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Richmond County, GA

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Richmond County, Georgia — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redeemable tax deed, 12-month redemption, 20%/10% premium, § 48-4-5 surplus waterfall, barment notice, judicial in rem alternative, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → georgia. This page covers how Richmond County (Augusta-Richmond County) actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

  • County seat: Augusta · Population: ~206,524 · FIPS: 13245
  • Recording / governing unit: Consolidated city-county — the City of Augusta and Richmond County operate as a single unified government, the Augusta-Richmond County Consolidated Government (consolidated 1996). “Augusta, Georgia” and “Richmond County” are coextensive (the small enclave cities of Hephzibah and Blythe excepted for some municipal functions). — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf
  • Selling authority: Richmond County Tax Commissioner, who serves as Ex-Officio Sheriff of Richmond County and appoints Ex-Officio Deputy Sheriffs to advertise and bring property to sale (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-137; § 48-3-6). The Tax Commissioner — not the elected Sheriff — conducts the tax-execution sale; the deed issues as a “Sheriff’s Tax Deed.” — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf
  • Parent legal framework: georgia

C1. Local Tax Sale

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

  • Where/how to redeem (non-judicial Sheriff’s Tax Deed): The owner, creditor, or any person with an interest tenders the full redemption amount directly to the tax-deed purchaser (the holder of the Sheriff’s Tax Deed) — not to the Tax Commissioner. Redemption amount = the tax-sale price + taxes paid by the purchaser after the sale + any special assessment + a 20% premium for the first year or fraction and 10% per additional year or fraction since the sale (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-42). The purchaser cannot take possession, receive rents, or make improvements during the 12-month window. On redemption the purchaser issues a quitclaim deed revesting title (subject to the liens that existed at the time of sale). — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf ; georgia §2

  • Redemption period (non-judicial): 12 months following the tax sale, and continuing until a valid § 48-4-45 barment notice is served and its period expires. If redemption occurs more than 30 days after the foreclosure (barment) notice, the sheriff’s service costs and publication costs are added to the redemption price. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf

  • Redemption (judicial-in-rem): A much shorter window. Pre-sale: an interested party may redeem at any point before the sale by paying the redemption amount (taxes, accrued interest, penalties, collection costs) to the Richmond County Tax Commissioner; the proceeding is then dismissed (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-80). Post-sale: the former owner has 60 days after the sale to pay the redemption amount (the minimum bid) into the registry of the Superior Court; the bidder is refunded and the action dismissed. Miss that window and, within 90 days of the sale, the tax commissioner issues the deed and absolute title passes to the purchaser (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-81). — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Judicial-Tax-Sale-Brochure.pdf

  • Local redemption contact / office (for guidance; tender goes to the deed holder for non-judicial sales): Richmond County Tax Commissioner — Municipal Building Office 535 Telfair Street, Suite 100, Augusta, GA 30901 Phone: (706) 821-2391 · Fax: (706) 821-2419 Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. — https://arctax.com/contact-us/

  • Local fees: No Richmond-specific redemption surcharge beyond the statutory formula was identified. — georgia §2

  • Deviations from state default: Richmond County actively uses both the standard redeemable-deed path (12-month redemption + barment) and the judicial-in-rem path (60-day post-sale redemption, absolute title at sale) — the latter a material deviation, adopted locally by the October 6, 1998 resolution. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Judicial-Tax-Sale-Brochure.pdf

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

OPERATIONS NOTE. Excess funds (overbid above the tax execution amount) from a Richmond County non-judicial tax sale are held by the Tax Commissioner’s Office (in escrow) and disbursed under the O.C.G.A. § 48-4-5 priority waterfall (record owner at time of sale; record security-deed holders; other recorded-interest holders). A claimant must file the office’s Excess Funds Request Form. By stated office policy, all third-party requests require the Tax Commissioner to file an interpleader in Superior Court, with funds deposited in the court’s registry for distribution by court order. Judicial-in-rem surplus is different: the Tax Commissioner deposits any surplus over the minimum bid directly into the Superior Court registry, and the Superior Court distributes it (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-81).

▸ For Investors / Operators — Richmond County runs a standard Georgia redeemable-deed Sheriff’s Sale plus an active judicial-in-rem track. A non-judicial overbid generates § 48-4-5 excess funds the Tax Commissioner holds and distributes by recorded-interest priority — but any third-party claim is automatically interpleaded into Richmond County Superior Court. Judicial-in-rem surplus goes straight into the court registry. See georgia §5b for this state’s marketable-title path (quia-timet quiet title with a special master — not needed for in-rem deeds) and §7b for surviving liens (a senior security deed survives the non-judicial tax sale; IRS § 7425 120-day redemption on a noticed junior federal lien).

