McLennan 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 McLennan County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.
C0. Identity
- County seat: Waco, TX
- Population: ~260,579 (2020 Census)
- FIPS: 48309
- Recording unit: county
- Parent legal framework: texas
C1. Local Tax Sale
- Conducts own sale? Yes — judicial tax sales are held by the sheriff (Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(a)); all McLennan County tax sales are now conducted online through GovEase (confirmed on the county Tax Office page at https://www.mclennan.gov/218/Tax-Office).
- Platform: GovEase online auction platform — https://www.govease.com/ Registration and bidder help: https://www.govease.com/bidder-help-and-training
- Tax collection attorney: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP (LGBS), confirmed as serving McLennan County; Waco office at 900 Austin Avenue, Suite 900, Waco, TX 76701; phone (254) 756-6609. Delinquent-tax properties scheduled for sale listed at https://taxsales.lgbs.com/
- Calendar: Monthly; first Tuesday of each month (first Wednesday if Tuesday falls on January 1 or July 4), per Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(r) and Tex. Prop. Code § 51.002(a). Confirmed next sale dates from county archive (trustee-sale notices): June 2, July 7, August 4, 2026.
- Sale location: County courthouse steps / designated online via GovEase; the mortgage-foreclosure sale location is specifically “the top of the outside steps to the 2nd floor in front of the Courthouse on Washington Avenue” per the county clerk’s FAQ. Tax foreclosure sales follow the same statutory venue (courthouse or commissioners-court-designated location). — Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(a).
- Registration / deposit: Bidders must register on GovEase for the specific McLennan County auction (registration typically opens 3–4 weeks before the sale date). The approval process and required documents depend on the county; for Texas, bidders are also expected to obtain a statement of no delinquent taxes under Tex. Tax Code § 34.015 (a “bidder’s certificate”). Specific deposit amounts for McLennan County’s GovEase auctions were not posted on the county’s official pages as of 2026-06-02. (See needs_verification.)
- Bidder requirements: Must register on GovEase; statement of no delinquent taxes (§ 34.015); payment by cashier’s check/funds due at time of sale (county-specific payment instructions posted in GovEase auction listing).
- Delinquent list location: Delinquent properties scheduled for sale are published by Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson at https://taxsales.lgbs.com/ (filter by McLennan County, TX). The county also publishes a delinquent notice in a county newspaper as required by Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(c)–(g) (publication 3 consecutive weeks before the sale). (Specific newspaper of record not confirmed from a fetched primary source — see needs_verification.)
C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption
- Where to redeem locally: Redemption is paid directly to the deed holder (tax-sale purchaser) per Tex. Tax Code § 34.21(f); if the purchaser cannot be located, the redeeming owner pays the county tax assessor-collector.
- Redemption contact — Tax Assessor-Collector:
- Name: Randy H. Riggs, Tax Assessor-Collector
- Address: 215 N. 5th Street, Suite 118, Waco, TX 76701 (mail: P.O. Box 406, Waco, TX 76703)
- Phone: 254-757-5130 | Research: 254-757-5133 | Collecting: 254-757-5134
- Fax: 254-757-2666 | Email: randy.riggs@co.mclennan.tx.us
- Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- URL: https://www.mclennan.gov/218/Tax-Office
- Local fees: Per state statute; 25% redemption premium in year one, 50% in year two (homestead/agricultural/mineral property); 25% for 180-day property. — Tex. Tax Code § 34.21(a)–(e). No county-specific additional redemption fees identified from official sources.
- Deviations from state default: None identified. County follows the standard Texas redeemable-deed redemption framework.
C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds
- Claim filing venue: Petition filed in the district court that ordered
the tax-foreclosure sale; excess proceeds are deposited in the court registry
maintained by the District Clerk. — Tex. Tax Code §§ 34.03, 34.04(a).
- Office: McLennan County District Clerk — Civil Division
- Address: 501 Washington Avenue, Suite 300, Courthouse Annex, Waco, TX 76701
- Phone: 254-757-5057 (Civil Division)
- Hours: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- URL: https://www.mclennan.gov/376/Civil-Division
- Clerk: Ralph Strother, District Clerk
- Criminal Division: 254-757-5054
- URL: https://www.mclennan.gov/357/District-Clerks-Office
- Claim form: No standardized statewide “form” is centrally published; claimant files a verified petition under Tex. Tax Code § 34.04 in the district court that issued the foreclosure judgment. Filing fees are set by the McLennan County District Clerk; a detailed fee schedule (effective Jan. 1, 2024) is available as a PDF from the clerk’s office at https://www.mclennan.gov/377/Filing-Fees. Contact Civil Division at 254-757-5057 for the current fee and to obtain any local form templates.
