Marilyn E. Wood
Mobile County Revenue Commissioner
P.O. Drawer 1169
Mobile, AL 36633
Telephone: 251.574.8542

1. The annual tax sale is held on the last Thursday each May in the Mobile County Courthouse Annex beginning at 10:00am.

2. Available properties are advertised in the Mobile Register (two publications in March and three publications in May.)

3. Registration for the sale is the last Thursday of May at 8:00am. Registration numbers are assigned to participants. These numbers are to be flashed to indicate bidding. The highest bidder obtains the property. There is no deposit required for registration.

4. All bids must total at least tax and costs, and are to be made in person; however, a representative can participate.

5. Payment is to be made in full by Cashier's Check, Cash or Money Order. VISA or MasterCard are accepted. The Revenue Commissioner's Office charges no fee for MasterCard/Visa service, however, your bank may charge a cash advance fee plus interest. Electronic Deposits will be accepted, electronic funds must be deposited into the Revenue Commissioner's bank account by the end of the Tax Sale day. There are no financing programs available.

6. A property owner is entitled to withdraw all monies bid over tax and cost in lieu of redeeming a property. However, if later the owner elects to redeem the property, all tax ,cost and the accrued interest on the bid amount up to the date of redemption is due.

7. If Tax Sale property is redeemed by the owner, the purchaser will be notified by letter to bring the Tax Certificate to the Mobile County Treasurer's Office located at 205 Government Street, 8th Floor. The Tax Sale Certificate MUST be processed through the county treasurer's office before monies can be refunded. The Revenue Commissioner's Office cannot process Tax Certificates for refund and is not responsible for Tax Certificates sent through the mail.

8. After sales are final, bidders will be issued a receipt for an original tax certificate. This receipt must be presented in person before a certificate is received. Companies participating in the sale must designate an individual to sign and pick up certificates. Successful bidders may pick up Tax Sale Certificates at the Mobile County Revenue Commissioner's Office at 3925 Michael Blvd, Mobile, AL usually after the middle of July . No certificates will be mailed.

9. Parcels not sold at auction will be transferred to the State of Alabama. They cannot be purchased over the counter directly from the county.

10. For a fee of $35.00 (no personal checks accepted) you may obtain a current list of tax lien property by request from:

Larry Doyal, State Land Agent
State of Alabama Department of Revenue
PO Box 327210
Ad Valorem Tax Division
Montgomery, 36132-7210

11. When you purchase property at the tax sale, you are only acquiring a lien on the property, you do not have clear title to the property. To obtain clear title, you have to complete a complex process required to be in compliance with the law, eventually you would go through Circuit Court. Legal questions would have to be answered by your Attorney.

12. To research statutes regarding Tax Sales, see Title 40, 1975 Revised Code of Alabama.

13. At this time, there is no information available on the Internet concerning Tax Sales.

14. The interest rate for land redemption is 12% annually and the redemption period is three years from the date of sale.

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