When a county sells a property at a tax deed auction to recover delinquent taxes, it often sells for more than the debt owed. This extra money is called "tax deed surplus" or "overage." Legally, those funds belong to the former owner.
The practical trend? As property values consistently appreciate over time, surplus amounts trend upward. Even in fluctuating real estate markets, the equity built into a home or land parcel frequently results in thousands—sometimes tens of thousands—of dollars in unclaimed funds sitting quietly in county treasuries.
The catch is that counties rarely notify former owners. If you don't file a claim, the money is eventually swept into the state’s general unclaimed property fund, where it becomes much harder to trace.
Could this be you? Ask yourself:
Have you, a relative, or a past business partner lost a property to a tax foreclosure or tax sale in the last several years?
Did an estate settle without checking for tax sale overages?
If you answered yes, you are a prime prospect for a tax deed surplus claim. You don't have to accept the total loss of your hard-earned equity. By researching past tax sales and filing the proper paperwork, you can recover the funds that are rightfully yours. Don't leave your money on the county's table.