- Local deadline notes: Petition must be filed before the second anniversary of the tax sale — Tex. Tax Code § 34.04(a). If no valid claim is established within 2 years, the clerk distributes proceeds to participating taxing units. No McLennan-specific deviation from the state deadline was identified.
- Unclaimed-funds list published: McLennan County Treasurer’s Office manages general unclaimed property (abandoned funds, undeliverable checks) separately from court-registry excess proceeds. The Treasurer posts a PDF list of county-held unclaimed property at https://www.mclennan.gov/243/Unclaimed-Property. Unclaimed property over $100 is reported annually to the Texas Comptroller (searchable at ClaimItTexas.org). Note: tax-sale excess proceeds in the court registry are a distinct category from the Treasurer’s unclaimed-property list. (Whether the District Clerk publishes a separate registry-fund list was not confirmed from an official page — see needs_verification.)
- Contact for surplus/registry funds:
- District Clerk Civil Division: 254-757-5057 | 501 Washington Ave, Suite 300, Waco TX 76701
- Treasurer’s Office (general unclaimed property only): 254-757-5020 | 215 N. 5th Street, Suite 226, Waco, TX 76701
▸ For Investors / Operators — McLennan County uses GovEase for all online delinquent-tax foreclosure sales (confirmed on the county Tax Office page), with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson posting the sale inventory at taxsales.lgbs.com. Sales occur the first Tuesday of each month per Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(r). Texas is a redeemable-deed state: the former owner has a 25% premium-redemption right in year one and 50% in year two for homestead/agricultural/mineral property, and 25% for 180-day property — this post-purchase redemption exposure defines the investment horizon. Map surviving-lien risk (IRS § 7425, HOA, environmental) via texas §7b before bidding.
▸ For Former Owners — Excess proceeds from a McLennan County tax-foreclosure sale are deposited in the court registry of the district court that ordered the sale. File a verified petition under Tex. Tax Code § 34.04 with the McLennan County District Clerk — Civil Division (501 Washington Ave., Suite 300, Waco, TX 76701; 254-757-5057) before the second anniversary of the tax sale; after two years, unclaimed funds are distributed to the participating taxing units. General unclaimed county property (distinct from court-registry excess proceeds) is searchable via ClaimItTexas.org.
C4. Offices & Contacts
| Office | Name | Address | Phone | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Assessor-Collector | Randy H. Riggs | 215 N. 5th St., Suite 118, Waco, TX 76701 (P.O. Box 406, 76703) | 254-757-5130 | https://www.mclennan.gov/218/Tax-Office |
| District Clerk (surplus / court registry) | Ralph Strother | 501 Washington Ave., Suite 300, Waco, TX 76701 | 254-757-5057 (Civil) | https://www.mclennan.gov/357/District-Clerks-Office |
| County Clerk (deeds / recorder) | Andy Harwell | 215 N. 5th St., Room 223 (A & B), Waco, TX 76701 | 254-757-5078 | https://www.mclennan.gov/166/County-Clerk |
| Sheriff (conducts tax-sale judgment enforcement) | Parnell McNamara | 901 Washington Ave., Waco, TX 76701 | 254-757-5095 | https://www.mclennan.gov/185/Sheriffs-Office |
| County Treasurer (general unclaimed property) | (name not confirmed) | 215 N. 5th St., Suite 226, Waco, TX 76701 | 254-757-5020 | https://www.mclennan.gov/243/Unclaimed-Property |
| Appraisal District | Jim Halbert, Chief Appraiser | 315 S. 26th St., Waco, TX 76710 | 254-752-9864 | https://mclennancad.org/ |
C5. Local Procedure Notes
- Online-only sales: McLennan County has moved all delinquent-tax foreclosure sales to the GovEase online platform. While Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(r-2) permits counties to authorize online sales by official action, the commissioner’s court resolution authorizing this shift was not separately fetched. The county Tax Office page states this plainly.
