Lowndes County, GA tax sales
How tax lien certificate and tax deed sales work in Lowndes County, seat of Valdosta: sale calendar, auction platform, over-the-counter lists, and the offices that run each sale.
Verified Jul 27, 2026 against official county and state sources.
New here? Read how Georgia tax sales work, the difference between a lien and a deed, and redemption periods.
How Lowndes County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
Details are being verified for this county.
Tax deed sale
- Run by
- Lowndes County Tax Commissioner, acting as Ex-Officio Sheriff
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- First Tuesday of each month, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., usually starting at 10:00 a.m. The Tax Commissioner's procedures handout states: "On the first Tuesday of each month, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (usually 10:00 a.m.), we hold our tax sale on the steps of the Lowndes County Judicial Building (Except, when the first Tuesday falls on a legal holiday, the sale is held the next day, Wednesday)." The current advertisement sets the sale on "the first Tuesday in August 2026, the same being August 4, 2026," with property sold "between the legal hours of sale, 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM."
- Sale list
- August 2026 Tax Sale List
Registration and deposit
No online bidder registration is published by the county. Bidders attend in person at the Lowndes County Judicial Building and bid at public outcry. The opening bid is the taxes due plus penalties, interest, Fi.Fa. cost, levy cost, administrative levy fee, certified mail cost, and advertising cost, and the parcel goes to the highest bidder. The handout states: "We require payment in full upon conclusion of the tax sale. Payment must be in form of cash, certified check, cashier's check or money order. We also require the purchaser to sign a statement attesting to the fact that certain property was purchased for a certain price." The August 2026 advertisement adds that property is sold "for cash or certified funds" and that "At the discretion of the Tax Commissioner's office, payment will be required within two (2) hours after the completion of the tax sale." If a bid is not properly paid, the parcel may be re-offered later the same day or the following day.
Lowndes County sells redeemable tax deeds, not tax liens. The Tax Commissioner's handout says in bold: "LOWNDES COUNTY DOES NOT SELL TAX LIENS." The sale is an in-person outcry sale on the courthouse steps, so there is no online auction platform and no bidding website. The Tax Commissioner of Lowndes County also serves as Ex-Officio Sheriff and appoints Ex-Officio Deputy Sheriffs, sworn by the Probate Judge, with full power to advertise and bring property to sale (O.C.G.A. 48-5-128 and 48-2-55). The August 2026 notice is captioned "SHERIFF'S SALE" and signed by Wade Sumner, Delinquent Tax Manager, Deputy Ex-Officio Sheriff, under Fi.Fa.'s issued by the Office of the Tax Commissioner. Sales are cried "before the Lowndes County Judicial Building, at 327 N. Ashley Street, in Valdosta." When the first Tuesday falls on a legal holiday the sale moves to the next day, Wednesday. Parcels are advertised four consecutive weeks in the legal section of the Valdosta Daily Times under the heading "Tax Sale," and the owner receives a certified mail notice at least 10 days before the sale. Title is buyer beware and sold as is: "The Office of Tax Commissioner makes no warranty, neither expressed nor implied, as to title, and all properties are subject to all recorded covenants, easements, and right of ways. Properties are sold under the power of a tax sale deed with specific rights of redemption." If no one bids at least the amount due the county, the Tax Commissioner may bid the property in for the County or declare a "no sale." The owner, a creditor, or any other party holding an interest may redeem at any time during the twelve months following the sale by paying the amount paid at the tax sale plus a 20% premium, and the deed purchaser cannot take possession, collect rents, or improve the property during that period. After 12 months the purchaser may serve notice to foreclose the right to redeem; if redemption comes after that notice, the notice service and publication costs plus a further 20% of the purchase price are added to the redemption price. A tax deed executed on or after July 1, 1989 ripens by prescription after four years. Excess funds go to the party authorized to receive them, usually whoever redeemed the deed, and contested funds are turned over to the court. Sale questions go to the Delinquent Tax Department at 229-671-2574. The monthly sale list is posted as a PDF on lowndescountytax.com and is replaced for each sale month, so check the site for the current list. In person, public outcry on the steps of the Lowndes County Judicial Building, 327 N. Ashley Street, Valdosta
County offices
Tax Collector (runs the certificate sale)
Lowndes County Tax Commissioner
229-671-2579 (main office); 229-671-2574 (Delinquent Tax Department)
300 N. Patterson Street, P.O. Box 1409, Valdosta, GA 31601
Official websiteNotes for Lowndes County
- Redeemable tax deed sale, not a lien sale. The Tax Commissioner's handout states: "LOWNDES COUNTY DOES NOT SELL TAX LIENS."
