Texas Tax Sale Schedule 2026: County-by-County Dates

Texas tax sales follow a predictable schedule: they occur on the first Tuesday of every month at the county courthouse. This consistency makes Texas one of the easiest states for investors to plan around. Here is the complete 2026 schedule along with county-specific details you need to know.

2026 Texas Tax Sale Dates

All Texas tax sales occur on the first Tuesday of each month, as required by the Texas Property Tax Code (Section 34.01). If the first Tuesday falls on a holiday, the sale is held on the following day.

Month	Sale Date	Notes
January	Tuesday, January 6, 2026	First sale of the year; some counties have larger lists after the holiday period
February	Tuesday, February 3, 2026
March	Tuesday, March 3, 2026
April	Tuesday, April 7, 2026	Major sale month -- many counties add properties after fiscal year close
May	Tuesday, May 5, 2026
June	Tuesday, June 2, 2026
July	Tuesday, July 7, 2026
August	Tuesday, August 4, 2026
September	Tuesday, September 1, 2026
October	Tuesday, October 6, 2026
November	Tuesday, November 3, 2026	Election Day -- verify your county will hold the sale as usual
December	Tuesday, December 1, 2026	Some counties have smaller lists as owners pay off before year-end

Major County Details

While the date is the same statewide, each county handles the logistics differently. Here are specifics for the major metro counties.

Harris County (Houston)

• Location: Harris County Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline St, Houston
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Registration: Required; arrive early for registration
• Sale lists posted: Approximately 21 days before sale at Harris County tax office
• Volume: Harris County is the largest county in Texas -- expect 100-300+ properties per sale
• Payment: Cash or cashier's check, due same day

Dallas County

• Location: George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce St, Dallas
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Registration: Bidder registration required
• Sale lists posted: Available at Dallas County tax office approximately 3 weeks before sale
• Volume: Typically 50-200 properties per sale
• Payment: Cash, cashier's check, or money order, due same day

Tarrant County (Fort Worth)

• Location: Tarrant County Courthouse steps, 100 W Weatherford St, Fort Worth
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Registration: Pre-registration recommended
• Sale lists posted: Available at Tarrant County tax office
• Volume: Typically 30-150 properties per sale
• Payment: Certified funds due by end of business on sale day

Bexar County (San Antonio)

• Location: Bexar County Courthouse, 100 Dolorosa St, San Antonio
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Registration: Required on sale day
• Sale lists posted: Available at Bexar County tax office
• Volume: Typically 40-120 properties per sale
• Payment: Cash or cashier's check

Travis County (Austin)

• Location: Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe St, Austin
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Registration: Required; ID and completed form
• Sale lists posted: Available at Travis County tax office
• Volume: Typically 20-80 properties per sale (lower volume, higher values)
• Payment: Certified funds due same day

Collin County (Plano/McKinney)

• Location: Collin County Courthouse, 2100 Bloomdale Rd, McKinney
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Sale lists posted: Available at Collin County tax office
• Volume: Generally lower volume with higher-value suburban properties

How Texas Tax Sales Work

For investors new to Texas tax sales, here is the basic process:

Before the Sale

1. Tax delinquency accumulates -- Property owners fail to pay taxes for one or more years
2. County files a tax suit -- After sufficient delinquency, the county (through its attorneys) files a lawsuit to collect
3. Court judgment obtained -- The court orders the property sold to satisfy the tax debt
4. Sale list published -- The county posts the list of properties to be sold, typically 21 days before the sale

At the Sale

1. Register as a bidder -- Bring valid ID and complete registration forms
2. Properties auctioned -- Auctioneer reads each property and opens bidding at the minimum (taxes + penalties + fees + costs)
3. Competitive bidding -- Highest bidder wins
4. Payment due -- Winner pays the full amount in certified funds, typically within hours

After the Sale

1. Deed issued -- The county issues a Sheriff's Deed or Constable's Deed (takes 2-4 weeks)
2. Redemption period begins -- Former owners have a right to redeem the property by paying the sale price plus a penalty
3. Redemption period expires -- After the period (180 days for non-homestead, 2 years for homestead), you take full possession

Redemption Period Reminders

Understanding redemption periods is critical for planning your investment strategy:

Property Type	Redemption Period	Penalty if Redeemed
Non-homestead (investment, commercial)	180 days	25% of purchase price
Homestead (owner-occupied)	2 years	25% (year 1) or 50% (year 2)
Agricultural	2 years	25% (year 1) or 50% (year 2)

Key point: Even if the property is redeemed, you earn a guaranteed 25-50% return on your investment. Many investors consider this the best-case scenario.

Preparation Checklist

Here is what to do before attending a Texas tax sale:

4 Weeks Before

• Identify your target county or counties
• Research the county's specific procedures (website, phone calls)
• Set your budget and maximum bid amounts
• Arrange certified funds (cashier's checks)

3 Weeks Before (When Lists Are Posted)

• Download the tax sale list from the county website
• Research every property of interest on the county CAD website
• Drive by or Google Street View each property
• Check for title issues (liens, judgments, encumbrances)
• Calculate maximum bids using your investment criteria

1 Week Before

• Finalize your bid list (3-5 properties recommended for beginners)
• Obtain cashier's checks for maximum bid amounts
• Confirm auction location and time with the county
• Plan parking and arrival (arrive 30-60 minutes early)

Sale Day

• Bring: valid ID, cashier's checks, property research notes, calculator
• Register as a bidder upon arrival
• Follow along as properties are called
• Stick to your maximum bids -- do not get caught up in auction excitement
• If you win, complete payment as directed

Alternative: Buy Before the Sale

Tax sales are competitive. An alternative strategy is to contact property owners before the sale and negotiate a direct purchase. Advantages include:

• No auction competition
• Warranty deed instead of Sheriff's deed
• No redemption period
• Title insurance available immediately
• Negotiable terms

This requires finding and contacting owners (see our guide on how to skip trace property owners) and a willingness to negotiate, but it often results in better deals than competing at auction.

Finding Properties Before Tax Sale Day

The most successful tax sale investors do not wait for the sale list. They identify delinquent properties months or years before they reach the auction block.

Liensuite aggregates tax delinquent property data from across Texas counties, allowing you to:

• Browse delinquent properties by county, value, and years delinquent
• Score properties based on profitability indicators
• Identify heir property and multi-owner situations
• Track properties across multiple sale cycles
• Access county-specific data pages for all major Texas counties

Whether you plan to buy at the tax sale or approach owners directly, having comprehensive property data gives you an edge over investors working from raw county lists.

Ready to research properties for upcoming tax sales? Start your free Liensuite trial and access scored, enriched tax delinquent property data across Texas.