Mobile County, Alabama — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → alabama. This page covers how Mobile County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

• County seat: Mobile · Population: ~414,809 (2020 census) · Recording unit: county
• Parent legal framework: alabama
• System in use: Mobile County adopted the Article 7 Sale of Tax Liens system beginning with tax year 2019 delinquent properties. The county previously used the sale-of-land (probate auction) system; properties with pre-2019 delinquencies that were bid in for the State may still be available through the ADOR price-quote process. — Source: mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); see alabama for dual-system framework.

C1. Local Tax Sale

Mobile County uses the Article 7 bid-down-interest online tax lien certificate auction under Ala. Code §§ 40-10-180 et seq. No traditional probate-court “sale of land” auction is conducted for post-2018 delinquencies.

• Conducts own sale? Yes — the Mobile County Revenue Commissioner (Kim Hastie) conducts the lien auction as the Tax Collecting Official under Ala. Code § 40-10-182.
• Platform: GovEase.com — online auction at https://www.govease.com; investor registration at https://liveauctions.govease.com/Account/Login. GovEase support: (769) 208-5050.
• Sale calendar:
  • Delinquent-list publication: no later than ~March 30 annually (2026 date: March 30, 2026).
  • Bidder registration opens: approximately April 6 annually (2026 date: April 6, 2026).
  • Auction date: annual, typically in May; 2026 auction: Monday, May 11, 2026, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM CDT.
  • Statutory window: auction must be held between March 1 and June 15 (Ala. Code § 40-10-182).
  • Source: mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Bidding method: Bid-down interest. Opens at 12% per annum (statutory ceiling); bidders reduce in 1% increments; lowest bid wins. If multiple bidders reach 0%, winner is determined by random number generator. — Ala. Code § 40-10-184; mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Rate within statutory range: The certificate’s interest rate is market-determined at auction (0%–12% simple interest per annum, prorated monthly). No county-set floor above 0% or ceiling below 12%.
• Registration deposit: 10% of the bidder’s approved bid amount, payable through GovEase.com via ACH, debit/credit card, or wire transfer. Registration is not complete and the bidder is not approved until the deposit has cleared. — mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Full payment deadline: The balance (remaining 90%) must be paid within two business days after the auction closes. — mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Bidder requirements: Internet access and a modern browser. The Revenue Commission’s Michael Square office provides computer access by appointment for bidders without internet access. A GovEase account and approved registration (including deposit) are required before bidding.
• Certificate issuance: After the auction closes, GovEase issues a bid report and the Revenue Commission mails a tax lien certificate to each winning bidder. Within 10 days of the auction, the Revenue Commissioner mails written notice to each affected property owner identifying the tax lien purchaser. — Ala. Code § 40-10-187; mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Administrative fee: $45 per lien (included in the lien costs recovered at redemption). — mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Certificate expiration / void: If the tax lien certificate holder fails to redeem or commence a foreclosure action within 10 years from the date of the certificate, the certificate expires and the lien becomes void. — Ala. Code § 40-10-197(a); mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Delinquent list location: Published on the Revenue Commissioner’s website: downloadable CSV files by tax year at https://mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/list/ (tax years 2021–2024 confirmed available as of 2026-06-02). — mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/list/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• No surplus in Article 7 sales: Because the auction bids down the interest rate rather than up a cash price, there is no overbid/excess bid and thus no surplus arising from Mobile County’s current tax lien auctions. Any surplus-fund issues relate only to pre-Article 7 sale-of-land sales from before tax year 2019 or State-held parcels. — alabama § 40-10-184.

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

Mobile County uses Article 7; redemption is governed by Ala. Code §§ 40-10-193 and 40-10-197.

• Where to redeem: Mobile County Revenue Commissioner’s office, 3925 Michael Blvd Suite G, Mobile, AL 36609. Unless the certificate holder has commenced a § 40-10-197 foreclosure action, all redemptions must be made through this office. — mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Local fees: $10 redemption fee to the Revenue Commissioner (Ala. Code § 40-10-193), plus the$45 administrative fee if included in certificate costs. Total redemption amount = delinquent taxes + interest + penalties + title report costs + other fees and costs + interest owed to the purchaser at the certificate’s bid rate + $10 redemption fee. — mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Payment form: Certified funds required (cash, cashier’s check, or money order). — mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Redemption window: Any time after the auction close until a judgment of foreclosure is entered in a § 40-10-197 circuit court action. The certificate holder cannot commence foreclosure before 3 years after the auction; the lien expires if not foreclosed within 10 years. — Ala. Code §§ 40-10-193, 40-10-197(a); mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• After foreclosure action filed: A party with the right to redeem may still redeem before final judgment by paying the redemption amount into the Mobile County Circuit Court. — Ala. Code § 40-10-197(c).
• Redemption contact:
  • Office: Mobile County Revenue Commissioner
  • Phone: (251) 574-8530
  • Main office: 3925 Michael Blvd Suite G, Mobile, AL 36609
  • Mailing: PO Box 1169, Mobile, AL 36633-1169
  • Web: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/
• Deviations from state default: None identified. Mobile County operates under the standard Article 7 framework. For pre-2019 sale-of-land parcels still held by the State, redemption runs through the ADOR price-quote process (https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/tax-delinquent-property-and-land-sales/). — sold-to-state.

