(Sign In)

States › Tennessee › Tax Sale Summary

There are 95 Counties in Tennessee. It became the 16th state on June 1, 1796. The state motto is "Agriculture and Commerce".

Tennessee offers tax deeds with a 1 year right of redemption. The original owner may redeem the property by paying the purchase price plus interest at the rate of 10% per annum.

Summary: As a preliminary step toward enforcing the lien for uncollected land taxes, the trustee shall cause in the month of January a notice (Sec. 67-5-2202). After the publication of notice, the trustee shall deliver the delinquent lists showing all unpaid land taxes to an approved attorney (Sec. 67-5-2404). The attorney shall file suits for the collection of delinquent land taxes, as well as the interest, penalties and costs attached to and a part of such taxes (Sec. 67-5-2405). All such suits and all lands impressed with the lien for taxes, penalties, interest, and costs shall be subject to sale under such proceedings, when the amount due is ascertained. (Sec. 67-5-2414).

The court shall order a sale of the land for cash, subject to the right of redemption. At all sales, the minimum bid is the delinquent property taxes, interest, penalties, and the costs incident to the collection thereof (Sec 67-5-2501). Where no other bidder offers the same or higher it is the duty of the clerk of the court ordering the sale to bid, on behalf of the county (Sec. 67-5-2506). The government may sell real property on terms to be fixed in the advertisement at public auction to be held in the county where the property is situated (Sec. 67-5-2514).

Any person who owns a legal or equitable interest in the property sold at the tax sale and creditors of the taxpayer having a lien on the property may redeem the property during the one-year right of redemption period (Sec. 67-5-2701). In order to redeem property which has been sold, any person entitled to redeem the property shall pay to the clerk of the court who sold the property the amount paid for the delinquent taxes, interest and penalties, court costs and any court ordered charges, and interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum computed from the date of the sale on the entire purchase price paid at the tax sale (Sec. 67-5-2703).

Law: Tennessee Laws, Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 20,21,25 and 27 "Delinquent Taxes", "Tax Lien Generally", "Tax Lien Sale of Property", "Redemption"

Contact: The County Tax Collector/ Treasurer

Interest Rate: 10% per annum simple interest. More specifically, in order to redeem property which has been sold, any person entitled to redeem the property shall pay to the clerk of the court who sold the property the amount paid for the delinquent taxes, interest and penalties, court costs and any court ordered charges, and interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum computed from the date of the sale on the entire purchase price paid at the tax sale. (Sec. 67-5-2703)

Auction Type: Tax Deed Redeemable.

Bidding Procedure: Increased bidding occurs when the minimum bid being the delinquent property taxes, interest, penalties, and the costs incident to the collection thereof has been raised (Sec 67-5-2501). In no event shall any tract of land be sold for an amount less than the total amount of the taxes, penalty, cost and interest (Sec 67-5-2507).

Costs: The sheriff shall receive as costs to be taxed against each delinquent, seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) for serving all original processes, title examination fees, extra publications, survey fees, environmental assessments and other necessary costs, shall be set by the court and shall be considered as court costs of the tax suit. (Sec. 67-5-2410)

Redemption Period: 1 year from the date of the tax sale. For purposes of this part, "person entitled to redeem property" includes any person who owns a legal or equitable interest in the property sold at the tax sale and creditors of the taxpayer having a lien on the property; provided, that once property has been redeemed by the taxpayer, no further redemptions under this part are permissible. The taxpayer may redeem the property regardless of whether any other person has previously redeemed the property during the one-year redemption period. (b) In any county having a charter form of government and having a population of less than four hundred thousand (400,000) according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the taxpayer may redeem the property within the redemption period established in 67-5-2702 for counties having a charter form of government.

Deed assigned at Foreclosure to: The Tax Sale Purchaser. Upon redemption of property under this part, the person who redeems property shall be transferred the interest in the property that was held by the taxpayer prior to the sale for delinquent taxes. However, any creditor who redeems may proceed to foreclose or otherwise enforce such creditor's lien (Sec. 67-5-2706 ). A tax deed of conveyance shall be an assurance of perfect title to the purchaser of such land at a tax sale (Sec 67-5-2504).

Notes:

Counties:

To report any updates, deletions or additions to the county list, please click here.

AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | HI | IA | ID | IL | IN | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WV | WI | WY