Clarke County, GASurplus Funds and Excess Proceeds

In Georgia, money left over after a delinquent property tax sale is called excess funds. Unlike most states, the funds are held by the county Tax Commissioner rather than a court clerk, and each county publishes its own excess funds list.

Excess funds belong to the parties with a claim on the property at the time of the sale — typically the former owner of record, then lienholders in order of priority. Counties generally require a written claim with proof of identity and proof of interest before releasing money.

Always confirm current claim requirements and deadlines directly with the county Tax Commissioner before acting on any list.

Athens-Clarke County publishes an "Excess Tax Sale Funds" list through the Tax Commissioner's office, covering tax sales going back to 2020. Each line shows the sale date, the defendant in fifa the funds are recorded under, the property description with its parcel number, the bid amount, the taxes owed, the excess, anything already claimed, and the balance still held.

The figures shown here are the BALANCE column only. Where part of a surplus has already been paid out, you see what the county still holds rather than the original excess, so nothing here is money the county has already released.

Excess funds are paid out in the order of priority set by O.C.G.A. 48-4-5 — the former record owner, then lienholders of record. The Tax Commissioner publishes an Excess Funds Request Form; submit it in writing with proof of your interest in the property. The office may require an affidavit and will not decide competing claims itself, and where claims compete it may interplead the money into Superior Court. Questions go to Tax Commissioner JP Lemay or Delinquent Tax Officer Emily Linares at (706) 613-3120. Unclaimed balances are eventually remitted to the Georgia Department of Revenue as unclaimed property.