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

Important: Mobile County’s current Article 7 lien auctions generate no surplus (bid-down interest, no cash overbid). The following applies only to pre-Article 7 “sale of land” tax sales conducted before the 2019 tax year in which a cash overbid above the probate court decree amount occurred.

• Claim filing venue: Under Ala. Code § 40-10-28, the county (Mobile County Commission / Tax Collecting Official) holds and releases any excess bid from pre-2019 sale-of-land auctions. No dedicated Mobile County excess-proceeds claim form page was retrieved from an official source.
  • Mobile County Revenue Commissioner: 3925 Michael Blvd Suite G, Mobile, AL 36609 · (251) 574-8530
  • Mobile County Commission: 205 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36644 · (251) 574-4636
• Claim form: needs_verification — No Mobile County-specific excess-bid claim form was located on a directly-retrieved official page. Contact the Revenue Commissioner’s office for current procedures.
• Local deadline notes: Under Ala. Code § 40-10-28 (as amended through 2017), the surplus from a sale-of-land auction is released to the former owner only upon proof of redemption during the 3-year statutory redemption period (surplus may be credited toward redemption); after the statutory period, the surplus is released only upon a circuit court order evidencing redemption. For sales in calendar year 2016 or later, there is a 10-year outer limit; after 10 years without a redemption order, the surplus becomes county property. For pre-2016 sales, the redemption-first requirement applies and the funds remain with the county until redemption is proved. — Ala. Code § 40-10-28; alabama Module 3.
• Tyler v. Hennepin note: The § 40-10-28 “redeem-to-claim” surplus design has been flagged as constitutionally questionable post-Tyler v. Hennepin County (2023). Mobile County’s Article 7 system generates no surplus and thus does not directly implicate Tyler for current sales. Legacy pre-2019 surpluses are subject to the § 40-10-28 framework pending any curative legislation. — tyler-v-hennepin-county; alabama § 0.
• Unclaimed list published: needs_verification — No Mobile County public listing of unclaimed excess bids was located on a directly-retrieved official page.
• Contact: Mobile County Revenue Commissioner, (251) 574-8530, https://mobilecopropertytax.com/

▸ For Investors / Operators — Mobile County adopted the Article 7 bid-down-interest tax lien system beginning with tax year 2019 delinquencies, running on GovEase.com. The annual auction (typically May; 2026 auction: May 11) opens at 12% and bids down in 1% increments (0% ties resolved by random number generator). Registration requires a 10% deposit; the remaining 90% is due within two business days. The certificate holder cannot commence foreclosure before 3 years from issuance, and the lien expires if not foreclosed within 10 years (Ala. Code § 40-10-197(a)). Because the auction bids down interest rather than cash, there is no overbid and no surplus pool from current sales. Delinquent lists (CSV by tax year 2021–2024) are downloadable at mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/list/.

▸ For Former Owners — The current Article 7 lien auctions produce no cash overbid, so there is no surplus to claim from post-2018 sales. For pre-2019 sale-of-land tax sales that generated a cash excess bid, contact the Mobile County Revenue Commissioner (3925 Michael Blvd Suite G, Mobile, AL 36609; (251) 574-8530) regarding any unclaimed excess under Ala. Code § 40-10-28 — note that the § 40-10-28 framework ties surplus release to redemption, and its constitutionality post-Tyler v. Hennepin County is under scrutiny. You can stop a pending Article 7 lien foreclosure by paying the full redemption amount in certified funds to the Revenue Commissioner’s office before final judgment (Ala. Code § 40-10-197(c)).

