--- title: "What Are Tax Sale Overages? | E. Albert Law" description: "Our surplus funds recovery attorneys have helped property owners recover millions of dollars in tax sale overages. But most homeowners didn't even know what overages were or that they were owed any surplus funds." lang: en json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "What Are Tax Sale Overages?", "description": "Our surplus funds recovery attorneys have helped property owners recover millions of dollars in tax sale overages. But most homeowners didn't even know what overages were or that they were owed any surplus funds.", "datePublished": "November 14, 2022", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Esther Mesidor" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "E. Albert Law" }, "image": "https://excessfundslawyer.com/images/blog/what-are-tax-sale-overages-social.jpg" } --- [![E. Albert Law](/assets/ea-law-logo-BW8YqpsI.png)](/) Georgia Lawyer [Atlanta Accident / Personal Injury Lawyer](/atlanta-personal-injury-lawyers)[Georgia Foreclosure Excess Proceeds Recovery Attorney](/surplus-funds-recovery) Surplus Funds [Former Homeowner](/georgia-homeowners-claim-for-surplus-money-after-foreclosure)[Third-Party Companies](/atlanta-lawyer-for-third-party-companies-fund-claims)[Other Interested Party](/georgia-other-interested-party-rights-to-excess-proceeds-claim)[Attorney for Foreclosure Probate Services](/atlanta-attorney-service-for-probate-owners-fund-claims)[Find a County List](/blog/georgia-county-surplus-funds-list) Atlanta Area [Atlanta](/atlanta-personal-injury-lawyers)[Buckhead](/buckhead-personal-injury-lawyer)[Decatur](/decatur-personal-injury-lawyer)[DeKalb County](/dekalb-county-personal-injury-lawyer)[Dunwoody](/dunwoody-personal-injury-lawyer)[Fulton County](/fulton-county-personal-injury-lawyer)[Mableton](/mableton-personal-injury-lawyer)[Sandy Springs](/sandy-springs-personal-injury-lawyer)[Smyrna](/smyrna-personal-injury-lawyer)[Stone Mountain](/stone-mountain-personal-injury-lawyer) Personal Injury [Back Injury](/atlanta-back-injury-lawyer)[Construction Accident](/atlanta-construction-accident-lawyers)[Dog Bite](/atlanta-dog-bite-lawyer)[Fall Accident](/atlanta-fall-accident-lawyer)[Industrial Accident](/atlanta-industrial-accident-attorney)[Neck Injury](/atlanta-neck-injury-attorneys)[Spinal Cord](/atlanta-spinal-cord-injury-attorney)[Warehouse](/atlanta-warehouse-accident-lawyer)[Whiplash](/atlanta-whiplash-injury-attorney)[Work](/atlanta-work-accident-lawyers)[Workplace](/atlanta-workplace-injury-attorneys) Georgia Attorney [Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer](/georgia-personal-injury-lawyer)[Georgia Car Accident Attorney](/georgia-car-accident-lawyer)[Georgia Truck Accident Attorney](/georgia-truck-accident-lawyer)[Georgia Motorcycle Accident Attorney](/georgia-motorcycle-accident-lawyer)[Georgia Bicycle Accident Attorney](/georgia-bicycle-accident-lawyer)[Georgia Pedestrian Accident Attorney](/georgia-pedestrian-accident-lawyer)[Georgia Slip & Fall Accident Attorney](/georgia-fall-accident-lawyer) Vehicle Accident [Car Accident](/atlanta-car-accident-lawyers)[Bicycle Accident](/atlanta-bicycle-accident-lawyers)[Motorcycle Accident](/atlanta-motorcycle-accident-lawyers)[Pedestrian Accident](/atlanta-pedestrian-accident-lawyers)[Truck Accident](/atlanta-truck-accident-lawyers)[Distracted Driving](/atlanta-distracted-driving-accident-attorney)[Drunk Driving](/atlanta-drunk-driving-accident-lawyer)[Hit and Run](/atlanta-hit-and-run-accident-lawyers)[Lyft](/atlanta-lyft-accident-lawyer)[Rideshare](/atlanta-rideshare-accident-lawyers)[Uber](/atlanta-uber-accident-attorney) EA Law [About](/about)[Blog](/blog)[Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/surplusfundsgeorgia)[Contact the Attorney](/contact) [678-664-4878](tel:6786644878) [](tel:6786644878)[678-664-4878](tel:6786644878) # Tax Sale Surplus Funds, Explained November 14, 2022 4 min read ![what are tax sale overages?](/images/blog/what-are-tax-sale-overages.jpg) Our surplus funds recovery attorneys have helped property owners recover millions of dollars in tax sale overages. But most of those homeowners didn't even know what overages were or that they were even owed any surplus funds at all. ## How It Works When a homeowner is unable to pay property taxes on their home, they may lose their home in what is known as a tax sale auction or a sheriff's sale. A tax sale auction is typically held by the county, which has the power to advertise the home for sale and sell the tax lien to collect unpaid property taxes. At a tax sale auction, properties are sold to the highest bidder, however, in some cases, a property may sell for more than what was owed to the county, which results in what are known as surplus funds or tax sale overages. ## Tax Sale Overages Tax sale overages are the extra money left over when a foreclosed property is sold at a tax sale auction for more than the amount of back taxes owed on the property. Unlike mortgage auctions, the opening bid at a tax auction is usually the amount of unpaid taxes due on the property, (plus penalties, interest, and any associated costs for putting on the auction). If the property sells for more than the opening bid, then overages will be generated. However, what most homeowners do not know is that many states do not allow counties to keep this extra money for themselves. Some state statutes dictate that excess funds can only be claimed by a few parties — including the person who owed taxes on the property at the time of the sale. Let me give you an example. If the previous property owner owes $1,000.00 in back taxes, and the property sells for $100,000.00 at auction, then the law states that the previous property owner is owed the difference of $99,000.00. The county does not get to keep unclaimed tax overages unless the funds are still not claimed after 5 years. Counties will typically publish information regarding these overages in an excess funds list and are required by law to make an effort to notify the previous owner of the funds. However, the notice will usually be mailed to the address of the property that was sold, but since the previous property owner no longer lives at that address, they often do not receive this notice unless their mail was being forwarded. If you are in this situation, don't let the government keep money that you are entitled to. If your home was foreclosed on for unpaid taxes and later sold at a tax sale auction for higher than what you owed, an excess funds lawyer will help you recover the money that is rightfully yours. Call E. Albert Law at [678-664-4878](tel:6786644878) for your free consultation with a [foreclosure lawyer](/surplus-funds-recovery). You can also email us at surplusfunds@ealbertlaw.com. [How Long Does It Take To Get Surplus Funds? ](/blog/how-owners-collect-money-from-foreclosure-sale) ### Contact Us Today Please note: Our office does not respond to requests for excess funds lists. Please contact the county directly. Name \* Email \* Phone \* Message \* Send > > "The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demands: See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God." \- Micah 6:8 [![E. 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