- In person only. Sales are cried on the steps of the Lowndes County Judicial Building, 327 N. Ashley Street, Valdosta. There is no online auction platform.
- Sale day is the first Tuesday of the month between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., usually 10:00 a.m. If that Tuesday is a legal holiday, the sale runs the next day, Wednesday.
- The Tax Commissioner serves as Ex-Officio Sheriff and appoints Ex-Officio Deputy Sheriffs to levy and cry the sale. The August 2026 notice is signed by Wade Sumner, Delinquent Tax Manager, Deputy Ex-Officio Sheriff.
- Opening bid equals taxes due plus penalties, interest, Fi.Fa. cost, levy cost, administrative levy fee, certified mail cost, and advertising cost. The parcel sells to the highest bidder.
- Payment in full at the close of the sale in cash, certified check, cashier's check, or money order. The August 2026 notice lets the office require payment within two hours after the sale ends, and an unpaid bid may be re-offered that day or the next.
- If no bid reaches the amount due the county, the Tax Commissioner may bid the property in for the County or declare a "no sale."
- Twelve month redemption at the price paid plus a 20% premium. The deed purchaser cannot take possession, collect rents, or make improvements during that window.
- Foreclosing the right to redeem cannot begin until after the 12 month period ends, and a post notice redemption adds notice service and publication costs plus a further 20% of the purchase price.
- Parcels are advertised four consecutive weeks in the Valdosta Daily Times legal section under the heading "Tax Sale," with a certified mail notice to the owner at least 10 days out.
- A tax deed executed on or after July 1, 1989 ripens by prescription after four years; a deed from before that date ripens after seven years.
- Excess funds go to the party authorized to receive them, usually whoever redeemed, and disputed funds are turned over to the court.
- The sale list PDF is month specific and replaced each sale cycle. Confirm the current list on lowndescountytax.com before relying on it.
Georgia statewide rules
- Redemption
- The right to redeem runs for 12 months from the date of the sale and does not end there. It continues after the year until the tax deed purchaser forecloses it by serving and publishing the statutory barment notice, which cannot be started until 12 months have passed. The purchaser delivers the notice to the sheriff at least 45 days before the redemption deadline named in it, and publishes it once a week for four consecutive weeks in the six months immediately before that deadline. Redemption puts title back in the defendant in fi. fa. subject to the liens that existed at the sale, and the purchaser must execute and record a quitclaim deed. Title under a tax deed recorded on or after July 1, 1996 ripens by prescription four years after recording. Judicial in rem foreclosures under Article 5 run on a different clock: the owner has 60 days after the sale to redeem by paying the minimum bid price into the superior court.
- Deed deposit
- Georgia sets no statewide percentage deposit. A purchaser at a judicial sale may tender cash or a cashier's or certified check drawn for the purchase price and issued or certified by a federally insured financial institution. Counties publish their own payment terms, and many require payment in full at the close of the sale, so confirm the terms with the tax commissioner before bidding.
- Surplus proceeds
- Excess funds left after taxes, costs, and the expenses of the sale belong to the former owner and to recorded lienholders in order of priority. The officer who sold the property must mail notice of the excess funds by first-class mail within 30 days to the record owner at the time of the sale, to the holder of each security deed, and to every other party with a recorded equity interest or claim, and may file an interpleader action in superior court. Funds still unclaimed five years after the sale are paid over to the Georgia Department of Revenue, after which only a court order from an interpleader action releases them.
A tax deed does not convey marketable title. Most buyers file a quiet title action before they can resell or insure the property. See the due diligence guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lowndes County, Georgia sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Lowndes County follows Georgia's redeemable deed state system.
How often does Lowndes County hold tax deed sales?
- annual. Each sale is scheduled and advertised in advance, so check the county's tax deed calendar for the next posted date.
Tax Sale Atlas publishes educational information about public tax sale processes. This is not legal, financial, or investment advice. Rules, dates, and fees change; confirm with the county office before you bid.
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