Texas (TX)

Claim Excess Proceeds From Texas Property Tax Sales

Texas counties hold excess proceeds from delinquent property tax sales. If your home was sold at a tax foreclosure auction for more than the taxes owed, you have a limited time to claim what's left.

How It Works

Free to check. No obligation. You pay nothing unless we recover funds for you.

254
Counties Covered
Direct
Filing supported
2 Types
Of Surplus Funds
Free
To Check Your Name

Texas property tax foreclosure sales are run at the county level, typically on the first Tuesday of each month at the courthouse steps. When a parcel sells for more than the delinquent taxes, penalties, and costs, the excess proceeds are deposited with the District Clerk or County Treasurer.

Texas operates with a redemption right. Owners of homestead and agricultural property generally have two years to redeem; non-homestead, non-ag property has six months. Excess proceeds claims interact with this redemption period — timing matters.

Texas regulates surplus-fund finders directly. Property Code § 51.0076 caps the contingency fee at 25% of the recovered amount, and the statute applies whenever the recovery exceeds $1,000. Below that threshold the cap doesn't apply, but most claims are well above it.

What Counts as Surplus Funds in Texas

Not every property sale generates a surplus, and the rules vary by source. Here's what we look for in Texas.

Tax Foreclosure Excess Proceeds

When delinquent-tax property sells for more than taxes, penalties, interest, and costs, the surplus is held by the District Clerk or County Treasurer. Texas Tax Code § 34.04 governs claims.

Trustee's Sale Surplus

Texas is a non-judicial foreclosure state for most mortgage foreclosures. Trustee's sale surplus is distributed by the trustee, with junior lienholders taking priority before the former owner.

How the Process Works in Texas

Texas has its own timelines and rules. Here are the key facts that drive a successful claim.

Timelines

Tax surplus claim window
2 years from the date the deed is filed for record (Tax Code § 34.04)
Redemption period
2 years for homestead/ag property, 6 months for other property

Fees & Legal

Finder fee cap
25% of recovered amount when recovery exceeds $1,000 (Texas Property Code § 51.0076).
Attorney involvement
Not required. You can file directly, or we can handle it for you.
Statutory citation
Texas Tax Code § 34.04 (excess proceeds); Texas Property Code § 51.0076 (finder fee cap)

Major Texas Counties We Monitor

Harris County
Population ~4.78M
Houston — Texas's most populous county
Dallas County
Population ~2.61M
Tarrant County
Population ~2.13M
Fort Worth
Bexar County
Population ~2.04M
San Antonio
Travis County
Population ~1.31M
Austin

We monitor all 254 Texas counties — these are just the largest.

No Upfront Cost

We work on contingency. If we don't recover funds, you owe us nothing.

Secure & Compliant

Funds flow through Escrow.com. We follow each state's finder rules — including Texas's.

Your Right to File

You always have the right to file a claim independently in Texas, at no cost.

Check If You're Owed Surplus in Texas

It takes 30 seconds. Enter your name and we'll search our database of unclaimed surplus funds across Texas foreclosures and tax sales.

Frequently Asked Questions — Texas

How long do I have to claim excess proceeds from a Texas tax sale?

Two years from the date the deed to the property is filed for record. After that, unclaimed proceeds are typically distributed to the taxing units that participated in the sale.

What is the maximum finder fee allowed in Texas?

Texas Property Code § 51.0076 caps the contingency fee at 25% of the recovered amount when the recovery exceeds $1,000. Any agreement that violates the cap is unenforceable.

What's the difference between redemption and excess proceeds in Texas?

Redemption lets you buy your property back from the tax-sale purchaser within the redemption period. Excess proceeds is what's left over from the sale price after taxes and costs are paid — a separate cash claim that doesn't restore ownership.

Do I need an attorney to claim excess proceeds in Texas?

No. You can file directly with the District Clerk or County Treasurer. Our service is for owners who want professional help navigating the paperwork and lien-priority issues.

Who has priority on Texas excess proceeds?

Generally the order is: remaining taxes, recorded lienholders by lien date, then the former owner. The court resolves disputes when claims overlap.