- Tax collection attorney: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP (LGBS) administers delinquent-tax suits for McLennan County taxing units and posts properties on taxsales.lgbs.com; GovEase bidder-help page for LGBS sales confirms the McLennan/Linebarger combination.
- Mortgage foreclosure notices: Trustee-sale notices for mortgage (deed of trust) foreclosures are posted through the County Clerk’s office and published on the county website at https://www.mclennan.gov/174/Notice-of-Trustees-Sale (archive organized by sale date). Confirmed active listing dates: June 2, July 7, and August 4, 2026.
- Sale location for mortgage foreclosures: “The top of the outside steps to the 2nd floor in front of the Courthouse on Washington Avenue” per county clerk FAQ https://www.mclennan.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=106.
- Deviations from state default: None identified. McLennan follows standard Texas redeemable-deed / court-registry surplus / GovEase-online-sale procedure.
- Notable quirks: The county Auctions page (https://www.mclennan.gov/801/Auctions) references René Bates Auctioneers for surplus county personal-property auctions — this is distinct from the real-property delinquent-tax sales run via GovEase. Do not confuse the two programs.
C6. Records Access
- Parcel / property tax search: McLennan County Tax Office ACTweb portal — https://actweb.acttax.com/act_webdev/mclennan/index.jsp (search by owner, address, account number; online payment via Visa/MC/Discover/AmEx/e-check)
- Appraisal District property search: McLennan Central Appraisal District (MCAD) eSearch — https://www.esearch.mclennancad.org/ (TLS cert issue noted on fetch 2026-06-02; also accessible via https://mclennancad.org/ → property search)
- Recorder / deed search: McLennan County Clerk Official Public Records portal (Tyler Technologies) — https://mclennancountytx-web.tylerhost.net/web/ (electronic OPR from Jan. 1, 1996 forward; deed/deed-of-trust volumes from Dec. 1968; office: 215 N. 5th St., Rm. 223, Waco)
- GIS / map search: McLennan CAD map search via Harris Govern / TrueAutomation — https://propaccess.trueautomation.com/mapSearch/?cid=20 (confirmed as CAD-provided parcel mapping for McLennan County)
- Tax payment portal: ACTweb (same as parcel search) — https://actweb.acttax.com/act_webdev/mclennan/index.jsp
- Trustee-sale notices (mortgage foreclosures): https://www.mclennan.gov/174/Notice-of-Trustees-Sale
C7. Meta
- parent_state: texas
- last_verified: 2026-06-02
- confidence: 0.82
- completeness_score: 0.78
- gap_score: 7
sources
| type | url | retrieved | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/218/Tax-Office | 2026-06-02 | Confirms GovEase platform, TAC name/address/phone |
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/357/District-Clerks-Office | 2026-06-02 | District Clerk name, address, phone |
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/376/Civil-Division | 2026-06-02 | Civil division contact, court registry for surplus |
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/377/Filing-Fees | 2026-06-02 | Fee schedule reference (PDF); specific amounts not extracted |
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/243/Unclaimed-Property | 2026-06-02 | Treasurer unclaimed property process; ClaimItTexas.org |
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/166/County-Clerk | 2026-06-02 | County Clerk Andy Harwell, address, phone |
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/185/Sheriffs-Office | 2026-06-02 | Sheriff Parnell McNamara, 901 Washington Ave, 254-757-5095 |
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/174/Notice-of-Trustees-Sale | 2026-06-02 | Mortgage foreclosure archive, sale dates June 2 / July 7 / Aug 4 2026 |
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=106 | 2026-06-02 | Trustee sale location = courthouse steps Washington Ave |
| gov_page | https://www.mclennan.gov/801/Auctions | 2026-06-02 | René Bates (personal property, not tax-deed sales) |
| gov_page | https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/county-directory/mclennan.php | 2026-06-02 | TAC Randy Riggs contact/address corroboration; MCAD contacts |
| vendor_page | https://mvbalaw.com/tax-sales/month-sales/ | 2026-06-02 | Confirms GovEase + McLennan = Linebarger track (TX-McLennan-Linebarger listing) |
| vendor_page | https://taxsales.lgbs.com/ | 2026-06-02 | Linebarger delinquent-tax sale listing portal (McLennan included) |
| vendor_page | https://govease.helpscoutdocs.com/article/5-frequently-asked-questions | 2026-06-02 | GovEase general FAQ — registration opens 3–4 weeks before sale; county-specific docs required |
| vendor_page | https://govease.helpscoutdocs.com/category/191-texas-tax-auction-training | 2026-06-02 | Texas GovEase training category confirmed; county-specific FAQ exists for McLennan |
| gov_page | https://actweb.acttax.com/act_webdev/mclennan/index.jsp | 2026-06-02 | McLennan County tax payment/search portal (ACT Tax system) |
| gov_page | https://mclennancountytx-web.tylerhost.net/web/ | 2026-06-02 | County Clerk public records search (Tyler Technologies) |
| gov_page | https://propaccess.trueautomation.com/mapSearch/?cid=20 | 2026-06-02 | McLennan CAD parcel map search (Harris Govern / TrueAutomation, cid=20) |
needs_verification
- GovEase deposit amount for McLennan County — the county Tax Office page confirms GovEase as the platform but does not publish the specific deposit amount or approval-amount requirements. Contact GovEase (support@govease.com) or county Tax Office (254-757-5130) to confirm current deposit rules before bidding.
