Nevada surplus funds

In Nevada, the county takes a share of the excess before anyone claims it, and owners have one year after the county's deed is recorded to claim the rest. After that, the county keeps it, and the law says it "must not thereafter be refunded to the former property owner or his or her successors in interest."

The county's share comes first

When the county treasurer sells a property held in trust for unpaid taxes, and it sells for more than the taxes and costs, the treasurer pays into the county's general fund, straight away:

• the first $300 of the excess, and
• 10% of the next $10,000.

Only what's left is held for claimants, in an account whose interest also belongs to the county. On a sale with $1,000 of excess, $370 goes to the county before anyone can claim; on $5,000, it's $770.

A small excess can go to the county entirely: if it's $300 or less, nothing is left to claim. Clark County's list on November 2, 2026 showed 15 parcels from a sale whose deed was recorded June 4, 2026, with $7,315.07 waiting in total, and 6 of the 15 at $0.00.

One year, then the county keeps it

• Deadline: a written claim must reach the county treasurer within one year after the treasurer's deed is recorded.
• After that, 5% of what remains goes to a county account and the rest into the county's general fund. It can't be refunded later.
• Decisions come after the year ends. The treasurer approves or denies claims within 30 days after the one-year claim period closes, and may ask for any records needed. Conflicting claims go to mediation, then to court. A claimant who disagrees has 90 days to ask the district court to review the decision.

Who is paid, in order

1. Lienholders, in the order their liens were recorded: mortgage lenders and deed-of-trust beneficiaries, judgment creditors, cities with liens, homeowners' associations that had started foreclosure, and the state's Medicaid program if the owner received Medicaid.
2. Then the owner, the person the property was assessed to, or someone holding a contract to buy it.

Help is capped at 10%

Any agreement to find or recover excess proceeds must be in writing and signed by the claimant, and a fee may be no more than 10% of the excess due to that person.

What to do

• If your Nevada property was sold for unpaid taxes, contact the county treasurer and ask whether excess proceeds are held and when the deed was recorded. Claiming it yourself costs nothing.
• Don't wait. The year runs from when the deed is recorded, and the money can't be refunded after it's gone to the county.

Our free Nevada claim kit walks through each step, with every county treasurer's phone number.