▸ For Former Owners — If a Richmond County tax sale brings more than the taxes, penalties, interest, and costs, that excess belongs to you (and your lienholders) by priority under § 48-4-5. The office mails you a letter explaining how to claim; file the “Request to Apply for Excess Funds” form (with ID and an affidavit/indemnification) at the Tax Commissioner’s office (535 Telfair Street, Suite 100; (706) 821-2391). Claim before the 5-year transfer to the Georgia Department of Revenue. For a judicial-in-rem sale, surplus is held in the Superior Court registry and released by court order.

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeNameAddressPhoneURL
Tax Commissioner (Ex-Officio Sheriff; levying officer; sale + non-judicial excess-funds venue)T. Chris Johnson (Tax Commissioner / Ex-Officio Sheriff); Steven B. Kendrick (Chief Deputy)535 Telfair Street, Suite 100, Augusta, GA 30901(706) 821-2391 · (706) 821-2300 · fax (706) 821-2419https://arctax.com/
Clerk of Superior, State & Juvenile Court (deeds, GED, quiet title, interpleaders, in-rem surplus registry)Hattie H. Sullivan, ClerkAugusta Judicial Center, 735 James Brown Blvd, Suite 1500, Augusta, GA 30901(706) 821-2460 · Real Estate / Deeds & Plats: (706) 821-2493 · fax (706) 821-2448https://www.augustaga.gov/296/Clerk-of-Superior-State-Juvenile-Court
Board of Tax Assessors (valuation, parcel data)Chief Appraiser (name needs_verification)535 Telfair Street, Suite 120, Augusta, GA 30901(706) 821-2310 · Residential (706) 821-2312 · fax (706) 821-2325https://augustarichmondtaxassessor.com/
Augusta, Georgia Land Bank AuthorityAugusta Land Bank Authority (AGLBA)1450 Greene Street, Suite 80, Augusta, GA 30901(706) 849-3737https://aglba.org/

Note on Recorder / Register of Deeds: Georgia has no separate Register of Deeds. Real property deeds (including Sheriff’s Tax Deeds, barment notices, lis pendens, and quiet-title decrees) and tax fi. fa.’s (on the General Execution Docket) are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court, Real Estate Division (735 James Brown Blvd, Suite 1500; Deeds & Plats (706) 821-2493). Statewide index and e-filing via GSCCCA (https://www.gsccca.org/). As of January 1, 2025, HB 1292 requires real-estate documents to be e-filed through GSCCCA. — https://www.gsccca.org/clerks/clerk-results?cid=121

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • Consolidated city-county: Augusta and Richmond County are one unified government (Augusta-Richmond County Consolidated Government). A single Tax Commissioner handles billing, collection, levy, and sale; there is no separate central-city tax-sale process (unlike Chatham/Savannah). The enclave cities of Hephzibah and Blythe retain limited separate municipal identity. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf

  • Tax Commissioner as Ex-Officio Sheriff: The Tax Commissioner (T. Chris Johnson) serves as Ex-Officio Sheriff and appoints Ex-Officio Deputy Sheriffs to conduct the levy and sale; the deed runs as a “Sheriff’s Tax Deed” (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-137; § 48-3-6). — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf

  • Two sale tracks (non-judicial + judicial-in-rem): Richmond County primarily uses the non-judicial redeemable-deed sale but has locally adopted (resolution of October 6, 1998) the judicial-in-rem process under O.C.G.A. §§ 48-4-75 to 48-4-81 for properties delinquent at least two years and for abandoned/blighted parcels. In rem deeds vest absolute title at sale, eliminating barment and (usually) quiet title; surplus goes to the Superior Court registry. Bidders must know which track a parcel is on. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Judicial-Tax-Sale-Brochure.pdf

  • Foreclosure of redemption (barment) — local timing: After 12 months, the purchaser causes the foreclosure (barment) notice to be served by the sheriff of the county, not less than 45 days before the redemption-expiration date; the sheriff serves in-county persons within 15 days of delivery. The notice is then published in the legal section of the Augusta Chronicle once a week for four consecutive weeks after the 12 months have elapsed. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf

  • Subsequent tax sales of the same parcel: Until redemption is barred or the deed ripens, the tax deed has the force of a lien; the tax-deed purchaser is listed as the defendant in fi. fa. (record owner) for any subsequent levy and sale — a trap for purchasers who do not promptly bar or pay subsequent taxes. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf

  • No possession before 12 months: State law prohibits the purchaser from taking possession or trespassing before twelve months from the sale date. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf

