Henderson County, TX tax sales
How tax lien certificate and tax deed sales work in Henderson County, seat of Athens: 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 Henderson County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
Details are being verified for this county.
Tax deed sale
- Run by
- Henderson County Tax Assessor/Collector (Peggy Goodall) issues the bidder eligibility statement; the sale itself is held at the Henderson County Courthouse and conducted by the officer (sheriff or constable deputy) making the sale, with listings published by the county's delinquent tax law firms
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- Sales are held on the first Tuesday of the month at the Henderson County Courthouse in Athens. The Linebarger sale record for Henderson County states the sale location is "at the South Door, Courthouse Square of the Courthouse of the said County, in the City of Athens, Texas" and that "Sales are typically scheduled for: 10:00 AM." The currently posted sale date is August 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM, with 8 properties on the list.
Registration and deposit
Bidding is in person. Per the Linebarger county record, "Individuals wishing to bid on property must register with the deputy conducting the sale prior to the sale," and "Successful bidders must tender a statement issued from the County Tax Office pursuant to Section 34.015 of the Property Tax Code verifying that the bidder has no delinquent taxes owing the County." The Henderson County Tax Office page confirms: "A person purchasing property at the sale will be required to present to the officer who conducts the sale a written statement from the County Tax Assessor/Collector that the purchaser does not owe any delinquent taxes in that county. Please come to our main office in Athens, to request this statement. The cost is $10 and it is valid for 90 days. You must present a photo ID at that time." Payment is by cashier's check or money order, payable to the Linebarger law firm.
Henderson County runs a live, in-person redeemable tax deed sale. There is no online auction platform: bidders register with the deputy conducting the sale at the courthouse. The county tax office does not publish the sale list itself; its page directs buyers to the two delinquent tax law firms, "McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, at (903) 675-6182" and "Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, at (903) 597-2897." Linebarger's taxsales.lgbs.com search is where the county's current listings appear; searching Henderson County, TX there returned 21 records, 8 scheduled for the August 4, 2026 auction with minimum bids from about $2,100 to about $13,400, and 13 struck-off parcels flagged "Available for Future Sale" that may be reoffered under Tax Code Section 34.05. A per-sale PDF sale list is also published (the August 4, 2026 list is titled "Henderson County Property Sale List"). Notice of sale is typically posted in the Athens Daily Review. Payment must be by cashier's check or money order on the day of the sale. Budget the $10 Section 34.015 statement and get it before sale day, since it takes an in-person trip to the Athens office and is only good for 90 days. Values and exemption questions go to the Henderson County Appraisal District at (903) 675-9296, not the tax office. In person at the Henderson County Courthouse (south door, Courthouse Square, Athens)
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)
Henderson County Tax Assessor/Collector (Henderson County Tax Office)
Courthouse Annex, 125 N. Prairieville Street, Room 103, Athens, TX 75751
Official websiteNotes for Henderson County
- County seat is Athens. The sale is held at the south door of the Courthouse Square in Athens, with a stated start time of 10:00 AM.
- Two law firms handle Henderson County delinquent tax collection. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson posts the current sale list on taxsales.lgbs.com; McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen also collects for county taxing units, and the tax office lists both firms' phone numbers.
- The Section 34.015 written statement is a hard prerequisite: $10, requested in person at the Athens main office with photo ID, valid 90 days.
- Struck-off (unsold) parcels stay in inventory and can be reoffered at a later sale under Tax Code Section 34.05, so the Henderson County list carries more struck-off records than active auction records.
- The County Clerk's "Foreclosure Sales Listings" page carries deed-of-trust (mortgage) foreclosure notices, not tax sale notices. Do not use it as the tax sale list.
- Henderson County Appraisal District (1751 Enterprise, Athens, TX 75751, phone 903-675-9296) handles values and exemptions; the tax office handles collection and the bidder statement.
- Precinct constables are separate offices spread across Athens, Mabank, Chandler, Larue and Malakoff; confirm which officer is conducting a given sale before sale day.
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 Henderson County, Texas sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Henderson County follows Texas's redeemable deed state system.
How often does Henderson 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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