Harris County, Texas — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure
Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → texas. This page covers how Harris County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-01.
C0. Identity
- County seat: Houston · Recording unit: county (one of Texas’s 254 counties)
- Population: ~4.8 million (most populous county in Texas) (rounded; not a primary-source field)
- Parent legal framework: texas — redeemable tax-deed state; judicial delinquent-tax suit → judgment → officer’s (constable) sale; excess proceeds under Tex. Tax Code § 34.04.
- Tax Assessor-Collector: Annette Ramirez (Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar). — https://www.hctax.net/
C1. Local Tax Sale
- Conducts own sale? Yes — Harris County runs a monthly live, in-person tax sale. It is not an online auction (no RealAuction/GovEase/Bid4Assets platform). Properties are offered by the eight (8) Constable Precincts simultaneously, in the order shown on the property boards at the sale. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Platform / venue: in person at the Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight Road, Houston, TX 77045 (the FAQ instructs the public not to call or visit the venue with sale inquiries). Onsite parking is $5. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Calendar: first Tuesday of every month, starting promptly at 10:00 a.m. and ending when the last property is offered (not after 4:00 p.m.). If the first Tuesday is a national holiday (New Year’s Day or Independence Day), the sale moves to the next business day (Wednesday). Next known sale listed: June 2, 2026. — https://www.hctax.net/Property/listings/taxsalelisting ; https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Offering types: three categories — (1) Executions (court order enforcing a judgment), (2) Tax Sales (first-time offerings for delinquent taxes), (3) Tax Resales (struck-off property re-offered, often at a reduced minimum bid). — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Minimum bid (rate within statutory range): set per Tex. Tax Code § 34.01 at the lower of (a) HCAD market value at time of judgment or (b) total judgment amount (tax, penalty, interest, attorney fees) plus court cost, title-search cost, constable fee, posting/publication fees and sale fee. Determined by the constable before the sale and announced at the sale. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Registration & deposit: mandatory registration with the Harris County Tax Office (renewed annually); register online any time or in person the day of the auction beginning at 8:30 a.m. No cash deposit to register, but you must produce funds to pay in full at the sale. No registration needed for the separate Trustee Auction held across the lot. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf ; https://www.hctax.net/Property/TaxSales
- Bidder requirements: valid ID; must not owe delinquent taxes on any Harris County property (Tex. Tax Code § 34.015 “statement”). To bid, raise the assigned bidder card in plain sight; may bid on multiple properties and across multiple precincts. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Payment terms: cash or certified/cashier’s check only (no money orders), due at the time of sale; checks made payable to the selling Constable Precinct (or to the buyer then endorsed over). Overpayments refunded by the Constable’s Office in ~6–8 weeks. All sales are final, property sold “As Is.” — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Deed issued: a Constable’s Deed or Sheriff’s Deed within 4 to 6 weeks after the sale; the winning bidder is responsible for submitting the recorded deed to HCAD to change ownership. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Delinquent / sale list location: published on the Tax Office site (Property → Tax Sales) at https://www.hctax.net/Property/listings/taxsalelisting — sortable by precinct, minimum bid, adjudged value, address, ZIP; shows account/cause numbers, adjudged value, minimum bid, precinct (1–8), and status (For Sale / Cancelled / Resale). Real-time execution/tax-sale status posted ~1 week prior at http://BIT.LY/HCTAXAUCTION. Also posted by the taxing units’ delinquent-tax law firms: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson (https://www.lgbs.com/) and Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott (https://www.pbfcm.com). — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption
- Periods inherit from state: 2 years (homestead / agricultural / mineral) or 180 days (other), running from deed recording. See texas §§ 34.21. No local shortening/lengthening identified.
- Where/how to redeem locally: the redeeming defendant first contacts the purchaser directly to agree on the redemption amount and obtain a release. If the purchaser cannot be located or the parties cannot agree, the defendant may tender a Redemption Affidavit plus the redemption amount to the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector; if accepted, a Receipt for Redemption is issued and the purchaser is notified that the redemption proceeds are available, to be filed with the County Clerk (per Tax Code Ch. 34, Subchapter B). — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Redemption contact: Harris County Tax Office, Special Tax Services Dept., 713-274-8120. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Deviations from state default: none identified; local process tracks the statutory premium/cost formula in texas.