  • GSCCCA e-filing (HB 1292, effective Jan 1, 2025): All deed recordings (tax-sale deeds, barment notices, lis pendens, quiet-title orders) must be e-filed through GSCCCA. — https://www.gsccca.org/

C6. Records Access

C8. Title & Quiet Title

  • Title type:

    • Non-judicial Sheriff’s Tax Deed: Redeemable tax deed — defeasible title subject to the 12-month-plus statutory right of redemption. Becomes absolute only after the right of redemption is barred (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-45/46) or the deed ripens by prescription (§ 48-4-48; 4 years from recordation for post-7/1/1996 deeds, 7 years for pre-7/1/1989 deeds, with adverse possession). The brochure states a Sheriff’s Tax Deed “only conveys ‘defeasible title.‘” — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf
    • Judicial-in-rem deed: Absolute title vests in the purchaser at the sale — “eliminating the need for post-sale barment procedures and quiet title action” — and the property sells free and clear of liens, claims, and encumbrances except those preserved by law (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-79). — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Judicial-Tax-Sale-Brochure.pdf

  • Quiet title action (non-judicial path):

    • Required? Practically yes for marketable/insurable title after barment; the brochure expressly recommends “the petition to quiet title in land, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 23-3-60” after foreclosing the right of redemption (and again after ripening by prescription). Title can also ripen by prescription without barment, but quiet title is the reliable path for title insurance. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf ; georgia §5b
    • Type: Judicial — statutory quia-timet quiet title “against all the world” under O.C.G.A. § 23-3-60 et seq., with a court-appointed Special Master who examines the petition, determines who is entitled to notice, and reports to the court for a decree removing clouds and binding the land. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf ; georgia §5b
    • Court: Richmond County Superior Court (Augusta Judicial Circuit) / Clerk of Superior Court, 735 James Brown Blvd, Suite 1500, Augusta, GA 30901. — https://www.augustaga.gov/804/Superior-Court
    • Typical timeline: Uncontested ~6–12 months; contested 12–18+ months (statewide Georgia quiet-title norms; Richmond-specific docket timing needs_verification). — georgia §5b
    • Typical cost range: ~$2,000–$5,000 uncontested, higher if contested (statewide estimate: attorney fees + Superior Court civil filing fee + special-master fee + publication). Richmond-specific civil filing fee and special-master fee are needs_verification. — georgia §5b

  • Quiet title (judicial-in-rem path): Not required — absolute title vests at the sale; the in-rem deed eliminates barment and (in most cases) quiet title. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Judicial-Tax-Sale-Brochure.pdf

  • Deed seasoning notes: Title insurers generally will not insure a Georgia redeemable Sheriff’s Tax Deed until redemption is barred and (in practice) a quiet-title judgment is obtained; the judicial-in-rem deed is materially more insurable at sale. — georgia §5b ; https://kimandbagwell.com/recipe-for-regret-why-you-shouldnt-let-your-georgia-tax-deed-ripen-by-prescription/

  • Title insurers active locally: needs_verification — national underwriters (Stewart, Old Republic, Fidelity National, First American) maintain agents in the Augusta market, but their specific posture on Richmond County tax deeds requires direct inquiry. No Richmond-specific insurer list was retrieved from primary sources.

C9. Purchaser Obligations

  • Subsequent tax payment office: Post-sale (subsequent) property taxes are paid to the Richmond County Tax Commissioner — 535 Telfair Street, Suite 100, Augusta, GA 30901; online via https://richmondcountyga.governmentwindow.com/tax.html; phone (706) 821-2391. The brochure confirms the tax-deed purchaser “becomes liable for taxes due on the property for subsequent years until redeemed”; subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser are added to the redemption price (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-42). — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf ; georgia §1

  • Notice to owner procedure (barment / foreclosure of right to redeem): After the 12-month minimum, the non-judicial purchaser causes a § 48-4-45 foreclosure (barment) notice to be served by the sheriff of the county, not less than 45 days before the redemption-expiration date, on the defendant in fi. fa. (former owner), occupants, and recorded-interest holders, with publication in the Augusta Chronicle once a week for four consecutive weeks after the 12 months elapse. The barment notice is recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court (GSCCCA e-filing). If redemption occurs more than 30 days after the notice, the purchaser may add the sheriff’s service and publication costs to the redemption price. — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf ; O.C.G.A. § 48-4-45 ; georgia §5

  • Redemption payment office (where the owner goes):