C4. Offices & Contacts

Note: In Alabama, the Probate Court’s Document Recording Division performs register-of-deeds functions (recording deeds, mortgages, liens, plats). There is no separate standalone Recorder / Register of Deeds office in Mobile County. — mobilecountyal.gov/county-directory/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• Article 7 adoption — effective tax year 2019: Mobile County explicitly elected the tax lien certificate system beginning with tax year 2019 delinquencies: “Beginning with tax year 2019 delinquent properties, the Mobile County Revenue Commission decided to migrate to the auction/sale of tax liens.” — mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Pre-2019 parcels / State-held land: Properties delinquent before tax year 2019 that were bid in for the State may still be available for purchase through the ADOR price-quote process. The ADOR publishes a Mobile County transcript of state-held parcels (updated weekly). Neither an ADOR assignment nor a tax deed from the State gives clear title. — revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/tax-delinquent-property-and-land-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); sold-to-state.
• Satellite offices: As of March 2026, all satellite Revenue Commission offices (Theodore, Eight Mile, Citronelle, Downtown Mobile) are closed; only the main Michael Square location (3925 Michael Blvd Suite G) is operational. Check mobilecopropertytax.com for current location status. — mobilecopropertytax.com/about/locations/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
• Stiff v. Equivest legacy: For any pre-2019 sale-of-land parcels in Mobile County, practitioners should verify that each sale was conducted at the proper exterior courthouse location per Ala. Code § 40-10-15. The Alabama Supreme Court voided a similarly-conducted Jefferson County (Bessemer) sale in stiff-v-equivest-financial-2020 (Ala. 2020). Under Article 7 (current system), this in-person location issue is moot for new lien sales.
• No surplus from current lien auctions: Because Article 7 bids down interest rather than cash, there is no overbid mechanism and no surplus pool. Surplus claims exist only for pre-2019 sale-of-land tax years.
• Office hours: Main office Mon–Tue–Thu–Fri, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM (closed Wednesdays). — mobilecopropertytax.com/about/locations/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).

C6. Records Access

• Parcel / property search: Mobile County Revenue Commissioner eSearch portal — https://esearch.mobilecopropertytax.com/ (search by owner name, street address, property ID, or parcel key number; 2008–2026 tax years available).
• Recorder / deed search: Deed and mortgage recording is handled by the Probate Court Document Recording Division, 205 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36644, phone (251) 574-6040. No standalone online deed-search portal URL was retrieved from a directly-fetched official page. needs_verification for an online document-search portal (if any) for Mobile County Probate.
• GIS map: Mobile County Revenue Commissioner interactive map — https://gis.bisclient.com/alabama/mobilecad/ (BIS Consultants parcel layer; note: the GIS portal returned a browser compatibility warning on direct fetch — use a modern browser or check mobilecopropertytax.com for an updated GIS link).
• Tax payment portal: Mobile County Citizen Access Portal — https://mobile.capturecama.com/receiptsearch (online tax payment and receipt search).
• Delinquent lists: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/list/ (CSV files by tax year, 2021–2024 confirmed available as of 2026-06-02).
• GovEase auction / investor registration: https://liveauctions.govease.com/Account/Login (opens approximately April 6 annually ahead of the May auction).
• State-held delinquent property (ADOR): https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/tax-delinquent-property-and-land-sales/ (Mobile County transcript available for parcels held by the State).

C7. Meta

sources:

• {type: official, url: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Mobile County Revenue Commissioner tax lien sale page — confirmed Article 7 adoption for tax year 2019; auction platform GovEase; 2026 sale date May 11; registration opens April 6; 10% deposit; $45 admin fee;$10 redemption fee; redemption through Revenue Commissioner office; certificate notice within 10 days; 10-year expiration rule; delinquent list at mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/list/; no surplus from current auctions”}
• {type: official, url: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Revenue Commissioner main site — Kim Hastie; 3925 Michael Blvd Suite G, Mobile AL 36609; (251) 574-8530; portals: esearch.mobilecopropertytax.com, mobile.capturecama.com/receiptsearch, gis.bisclient.com/alabama/mobilecad/”}
• {type: official, url: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/about/locations/, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “All satellite offices closed as of March 2026; only Michael Square location open; main office hours Mon-Tue-Thu-Fri 7am-5pm”}
• {type: official, url: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/list/, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Delinquent property tax lists available as CSV by tax year (2021–2024); related delinquent announcement link”}
• {type: official, url: https://mobile.alacourt.gov/, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Mobile County Circuit Court Clerk Ashleigh Long; Government Plaza, 205 Government St Suite 913, Mobile AL 36644-2913; (251) 574-8806; hours 8am-5pm M-F”}
• {type: official, url: https://www.mobilecountyal.gov/county-directory/, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Probate Court Judge Mark Erwin, 205 Government St, Mobile AL 36644, (251) 574-6000; Document Recording (251) 574-6040; Certified Copies (251) 574-6070; Circuit Clerk Ashleigh Long (251) 574-8786; Circuit Civil (251) 574-8420; Revenue Commissioner (251) 574-8530”}
• {type: official, url: https://www.mobileso.com/contact-us-2/, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “Sheriff Paul Burch; 510 South Royal St, Mobile AL 36603; (251) 574-2423”}
• {type: official, url: https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/tax-delinquent-property-and-land-sales/, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “ADOR state-held delinquent land; Mobile County transcript available; price-quote process; assignment vs deed at 3 yrs; no clear title from either; transcript updated weekly”}
• {type: statute, url: https://mobilecopropertytax.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/40-10-197-Action-to-foreclose-the-right-to-redeem-and-quiet-title-notice-requirements-effect-of.pdf, retrieved: 2026-06-01, note: ”§ 40-10-197 full text — 3-yr minimum / 10-yr maximum foreclosure window; 30-180 day certified-mail pre-filing notice; redemption into circuit court before judgment; tolling for court orders; clerk’s deed after judgment — retrieved and text extracted per alabama.md log”}
• {type: secondary, url: https://www.jdsupra.com/post/fileServer.aspx?fName=1e385993-3104-404d-9c1f-cb88c57ad088.pdf, retrieved: 2026-06-01, note: “Burr & Forman 2020 paper on Alabama tax sales — dual system framework, § 40-10-28 surplus/redemption mechanics, § 40-10-182/184 lien auction procedure”}

