Unclaimed Surplus Funds from Tax Sales
When properties sell at tax sale for more than what's owed, the excess belongs to the former owner. Right now, $22.6M is sitting unclaimed across 15 counties in 3 states.
Recovery agents earn 25-33% helping owners claim this money. The data below is free and public.
Total Unclaimed
$22.6M
1,885 claims
Average Claim
$12,032
Per unclaimed record
Largest Unclaimed
$405,749
Single claim
Total Processed
$37.4M
3,346 total records
Deadline Urgency
Once a claim deadline passes, the money is gone — it escheats to the county or state.
Expiring in 7 Days
24
unclaimed claims
Expiring in 30 Days
81
unclaimed claims
Expiring in 90 Days
262
unclaimed claims
Frequently Asked Questions
What are surplus funds from tax sales?
When a property is sold at a tax sale for more than the amount of back taxes owed, the excess money — called "surplus" or "excess proceeds" — legally belongs to the former property owner (or their heirs). These funds sit in county accounts until claimed, often with strict deadlines.
How do recovery agents make money from surplus funds?
Recovery agents locate the former owner or their heirs, notify them of the unclaimed money, and help them file a claim with the county. In exchange, agents typically earn 25-33% of the recovered amount. On a $50,000 surplus claim, that's $12,500-$16,500 in fees for a single deal.
What happens when a deadline passes?
Rules vary by state, but in most cases, unclaimed surplus funds escheat (revert) to the county or state government once the filing deadline expires. After that, the former owner permanently loses their right to the money. This is why tracking deadlines is critical.
How do I get started with surplus recovery?
Start by identifying claims with upcoming deadlines and higher dollar amounts. Liensuite tracks surplus funds, deadlines, and former owners across multiple counties — you can save deals to your pipeline, run skip traces, and manage outreach all in one place.
Ready to Recover Surplus Funds?
Track unclaimed surplus across counties, find former owners with skip tracing, manage your pipeline, and never miss a deadline.
Data sourced from public county tax records and appraisal district filings. Updated periodically. All counts shown are approximate ranges, not exact figures. Property data may contain inaccuracies from source records. This information is provided for educational and research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Always verify data independently before making investment decisions.