Clay County, AL tax sales

County offices

County notes

• •Clay County sells tax liens, not tax deeds, under Code of Alabama Title 40-10-180 through 200. The Revenue Commissioner posted the required election notice declaring a Tax Lien Auction and Sale for delinquent taxes from the 2023-2024 year forward.
• •The auction is live at the Clay County Courthouse in Ashland at 10:00 a.m. There is no online bidding platform, so bidders must appear in person.
• •Calendar published by the office: real property taxes due October 1, delinquent January 1, court notices mailed in February, list advertised on the county website in April, tax lien auction in May.
• •Interest accrues at 12% per annum on delinquent real estate taxes according to the Revenue Commissioner's property tax page.
• •The sale list PDF is linked from the office's News page under "Tax Lien Sale List" and is swapped out each cycle; the posted version covers the 2024 tax year with 144 advertised parcels.
• •Third-party aggregators list this sale, but they are courtesy notices only. The Revenue Commissioner's own notice and list are the authoritative source.

Alabama rules

Max interest rate

12% per year, bid down at auctionCode of Alabama 1975, Section 40-10-184 - Auction procedures; winning bidsAla. Code § 40-10-184Verified Jul 25, 2026

Minimum return

No statutory minimum; interest accrues at your bid rateCode of Alabama 1975, Section 40-10-184 - Auction procedures; winning bidsAla. Code § 40-10-184Verified Jul 25, 2026

Redemption

A tax lien can be redeemed at any time before the circuit court enters judgment in a foreclosure action, and the holder cannot file that action until four years after the auction or the tax official's private sale. If the holder does not commence a foreclosure action within ten years of the auction or sale, the certificate expires and the lien becomes void. A certificate holder has no right to enter or possess the property, make repairs, or charge rents before it receives the circuit clerk's deed. In a county that uses the Article 1 property tax sale instead, land sold to a purchaser other than the state may be redeemed within three years from the date of sale, and land bid in for the state may be redeemed at any time before title passes out of the state.Code of Alabama 1975, Section 40-10-193 - Redemption of a tax lienAla. Code § 40-10-193Verified Jul 25, 2026

Surplus proceeds

In a court-ordered auction the proceeds pay the cost of the auction first, then the certificate holder up to the redemption amount plus taxes it paid before filing and the court-allowed costs and fees. Any surplus goes to the owner or the owner's heirs or successors as the court determines, and Alabama's unclaimed property law applies to whatever is left. In a county that instead uses the Article 1 property tax sale, the excess over the decree is held in a separate county account for three years for a party who redeems, and Section 40-10-28 opens later windows in which the owner or a redeeming party can claim it.Code of Alabama 1975, Section 40-10-28 - Disposition of excess arising from saleAla. Code § 40-10-28Verified Jul 25, 2026

Governing statute

Ala. Code § 40-10-180Code of Alabama 1975, Section 40-10-180 - Purpose; choice of remedy by tax collecting officialAla. Code § 40-10-180Verified Jul 25, 2026

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.

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