needs_verification:

• Mobile County Probate Court online deed-search portal URL (if any) — Document Recording Division reached at (251) 574-6040 but no standalone online search portal URL confirmed from a directly-retrieved page.
• Mobile County excess-bid / surplus claim form for pre-2019 sale-of-land tax sales — no official Mobile County form page retrieved; contact Revenue Commissioner for current procedure.
• Whether Mobile County publishes a public listing of unclaimed excess bids from pre-2019 sale-of-land sales.
• Whether any 2024–2025 Alabama legislation cured the § 40-10-28 “redeem-to-claim” surplus design post-Tyler v. Hennepin County.
• Current status of pre-2019 state-held Mobile County parcels — number/value not confirmed from a directly-retrieved page.
• Revenue Commissioner office hours may have changed — “all satellite offices closed” note dated March 2026; verify current satellite status.

cross_links: alabama, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, tyler-v-hennepin-county, stiff-v-equivest-financial-2020, sold-to-state, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, due-process-notice

changelog:

• 2026-06-02 — Initial population (autoresearch). Article 7 tax lien system adoption (tax year 2019) confirmed from official Revenue Commissioner page. Platform (GovEase), 2026 auction date (May 11), deposit (10%), fees ($45 admin /$10 redemption), calendar, redemption procedure all confirmed from directly-retrieved official pages. Four offices (Revenue Commissioner, Probate Court, Circuit Clerk, Sheriff) with verified phone/address. Records portals confirmed. No surplus from current auctions confirmed. Pre-2019 sale-of-land surplus framework documented with gaps flagged.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Mobile County adopted the Article 7 bid-down-interest tax lien system beginning with tax year 2019 delinquencies, running on GovEase.com. The annual auction (typically May; 2026 auction: May 11) opens at 12% and bids down in 1% increments (0% ties resolved by random number generator). Registration requires a 10% deposit; the remaining 90% is due within two business days. The certificate holder cannot commence foreclosure before 3 years from issuance, and the lien expires if not foreclosed within 10 years (Ala. Code § 40-10-197(a)). Because the auction bids down interest rather than cash, there is no overbid and no surplus pool from current sales. Delinquent lists (CSV by tax year 2021–2024) are downloadable at mobilecopropertytax.com/taxliensale/list/.

▸ For Former Owners — The current Article 7 lien auctions produce no cash overbid, so there is no surplus to claim from post-2018 sales. For pre-2019 sale-of-land tax sales that generated a cash excess bid, contact the Mobile County Revenue Commissioner (3925 Michael Blvd Suite G, Mobile, AL 36609; (251) 574-8530) regarding any unclaimed excess under Ala. Code § 40-10-28 — note that the § 40-10-28 framework ties surplus release to redemption, and its constitutionality post-Tyler v. Hennepin County is under scrutiny. You can stop a pending Article 7 lien foreclosure by paying the full redemption amount in certified funds to the Revenue Commissioner’s office before final judgment (Ala. Code § 40-10-197(c)).

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes Mobile County, Alabama tax sale operations from official sources as of the last_verified date. Mobile County uses the Article 7 tax lien certificate system for tax year 2019 and later delinquencies; pre-2019 properties follow Alabama’s sale-of-land framework. Law changes; verify against the current Code of Alabama 1975 (Title 40 Ch. 10 Art. 7), county official sites, and counsel before acting. Last verified: 2026-06-02.