Sumter County, GA tax sales
How tax lien certificate and tax deed sales work in Sumter County, seat of Americus: 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 Sumter County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
Details are being verified for this county.
Tax deed sale
- Run by
- Sumter County Tax Commissioner
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- The Tax Commissioner lists 2026 tax sale dates of April 7, 2026, July 7, 2026 and October 6, 2026, and states: "Tax Sales are held on the first Tuesday of the month indicated between the legal hours of sale of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM (O.C.G.A. § 9-13-160 and § 9-13-161)." The page also notes "2026 Tax Sales will be posted when scheduled" and that "Judicial In-Rem Property Tax Sales may be scheduled and held during the year."
Registration and deposit
The Tax Commissioner publishes no online bidder registration. Bidders attend the sale in person. Each parcel is sold to the best and highest bidder, a minimum opening bid is stated for each parcel, and bids are accepted only in whole dollar amounts in increments stated on the day of the sale. Payment must be certified funds or cash: a cashier's check payable to Sumter County Tax Commissioner, or U.S. currency. Payment is due at the Tax Commissioner's office no later than one hour after the sale concludes, and the buyer receives a purchase receipt.
Sumter County runs its non-judicial tax sales in person, not through an online auction platform. Notice of each sale is published once a week for four consecutive weeks immediately preceding the sale date in the county legal organ, the Americus Times Recorder, and the office states that "Mailing lists for tax sales are not provided online or in-house," so the advertised legal notice is the property list. Every property offered is the property described in the legal advertisement, and sales rest on the legal description rather than the location of any posted signs. Buyers receive a tax sale Sheriff's Deed, mailed to the address on the receipt at the earliest possible date, which under Georgia law stays subject to the owner's right of redemption. The office calls this a buyer beware sale with no guarantees expressed or implied and advises research before bidding. Judicial in-rem tax sales may also be scheduled during the year.
County offices
Tax Collector (runs the certificate sale)
Sumter County Tax Commissioner
500 W Lamar St, Ste. 120, Americus, GA 31709 (mailing: P.O. Box 1044, Americus, GA 31709)
Official websiteNotes for Sumter County
- The county seat is Americus. The Tax Commissioner's main office is at 500 W Lamar St, Ste. 120, open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- The Tax Commissioner's staff page lists a Deputy Tax Commissioner who also serves as Deputy Ex-Officio Sheriff, consistent with the Tax Commissioner levying and conducting the sale as ex-officio sheriff.
- The Tax Commissioner's own site (sumtercountygatax.com) carries the sale details. The county government site (sumtercountyga.us) only lists the department and links out to it.
- Fax is (229) 928-4533. The site is hosted by Government Window, whose support line is (877) 575-7233.
- On delinquency the Property Taxes page states that if taxes remain unpaid the Tax Commissioner has the responsibility to levy on the property, and it urges in-person payment when levy and advertisement of tax sale are imminent.
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 Sumter County, Georgia sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Sumter County follows Georgia's redeemable deed state system.
How often does Sumter 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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