Austin County, TX tax sales
How tax lien certificate and tax deed sales work in Austin County, seat of Bellville: 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 Texas tax sales work, the difference between a lien and a deed, and redemption periods.
How Austin County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
Details are being verified for this county.
Tax deed sale
- Run by
- Austin County Sheriff's Office (tax foreclosure sales are conducted by the Sheriff or Constable of the county; the suits and sale notices are handled by the county's delinquent-tax law firm, Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott LLP)
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- First Tuesday of the month, starting at 10:00 a.m. The Austin County sale notice states: "SALES FOR AUGUST 4, 2026 / LOCATION: Official Door of the Courthouse / TIME: 10 AM". The same notice explains: "Tax foreclosure sales are conducted by the Sheriff or Constable of the county where the property is located. These sales are held on the first Tuesday of the month between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at a place designated by the commissioner's court." Austin County Commissioners Court Order 87-351 designated "the foyer of the Austin County Courthouse" (One East Main Street, Bellville) as the area where real property is sold at public auction. Sales run only in months when foreclosure judgments are ready, so some first Tuesdays have no Austin County list.
Registration and deposit
Bidding is live and in person at the courthouse. Under Texas Tax Code Section 34.015 a bidder must first obtain a written statement from the county tax office showing no delinquent taxes are owed. Austin County Appraisal District, which collects property taxes for Austin County and its cities, schools and districts, posts the Texas Comptroller Form 50-307 "Request for Written Statement About Delinquent Taxes for Tax Foreclosure Sale" on its tax office page. The form notes a fee set by the office and warns that knowingly violating Section 34.015 is a Class B misdemeanor. Perdue Brandon's FAQ adds: "Bidders must request a written statement from the county tax assessor-collector of no delinquent taxes due" and "Sales are for cash and most counties will accept cash or cashier's checks."
Texas sells a redeemable deed. The winning bidder gets a Sheriff's or Constable's deed without warranty, subject to the former owner's right of redemption (two years at 25 percent then 50 percent for homestead, agricultural-use and mineral property; 180 days at 25 percent for everything else). Austin County's own website carries a top-level "Tax Sale" navigation link that points to Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott LLP, which is where the county's sale lists actually live; the county's own "Notice of Foreclosures" page holds substitute trustee (mortgage) sale notices, not tax sales, so do not confuse the two. The Austin County list is published as a monthly PDF from the county index at pbfcm.com/taxsale.html (for example the August 4, 2026 file at https://www.pbfcm.com/docs/taxdocs/sales/08-2026austincountytaxsale.pdf), showing cause number, 155th District Court judgment date, legal description, property address, adjudged value and estimated minimum bid. The notice warns that the sale is "as is," "where is," and "buyer beware," that no title is guaranteed, and that "Taxes may be due beyond what is listed in the minimum bid amounts and must be paid independently of the bid amount." Struck-off property that drew no bid is held in trust by Austin County Appraisal District and resold by written offer: offers go in writing, in person or by mail, to Austin County Appraisal District, 906 East Amelia Street, Bellville, Texas 77418, Attn: Tina Swonke, with name, address, phone, property tax account number and amount offered. "No offers will be accepted if you owe delinquent taxes," and "For six months after the Sheriff Auction, offers less than 100% will not be considered." Once all taxing units accept, payment in full by cash, money order or cashier's check payable to the Appraisal District is due within 14 days. Sale questions go to Kevin Davidson at Perdue Brandon's Houston office, (713) 862-1860 ext. 6903, [email protected]. In person at the Austin County Courthouse, Bellville. No online auction platform found.
Over-the-counter (leftover) purchases
Texas has no over-the-counter certificate list. Parcels that draw no sufficient bid are struck off to the taxing unit that requested the order of sale, and that unit may resell them at any time by public or private sale. A public resale requested through the sheriff or constable may be sold for any amount. A private sale generally may not go below the lesser of the market value stated in the judgment or the total judgments against the property, unless every taxing unit entitled to proceeds consents. Ask the county or its delinquent-tax law firm for the current struck-off inventory.
New to this path? Read how over-the-counter certificates work.
County offices
Tax Collector (runs the certificate sale)
Notes for Austin County
- County seat is Bellville. The Austin County Courthouse is at One East Main Street, Bellville, TX 77418, and Commissioners Court Order 87-351 designates the courthouse foyer as the public auction area; the Perdue Brandon sale notice states the location as the "Official Door of the Courthouse."
- Property tax collection in Austin County is handled by the Austin County Appraisal District, not by the Tax Assessor-Collector's office. Austin CAD is at 906 E Amelia St., Bellville, TX 77418, phone (979) 865-9124, hours Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., chief appraiser Greg Cook. It collects for Austin County, Brazos Country, City of Bellville, City of Sealy, City of Wallis, Town of San Felipe, Bellville ISD, Brazos ISD, Sealy ISD, Austin County ESD 1, 2 and 3, Bellville Hospital District, Farm/Market Road SPC and SPC Road & Bridge. Start the Section 34.015 no-delinquent-taxes statement there.
- The Tax Assessor-Collector's office (804 E. Wendt, Bellville) is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed on most courthouse holidays; fax 979-865-0183.
- Austin County Sheriff is Jack Brandes, 417 N. Chesley, Bellville, TX 77418, phone 979-865-3112 (also 979-865-5911 and 979-865-3111). The sheriff's own website does not publish tax sale listings.
- Austin County has no online tax sale auction platform. Bidding is live at the courthouse, cash or cashier's check.
- Sale volume is small. The August 4, 2026 Austin County list carried only a handful of tracts in Bellville and Sealy, and the trust property resale sheet updated July 2026 showed a single struck-off parcel.
Texas statewide rules
- Redemption
- The redemption clock runs from the date the purchaser's deed is filed for record, not from the sale date. Property that was the owner's residence homestead or was land designated for agricultural use when the suit or the warrant application was filed, and any mineral interest, may be redeemed on or before the second anniversary of that filing. Every other property may be redeemed only through the 180th day after the deed is filed. When a parcel is struck off to a taxing unit instead, the period runs from the date the taxing unit's deed is filed for record. The former owner has no right to use, possess, or collect rent from the property while the redemption right runs, and the right of redemption cannot be sold or transferred: any instrument purporting to transfer it is void.
- Deed deposit
- The Tax Code sets no statewide deposit and no buyer premium. Section 34.01 directs the officer to conduct the sale the way similar property is sold under execution, so payment terms are set locally by the officer who runs the sale. Most Texas counties collect the full bid in cash or by cashier's check on the day of the sale. Confirm the terms with the county before you bid.
- Homestead deeds
- Texas sets no separate opening bid for a homestead. What changes on a homestead parcel is the exit: a residence homestead, land designated for agricultural use when the suit or warrant application was filed, and a mineral interest all carry a two-year redemption right instead of 180 days, and the premium the owner pays can reach 50 percent in the second year. Price a homestead parcel for that longer clock.
- Surplus proceeds
- The officer pays any excess proceeds to the clerk of the court that issued the order of sale. The clerk holds the excess for two years after the sale and notifies the former owner when the amount exceeds $25. A claim must be filed before the second anniversary of the sale. The court pays established claims in statutory priority: a purchaser at a sale later adjudged void, taxing units for post-judgment or omitted taxes, other lienholders, taxing units for unsatisfied judgment amounts, and then the former owner. Anything unclaimed is distributed to the taxing units.
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 Austin County, Texas sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Austin County follows Texas's redeemable deed state system.
How often does Austin 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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