When The Taxes Go Unpaid
N.J.S.A. 54:5-54 — redemption until the right is cut off, and N.J.S.A. 54:5-86 — six months or two years before foreclosure
Redemption. The owner, the owner's heirs, the holder of a prior outstanding tax lien certificate, a mortgagee, or an occupant of land sold for municipal taxes may redeem it at any time until the right to redeem has been cut off, by paying the collector the amount required.
Two free calculations. The tax collector provides a party entitled to redeem two calculations of the redemption amount within a calendar year at no cost. A municipality may by ordinance charge a fee not to exceed $50 for each later calculation. The request is made in writing.
When foreclosure may begin. A municipality holding the certificate may sue to foreclose the right of redemption at any time after six months from the date of sale. Other holders may do so at any time after two years from the date of sale. Once the action is filed, the right to redeem continues until barred by the judgment of the Superior Court.
Abandoned property. For property that meets the definition of abandoned property, a certificate holder may file at any time to have the right of redemption barred.
What the redemption amount includes, the notices that must be given, and what happens to any money left after a sale are set out in other sections that are not on this page. Whether a particular property can still be redeemed is a question for a licensed New Jersey attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- N.J.S.A. 54:5-54 — Right of redemption by the owner
- N.J.S.A. 54:5-86 — Action to foreclose the right of redemption
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New Jersey attorney.