Alabama delinquent tax lists by county
Short answer: Alabama is a lien state, so a winning bidder gets a tax lien certificate, which pays interest if the owner redeems and can be foreclosed into ownership if they do not. County tax lien auctions at up to 12% interest with a 3 year redemption period. Each county publishes its own delinquent roll through the County Revenue Commissioner. Below is every Alabama county we cover, with the live count of distressed owners in each.
Counties covered
7
Every one has its own ranked list and county-level rules page.
Flagged owners statewide
1,801
Carrying at least one distress signal in public records, refreshed daily.
Sale type
Lien
Yes: up to 1 year after the sale (180 days for many homesteads).
Every Alabama county we cover
Sorted largest first. Each county page carries the official list source, the sale rules and the live ranked list of owners under pressure right now.
| County | County seat | Population | Flagged owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | Birmingham | 674,000 | 178 |
| Mobile County | Mobile | 414,000 | 211 |
| Madison County | Huntsville | 400,000 | 202 |
| Baldwin County | Bay Minette | 231,000 | 160 |
| Montgomery County | Montgomery | 228,000 | 134 |
| Tuscaloosa County | Tuscaloosa | 227,000 | 363 |
| Shelby County | Columbiana | 223,000 | 553 |
Alabama tax sale rules
| Tax sale system | Alabama is a lien state. A winning bidder gets a tax lien certificate, which pays interest if the owner redeems and can be foreclosed into ownership if they do not. |
|---|---|
| Rate and cadence | County tax lien auctions at up to 12% interest with a 3 year redemption period. |
| Owner redemption | Yes: up to 1 year after the sale (180 days for many homesteads). |
| Who publishes the list | The County Revenue Commissioner in each county. |
| Foreclosure path | Non-judicial, typically 1 to 3 months from filing to sale. |
| Deficiency after sale | Allowed. |
| Local note | One of the faster non-judicial states; sales are advertised for three weeks and held at the courthouse. |
The Alabama delinquency clock
Alabama delinquent tax list FAQ
Is Alabama a tax lien or tax deed state?
Alabama is a lien state. A winning bidder gets a tax lien certificate, which pays interest if the owner redeems and can be foreclosed into ownership if they do not. County tax lien auctions at up to 12% interest with a 3 year redemption period.
Where do I find the Alabama delinquent tax list?
Each county publishes its own list through the County Revenue Commissioner, usually as a PDF before a scheduled sale. Pick your county below for the official source plus the year-round ranked list of distressed owners in that area.
How long does an owner have to redeem in Alabama?
Yes: up to 1 year after the sale (180 days for many homesteads). That window is the single biggest thing separating a good tax-sale trade from a bad one, because it decides how long your money sits before you can act.
How many tax-delinquent properties are there in Alabama?
Across the 7 Alabama counties we track, roughly 1,801 properties currently carry at least one distress signal in public records, including tax delinquency, foreclosure filings, vacancy and long-distance ownership. The counts refresh daily.
Can I buy Alabama tax-delinquent property before the auction?
Yes. The delinquency appears in the public record months before any sale is scheduled, and during that window the owner can still sell normally. That is the whole opportunity: no bidding war, an inspection is possible, and an owner with equity walks away with money instead of nothing.