed Investments: The Benefits of Tax Deed Sales
• Washington County

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About Dustin Hahn

Dustin Hahn is a Tax Lien & Deed investor with over 22 years of experience and hundreds of deals under his belt. He created Tax Lien School.com to help you buy Tax Deeds up to 90% off mortgage free and earn up to 36% ROI with Tax Liens. This site was voted the “Most Useful Resource” for new investors. Dustin’s YouTube Channel is the #1 Channel on Tax Liens & Deeds with over 98,000 Subscribers and 3600 videos to help you start. “The Best Time To Start Real Estate Investing Was 20 Years Ago, The Second Best Time Is TODAY!”

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