C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds
- Where funds are held / claim filing venue: excess proceeds from a Harris County tax sale are deposited with the Harris County District Clerk, Accounting Section (Court Registry). A claim is made by filing a Petition to Withdraw / for Release of Excess Proceeds under Tex. Tax Code § 34.04 in the District Court of Harris County that ordered the sale (the suit/cause number). Funds are released only on a signed court order stating the payee’s name, address, and amount. — https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/common/child_support/Acc_CR_%20general_information.aspx?Level1=DivTaxSaleExcessProceeds
- District Clerk Court Registry address: Harris County District Clerk, Accounting Section, 201 Caroline, Suite 420, Houston, TX 77002. Phone (832) 927-5800 (a $5.00 research fee applies to phone inquiries). Email Court.Registry@hcdistrictclerk.com. — https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/common/child_support/Acc_CR_%20general_information.aspx?Level1=DivTaxSaleExcessProceeds
- Claim form: Harris County publishes a SAMPLE “Petition to Withdraw Excess Proceeds from the Registry of the Court” (district-court caption, Harris County, Texas; recites Tex. Tax Code § 34.04 and requests an order directing the District Clerk to pay) — https://www.justex.net/JustexDocuments/63/Petition%20for%20Excess%20Proceeds(SAMPLE).pdf . The District Clerk does not supply a fill-in claim form; claimants obtain the signed order via an attorney or a law library. — https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/common/child_support/Acc_CR_%20general_information.aspx?Level1=DivTaxSaleExcessProceeds
- Notice to former owner: upon receipt of excess proceeds the District Clerk sends a certified letter to the defendant within 31 days if the excess is more than $25. — https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/common/child_support/Acc_CR_%20general_information.aspx?Level1=DivTaxSaleExcessProceeds
- Local deadline notes: the statutory 2-year filing window from the date of sale governs (Tex. Tax Code § 34.04(a)); after that, unclaimed proceeds are distributed to the taxing units. See texas. (No shorter local deadline identified.)
- Unclaimed-funds list published? No standalone public list on the District Clerk site. Claimants may search the Records & Documents portal or email Court.Registry@hcdistrictclerk.com to request a listing of excess proceeds held (subject to fees). — https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/common/child_support/Acc_CR_%20general_information.aspx?Level1=DivTaxSaleExcessProceeds
- Recovery-agent rules: the statewide § 34.04(f) assignment regime and § 34.04(i) attorney-fee cap (25% / $1,000) apply — see third-party-recovery-rules and texas.
▸ For Investors / Operators — Harris County holds its tax sale on the first Tuesday of every month (currently at the Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight Road) with eight Constable Precincts auctioning simultaneously in person — no online platform. Mandatory pre-registration with the Tax Office (online any time or in person from 8:30 a.m.) and a no-delinquent-taxes certificate (§ 34.015) are required; payment must be cash or certified/cashier’s check at the time of sale, payable to the selling Constable Precinct. All sales are final and as-is; the deed issues 4–6 weeks after sale and the purchaser owes post-judgment taxes. Homestead and agricultural properties carry a 2-year redemption right at a 25%/50% premium.
▸ For Former Owners — Excess proceeds from a Harris County tax sale are deposited with the Harris County District Clerk Court Registry (201 Caroline, Suite 420, Houston, (832) 927-5800; email Court.Registry@hcdistrictclerk.com). Recovery requires filing a Petition to Withdraw Excess Proceeds under Tex. Tax Code § 34.04 in the District Court that ordered the sale (under the original cause number); a sample petition is available at justex.net. The District Clerk sends a certified letter to the former defendant within 31 days of receiving excess above $25. The 2-year deadline runs from the date of sale.
C4. Offices & Contacts
| Office | Name | Address | Phone | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treasurer / Tax Collector | Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector (Annette Ramirez) — Special Tax Services for sales | 1001 Preston St., Houston, TX 77002 (payments: P.O. Box 4622, Houston, TX 77210-4622) | 713-274-8120 (Special Tax Svcs) / 713-274-8000 main | https://www.hctax.net/ |
| District Clerk (excess-proceeds registry & delinquent-tax suits) | Harris County District Clerk (Marilyn Burgess) — Accounting Section / Court Registry | 201 Caroline, Suite 420, Houston, TX 77002 | (832) 927-5800 | https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/ |
| County Clerk / Recorder of Deeds | Harris County Clerk (Teneshia Hudspeth) — Real Property Records | 201 Caroline, Houston, TX 77002 | 713-274-6390 (Public Records) | https://www.cclerk.hctx.net/ |
| Sheriff / Constables (conduct the sale) | Eight Harris County Constable Precincts (Pct. 1: Alan Rosen) | Pct. 1: 1302 Preston, Suite 301, Houston, TX 77002 | Pct. 1: 713-755-5200 | https://pct1constable.net/divisions/civil-process/civil-executions/tax-sales/ |
C5. Local Procedure Notes