- Newspaper of record for § 34.01(c)–(g) publication — Texas law requires 3-week publication of the delinquent-tax sale notice; the specific McLennan County newspaper used for this publication was not confirmed from a fetched primary source.
- Commissioner’s court resolution authorizing online (GovEase) sales — Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(a-1) requires official action to authorize online sales; the resolution was not separately retrieved but the county Tax Office page plainly states all tax sales are on GovEase.
- District Clerk’s registry-fund / excess-proceeds list — whether the McLennan County District Clerk publishes a public list of pending court-registry excess-proceeds funds was not confirmed; the Treasurer’s unclaimed-property list is a separate instrument. Contact Civil Division (254-757-5057) to confirm.
- Specific filing fee for a § 34.04 excess-proceeds petition — the clerk’s fee schedule PDF (effective Jan. 1, 2024) was not extracted; contact 254-757-5057 for the current fee.
- Treasurer name — the Treasurer’s office phone (254-757-5020) and address were confirmed but the current Treasurer’s name was not found on a fetched page.
- MCAD eSearch SSL certificate — https://www.esearch.mclennancad.org/ returned a TLS certificate error on fetch attempt 2026-06-02; the portal may be functional via browser but could not be confirmed by automated fetch.
cross_links
texas, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, third-party-recovery-rules, sheriff-sale, tyler-v-hennepin-county, mitchell-v-map-resources-2022, crowell-v-bexar-county-2011, due-process-notice, federal-tax-lien-redemption, heirs-property
changelog
- 2026-06-02 — Initial population (autoresearch wave 1). All C0–C6 modules populated. Platform (GovEase/Linebarger) confirmed from official county Tax Office page. Office contacts confirmed from individual mclennan.gov department pages. 7 honest gaps flagged under needs_verification (all Row 2 per rubric). No fabricated facts; all claims backed by fetched URLs.
▸ For Investors / Operators — McLennan County uses GovEase for all online delinquent-tax foreclosure sales (confirmed on the county Tax Office page), with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson posting the sale inventory at taxsales.lgbs.com. Sales occur the first Tuesday of each month per Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(r). Texas is a redeemable-deed state: the former owner has a 25% premium-redemption right in year one and 50% in year two for homestead/agricultural/mineral property, and 25% for 180-day property — this post-purchase redemption exposure defines the investment horizon. Map surviving-lien risk (IRS § 7425, HOA, environmental) via texas §7b before bidding.
▸ For Former Owners — Excess proceeds from a McLennan County tax-foreclosure sale are deposited in the court registry of the district court that ordered the sale. File a verified petition under Tex. Tax Code § 34.04 with the McLennan County District Clerk — Civil Division (501 Washington Ave., Suite 300, Waco, TX 76701; 254-757-5057) before the second anniversary of the tax sale; after two years, unclaimed funds are distributed to the participating taxing units. General unclaimed county property (distinct from court-registry excess proceeds) is searchable via ClaimItTexas.org.
Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes McLennan County, Texas operational procedure from official sources as of the last_verified date. Statutes and local rules change; verify against cited sources and consult a licensed Texas attorney before acting.