State Summary

• Tax Collection Method: Deeds
• Primary Bidding Type: Premium
• Redemption Period: None*
• Redemption Interest Rate/Flat Penalty: Not applicable

 * There is no redemption period after a property is sold to an investor. However, there is a one-year redemption period that occurs after a delinquent property is deeded to a municipality or borough. After this redemption period expires, the former property owner cannot get the property back. The municipality or borough then decides whether to designate the property for public use, or auction it off at a tax deed sale.

The following information summarizes the life cycle, requirements, and administering of tax liens in the state of Alaska. Please read this information carefully. There are Alaska Statutes that pertain to all municipalities in Alaska, such as due and delinquent dates for taxes, the Redemption Period, and many others, but be aware that there are subtle differences between the municipalities as well. When the word, "typical", is used in the FAQs below, it indicates that most municipalities use this procedure/follow this convention, but not all municipalities.

Is Alaska a tax lien or a tax deed state?
Alaska is a tax deed state.

What is the name of the official whom typically collects property taxes in Alaska?
The name of the official or department will vary, depending on whether the taxing jurisdiction is a municipality or a borough.

When are property taxes due in the state of Alaska?
Due dates for property tax payments will vary in Alaska as they are controlled by individual municipalities and boroughs. To obtain property tax due dates for municipalities or counties, it is necessary to check each corresponding Web site.

When do property taxes become delinquent in the state of Alaska?
Similarly to property tax due dates, the dates that property tax payments become delinquent will also vary in Alaska as they are controlled by individual municipalities and boroughs. For many municipalities and boroughs, property taxes become delinquent immediately after the due date, and a flat penalty (a percentage of total due for tax installment) is added to the tax bill.

When does the typical Alaska municipality make the delinquent tax list available?
This will vary widely due to the differences in property tax policies between the municipalities. In general, tax deed sales are very irregular throughout the state because a tax foreclosed property is deeded to the State for a period of at least one year before it may be offered for sale to the general public. If a municipality or a borough determines that a property can be of "public use" either entity will just keep a property indefinitely. or either entity will transfer the property deed properties to the another.

What is the name of the county official whom typically conducts tax deed sales in Alaska?
This will vary according to the municipality or borough.

When does the typical Alaska municipality hold their tax deed sale?
No Alaska municipality or borough has regularly scheduled sales. Investors must check in with each individual municipality or borough to get more information on tax deed sales. Some municipalities may maintain mailing lists to which investors may subscribe.

What are the registration requirements for the typical Alaska tax deed sale?
This will vary depending on the municipality or borough.

What is the bidding type used at a typical Alaska tax deed sale?
Premium bidding at a public outcry auction.

What forms of payment are generally accepted at a typical Alaska tax deed sale?
This will vary depending on the municipality or borough.

What are the general payment terms for the typical tax deed purchased at an Alaska tax deed sale?
This will vary depending on the municipality or borough.

What is the redemption period for tax deeds in Alaska?
In Alaska, the "Redemption Period" is actually the one-year period that property owners are given by the municipalities to redeem their property once the municipality brings an annual foreclosure action on all delinquent accounts. Once a property is deeded to a municipality or a borough after this one-year period, it is impossible for the former property owner to reclaim the property.

Are tax deeds offered "over-the-counter" in Alaska?
Yes. over-the-counter tax deed sales are done at the state level, and in some cases, through municipalities or boroughs.

What is the name of the official whom typically determines the values of properties on a annual basis?
The Assessor.

Does the typical Alaska municipality feature a Geographic Information System (GIS) application on their Web site?
Some of the larger municipalities have GIS data available. GIS applications can be very useful for tax deed investors because most of them feature aerial photos (some with zooming options), and a lot of them are integrated with tax bills and assessor/appraisal records, which simplifies the task of researching properties online.

For more information on the life cycle, requirements, and administering of tax liens in the state of Alaska, refer to the pertinent state laws in the Alaska Statutes.
 

Alaska Municipality and Borough Reference