- Sale conducted by constables, not by the Tax Office or a private vendor. The Tax Office handles registration and the published list; the eight Constable Precincts simultaneously auction the properties in their precincts. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Live in-person only. Unlike many large Texas counties that have authorized online auctions, Harris County’s tax sale is held physically at the Bayou City Event Center; no online bidding platform. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Trustee (mortgage) sales are separate and not conducted by Harris County — they occur across the parking lot at the covered Pavilion and require no county registration. Don’t conflate them with the tax sale. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Struck-off property: Harris County generally does not sell struck-off properties by private resale; it re-offers them at a later sale with a reduced minimum bid (some smaller taxing units within the county do private resales). — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Buyer caveats: “As Is,” sale final, property may carry other liens/judgments not cleared by the sale, and the purchaser owes post-judgment taxes. Do independent title/condition diligence. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Venue note (verify): the Constable Pct. 1 page still references the older venue “Family Law Center, 1115 Congress.” The current authoritative Tax Office FAQ (Rev. 08-2025) specifies the Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight Road — treat the Tax Office venue as controlling. — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf ; https://pct1constable.net/divisions/civil-process/civil-executions/tax-sales/
C6. Records Access
- Parcel / property (appraisal) search — HCAD: https://www.hcad.org/ (enter HCAD account number to locate “0-address” vacant parcels). — https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf
- Recorder / deed search — County Clerk Real Property Records: https://www.cclerk.hctx.net/RealProperty.aspx (search portal https://cclerk.hctx.net/applications/websearch/RP.aspx ; images from Nov. 1960; free watermarked copies for docs after Jan. 2000). — https://www.cclerk.hctx.net/RealProperty.aspx
- District Clerk court records (excess-proceeds suits / registry): https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/edocs/public/search.aspx
- Tax payment portal: https://www.hctax.net/ (Property Tax)
- Tax sale listing: https://www.hctax.net/Property/listings/taxsalelisting
- GIS map: (no county GIS parcel-map URL retrieved from an official page — see needs_verification; HCAD https://www.hcad.org provides parcel/account lookup)
C7. Meta
- sources:
- {type: county_tax_office, url: “https://www.hctax.net/Property/TaxSales”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — tax sale overview / registration
- {type: county_tax_office, url: “https://www.hctax.net/About/Announcements/Tax%20Sale%20FAQs.pdf”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — official Tax Sale FAQs (Rev. 08-2025); venue, calendar, registration, payment, minimum bid, struck-off, redemption, deed — PDF read directly
- {type: county_tax_office, url: “https://www.hctax.net/Property/listings/taxsalelisting”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — published delinquent/sale list; next sale June 2, 2026
- {type: county_tax_office, url: “https://www.hctax.net/”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — Tax Assessor-Collector identity & downtown address
- {type: district_clerk, url: “https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/common/child_support/Acc_CR_%20general_information.aspx?Level1=DivTaxSaleExcessProceeds”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — excess-proceeds registry, address, phone, email, 31-day certified-letter notice
- {type: county_form, url: “https://www.justex.net/JustexDocuments/63/Petition%20for%20Excess%20Proceeds(SAMPLE).pdf”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — Harris County SAMPLE Petition to Withdraw Excess Proceeds (§ 34.04) — PDF read directly
- {type: county_clerk, url: “https://www.cclerk.hctx.net/RealProperty.aspx”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — real property / deed records search
- {type: constable, url: “https://pct1constable.net/divisions/civil-process/civil-executions/tax-sales/”, retrieved: 2026-06-01} — Constable Pct. 1 tax-sale process & contact (note older venue reference)
- needs_verification:
- County GIS parcel-map URL (no official GIS map page retrieved; HCAD account lookup used as substitute).
- Exact population figure (cited as rounded estimate, not from a county primary source).
- Tax Office main switchboard 713-274-8000 (Special Tax Services 713-274-8120 is the verified sales line).
- Per-precinct constable contacts beyond Pct. 1 (only Pct. 1 page retrieved).
- cross_links: texas, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, third-party-recovery-rules, sheriff-sale, due-process-notice
- changelog:
- 2026-06-01 — Initial population from Harris County official sources (Tax Office FAQ Rev. 08-2025, District Clerk Court Registry page, County Clerk RP search, justex.net § 34.04 petition sample, Constable Pct. 1). C0–C7 filled; surplus filing venue + form pinned to county sources. Honest gaps flagged.
▸ For Investors / Operators — Harris County holds its tax sale on the first Tuesday of every month (currently at the Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight Road) with eight Constable Precincts auctioning simultaneously in person — no online platform. Mandatory pre-registration with the Tax Office (online any time or in person from 8:30 a.m.) and a no-delinquent-taxes certificate (§ 34.015) are required; payment must be cash or certified/cashier’s check at the time of sale, payable to the selling Constable Precinct. All sales are final and as-is; the deed issues 4–6 weeks after sale and the purchaser owes post-judgment taxes. Homestead and agricultural properties carry a 2-year redemption right at a 25%/50% premium.
▸ For Former Owners — Excess proceeds from a Harris County tax sale are deposited with the Harris County District Clerk Court Registry (201 Caroline, Suite 420, Houston, (832) 927-5800; email Court.Registry@hcdistrictclerk.com). Recovery requires filing a Petition to Withdraw Excess Proceeds under Tex. Tax Code § 34.04 in the District Court that ordered the sale (under the original cause number); a sample petition is available at justex.net. The District Clerk sends a certified letter to the former defendant within 31 days of receiving excess above $25. The 2-year deadline runs from the date of sale.
Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes Harris County’s local tax-sale and surplus procedures from the county’s own official sources as of the last_verified date. Procedures, venues, and contacts change; verify against the cited county pages and consult a licensed Texas attorney before acting.