How to buy tax-sale property in Georgia (2026)

1. 1.When a tax execution is levied, the property is advertised and sold in the same manner as provided for executions and judicial sales (48-4-1(a)(1))
2. 2.Sales of property taken under execution are held at the courthouse of the county where the levy was made on the first Tuesday of the month, between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., at public outcry (9-13-161(a))
3. 3.A sale for taxes due may be conducted by the tax commissioner or tax collector, or a duly authorized officer, either in the tax office or at another location identified in the notice, and the notice is posted in a conspicuous location in the appropriate courthouse (48-4-1(a)(3))
4. 4.The property is sold to the highest bidder; the purchaser may pay by cash, cashier's check, or certified check (9-13-166)
5. 5.The deed or bill of sale made by the sheriff to the purchaser at the tax sale is as valid as if made under an ordinary execution (48-4-6)
6. 6.The defendant in fi. fa. or any person with a right, title, interest, or lien may redeem the property within 12 months from the date of the sale, or later until the right to redeem is foreclosed (48-4-40)

RegistrationSigning up as a bidder before the sale. Counties set the deadlines and paperwork, which may include an application, identification, and a no-delinquent-taxes statement. See the full glossary for more terms.

Required: UnknownUnknown

Not verified from a source yet.

DepositMoney you must post before or at the sale, often a flat amount or a percentage of your bid. It is usually applied to the purchase price if you win and is often non-refundable if you fail to pay. See the full glossary for more terms.

Required: UnknownUnknown

Not verified from a source yet.

FormsPaperwork a county may collect before you can bid, such as a bidder ID card or a W-9 for tax reporting. See the full glossary for more terms.

Bidder ID card: UnknownW-9: Unknown

EligibilityRules about who may bid. Some counties restrict non-residents or bar anyone who owes delinquent taxes from participating. See the full glossary for more terms.

Residency required: UnknownNo delinquent taxes: Unknown

PaymentHow and when you must pay after winning. Certified or cleared funds are common and personal checks usually are not; missing the deadline typically forfeits your deposit. See the full glossary for more terms.

CashCertified funds

Not verified from a source yet.

Sources

• O.C.G.A. 9-13-161(a)
• O.C.G.A. 48-4-1(a)(1)
• O.C.G.A. 48-4-1(a)(3)
• O.C.G.A. 9-13-166
• O.C.G.A. 48-4-6
• O.C.G.A. 48-4-40

Georgia sells real property at a public tax sale conducted under a tax execution (a tax deed sale); the sale is held at the courthouse on the first Tuesday of the month between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., or at the office or other location identified in the notice, and is conducted by the sheriff or by the tax commissioner/collector or a duly authorized officer (9-13-161(a); 48-4-1(a)(1), (a)(3)). State law does not authorize online sales: SB 13 (2023-2024), which would have authorized online public sales and required bidder registration (W-9 plus name, address, and telephone number), did not become law. Bidder registration, deposits, and payment mechanics are not fixed by state statute and are administered locally by the tax commissioner/collector, so they vary by county. The purchaser receives a deed that is subject to a 12-month right of redemption (48-4-6; 48-4-40). Citations are to the text as published by FindLaw (current as of March 28, 2024) because Georgia does not provide a free official per-section code site; the official O.C.G.A. is published by LexisNexis under authority of the state.