  • Occupancy / access during redemption: For the non-judicial path, the brochure is explicit: state law prohibits the purchaser from taking possession or trespassing prior to twelve months from the sale date, and the purchaser “is not authorized to receive rents or make improvements to any structure on the property or grade any lot prior to this time.” — https://arctax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Delinquent-Tax-Sales-Brochure-for-Web-CJ.pdf

C10. Local Restrictions

  • Land bank active: Yes — the Augusta, Georgia Land Bank Authority (AGLBA) is an active land bank acting on behalf of Augusta-Richmond County under the Georgia land-bank framework (O.C.G.A. §§ 48-4-60 et seq.). Mission: acquire tax-delinquent, vacant, abandoned, and dilapidated properties and return them to productive use for housing and economic development. The AGLBA may extinguish all or part of delinquent Augusta-Richmond County taxes, request the Richmond County Board of Education extinguish past-due school taxes, and request the Augusta Commission waive special assessments. Location: 1450 Greene Street, Suite 80, Augusta, GA 30901; (706) 849-3737. — https://aglba.org/ ; https://augustaga.gov/FAQ/Topic?mobile=ON&topic=45 ; https://www.augustaga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12908/AGLBA-Policies—Procedures-Purchaser-Application

  • Right of first refusal (ROFR) / pre-auction transfer: The AGLBA acquires tax-delinquent properties under the § 48-4-60 land-bank framework (and may extinguish back taxes to facilitate redevelopment). Whether the AGLBA exercises a statutory or contractual right of first refusal at the Tax Commissioner’s live tax sale, or instead acquires by pre-auction transfer/assignment of executions, was not confirmed from a retrieved primary source. needs_verification — bidders for tax-delinquent Richmond County parcels should confirm any AGLBA claim on a parcel with the Tax Commissioner and the Land Bank before the sale. — https://aglba.org/

  • Entity / insider restrictions: Georgia imposes no statewide entity-purchaser restriction at tax sales (any person or entity may bid — see georgia §11b). No Richmond County / Augusta-Richmond County ordinance imposing additional entity or insider bidding restrictions was identified. needs_verification for any local ordinance. The county governing authority may bid only up to the execution amount where bids fall short (O.C.G.A. §§ 48-4-20/22, state default). — georgia §11b

C7. Meta

sources:

needs_verification:

  • Published excess-funds list for Richmond County (Excess Funds page describes the form/process but does not post a list; confirm whether posted or available on request).
  • Pre-registration / deposit mechanics for in-person bidders (presale info session at 9:30 a.m. published; no formal pre-registration or deposit amount stated).
  • Board of Tax Assessors Chief Appraiser individual name (office/contacts confirmed; name not retrieved from a primary source).
  • Richmond County Superior Court civil filing fee and quiet-title special-master fee (county-specific amounts; statewide ranges used).
  • Title insurance underwriters active for Richmond County tax-deed / quiet-title policies (no Richmond-specific list retrieved).
  • Whether the Augusta Land Bank Authority exercises a right of first refusal at the live tax sale or acquires by pre-auction transfer of executions (§ 48-4-60 framework confirmed; live-sale ROFR not confirmed from primary source).
  • Any local ordinance imposing entity/insider bidding restrictions (none identified; absence not positively confirmed).
  • Confirmation of the current sale venue for a given month (535 Telfair St vs. 735 James Brown Blvd courthouse) — both listed in brochures; confirm per-sale.

cross_links: georgia, surplus-funds, right-of-redemption, third-party-recovery-rules, tyler-v-hennepin-county, due-process-notice, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, federal-tax-lien-redemption, ripening-by-prescription, hoa-super-priority, land-bank-authority, quiet-title-after-tax-sale

changelog:

  • 2026-06-02: Initial page created. Primary sources retrieved (full-text PDF render): Richmond County Delinquent Tax Sales brochure and Judicial-in-Rem Tax Sales brochure (both T. Chris Johnson, Tax Commissioner/Ex-Officio Sheriff), Excess Funds page + “Request to Apply for Excess Funds” form (third-party interpleader policy), Contact Us, Tax Sale Lists (next sale June 2, 2026), Online Payments / GovernmentWindow portal, Board of Assessors / qPublic, Clerk of Superior Court (Hattie H. Sullivan, 735 James Brown Blvd), Augusta GIS, Augusta Land Bank Authority, GSCCCA, Georgia DOR Richmond facts. Consolidated city-county structure, dual non-judicial + judicial-in-rem tracks, and the automatic third-party-interpleader excess-funds policy documented.

Disclaimer: This page contains legal information, not legal advice. Laws, procedures, deadlines, office names, and contact details change. Verify every fact against the cited primary sources before acting. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions about a specific property, consult a licensed Georgia attorney. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

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