Property tax sales in Texas are often the final step after months (or years) of attempts to collect delinquent taxes. For most property owners, the notice that a property is headed towards a seizure and sale prompts immediate payment. But that isn’t always the case.

When property owners are unable to make payments or enroll in a payment schedule, a tax sale is the most effective way to collect the tax, clear the title, and return the abandoned property to responsible ownership.

In this blog, we will explore the most important things to understand, whether you’re a municipality tax office preparing a sale or a bidder considering purchasing a property.

Why Is a Property Tax Sale the Last Choice?

In many delinquent property tax cases, especially with vacant or abandoned properties, the property becomes fallow. It doesn’t maintain the upkeep needed to work alongside the neighborhood’s ecosystem. When other collection efforts fail, a tax sale may be the last resort and the only realistic path to recover delinquent taxes and clear the title through a court-supervised process.

The Process Requires Thorough Legal Attention

A Texas property tax sale isn’t just a “post and hope it sells” situation. Each sale requires strict procedural compliance. A law firm like MVBA prepares all necessary notices and citations, including publication requirements for each sale.

To ensure the process is done correctly:

An experienced attorney needs to oversee the sales process.
They need to ensure the required steps are completed prior to scheduling the sale.
They are present in person for the sale itself.

This level of follow-through is critical. It isn’t just the municipality that benefits from this process, but the taxpayers surrounding the property as well.

If a firm assisting the tax authority lacks the resources or experience to manage these steps well, it can lead to delays, defects, or reduced recoveries.

Market the Tax Sale

You should do everything in your power to market the sale.

At a firm like MVBA, we typically post tax sales on our website without charge. Once the judgment is obtained and the Order of Sale is issued and published, your law firm should prepare a bid sheet that includes the property description and minimum bid for each tract.

You can continue to market the sale by:

Mailing the sale to local realtors.
Sending it to subscribers interested in tax sales.
Sharing it with parties who have contacted the tax office about the property.

The goal is simple: reach as large an audience as possible so the sale gets more exposure. The ultimate goal is to bring a strong recovery to the property.

Consider How You’d Like to Register the Auction

In-person auctions aren’t the only option anymore. Depending on the city and average demographic of bidders, you may anticipate hosting an auction online.

Here’s what you should consider before navigating either:

For Online Sales

Ensure your bidders register in advance. MVBA has an Online Auction Bidders Registration to keep track of attendance before the sale goes live.

For In-Person Tax Sales

Registration can be handled on-site the day of the sale.

For bidders, it is best practice to confirm the sales format early and complete any registration steps ahead of time, so you aren’t turned away the day of the sale.

Buyers May Need to Prove They Don’t Owe Delinquent Taxes

As a bidder, you need to ensure that when you bid on a tax sale, you don’t owe any property taxes yourself. In some jurisdictions, a purchaser may be required to provide a written statement for the County Tax Assessor-Collector confirming the purchaser does not owe delinquent taxes to the county or any other local taxing entities (such as school districts or cities in Texas.)

If that requirement is imposed:

The purchaser will not receive a deed until the statement is presented.
Buyers should contact the respective tax office in advance to confirm requirements and timing.

This is a common “surprise” for first-time bidders — and an easy one to avoid if you check early.

Strong Results Require Thorough Execution

For municipalities and taxing authorities, the difference between “a sale happened” and “a sale actually solved the problem” is the quality of preparation, compliance, and marketing.

For bidders, success often comes down to registration readiness and understanding post-sale requirements (including any delinquent-tax clearance documentation).

At MVBA, we’re proud to represent Texas municipalities and can guide you through this process from delinquent tax collection to Texas tax sales. If you are interested in learning more about the topic, contact our office today.