{"id":6886,"date":"2022-04-20T22:25:23","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T02:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thejackiejackson.com\/?p=6886"},"modified":"2026-10-27T18:41:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T22:41:55","slug":"surplus-funds-recovery-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thejackiejackson.com\/?p=6886","title":{"rendered":"Surplus Funds Recovery Business: How It Works"},"content":{"rendered":"

A surplus funds recovery business helps former owners claim the money left over after their property sells at a tax deed sale for more than the taxes owed. The county holds that money, and a lot of former owners never find out it\u2019s there. You find them, explain what\u2019s waiting, and help them file the claim.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve invested in real estate since 2006, and I teach this work inside Tax Deed Genius. Here\u2019s how it goes, one step at a time.<\/p>\n

As of October 2026, approximately $4.6 million in surplus funds is waiting to be claimed in Duval County. That\u2019s just 1 out of 3,144 counties in the United States.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Surplus<\/a>

Part of the real surplus list from the Duval County, Florida, tax deed sale on October 14, 2026. Tap the image to see the full list, with names, case numbers and parcel numbers blurred.<\/p><\/div>\n

What a surplus funds recovery business does<\/h2>\n

When a property sells at a tax deed auction, the county keeps what\u2019s owed in back taxes and costs. If the winning bid is higher, the extra is the surplus. You\u2019ll also hear it called overages, excess proceeds, or overbids. Same money, different names.<\/p>\n

Look at the Duval list above. One property sold for $132,100, and the list shows $131,213 in surplus funds. That money sits with the clerk until the right person claims it.<\/p>\n

Who the money belongs to<\/h2>\n

The surplus doesn\u2019t belong to the county, and it doesn\u2019t belong to you. It belongs to the former owner, and sometimes to lienholders, like a mortgage company that still had a loan on the property.<\/p>\n

So your job is to help the rightful person get paid. That means you tell them the truth about what you do and what you charge, in writing, before they sign anything.<\/p>\n

How a claim works, step by step<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Find the surplus list.<\/strong> A lot of county clerks post one online, like the Duval list above.<\/li>\n
  2. Research who has a claim.<\/strong> Pull the deed and check for liens, so you know who\u2019s first in line for the money.<\/li>\n
  3. Find the former owner.<\/strong> Skip tracing helps here. Lead with respect, because this person just lost a property.<\/li>\n
  4. Prepare the paperwork.<\/strong> I use a surplus notice, an agent agreement, a limited power of attorney, a county affidavit of surplus, and a cover letter.<\/li>\n
  5. File with the clerk and follow up<\/strong> until the claim is paid.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Check your state\u2019s rules before you start<\/h2>\n

    Every state handles surplus a little differently. In Florida, the clerk mails a notice of surplus to everyone with an interest in the property, and claims are filed in writing with the clerk within 120 days of that notice. A lienholder who misses the 120 days loses the right to the money. The former owner doesn\u2019t (Florida Statutes, section 197.582<\/a>).<\/p>\n

    That Florida law doesn\u2019t say anything about agents or what an agent may charge. Rules on who can file and on agent fees vary from state to state. So read your state\u2019s current law, and the county\u2019s own process, before you contact anyone.<\/p>\n

    How to learn it the right way<\/h2>\n

    I teach this in the Surplus Overages Course<\/a>. It\u2019s the surplus module from my 8-week Tax Deed Genius program, sold on its own: 15 lessons, online and open 24\/7, with the documents I use and my 13-step Overage Surplus Checklist. Most students finish in 1 to 2 weeks.<\/p>\n

    If you want me to walk you through it, one county and one claim at a time, start with my tax overages training<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Lessons in the Surplus Overages Course<\/h3>\n