State laws / Tennessee
Tennessee tax sales: liens, deeds, rates & redemption
Quick answerTennessee sells redeemable tax deeds for unpaid property taxes. Lien buyers can earn 12% per annum on the full purchase price, accruing from the date the purchaser pays the clerk until a motion to redeem is filed (Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-5-2701(b)). Redemption: From entry of the order confirming the sale, tiered by length of delinquency (§ 67-5-2701(a)): 1 year if delinquency is 5 years or less; 180 days if more than 5 but less than 8 years; 90 days if 8 years or more; 30 days for property shown to be vacant/abandoned (or qualifying vacant commercial structures) Sales: No fixed statewide date; sales follow a delinquent-tax suit in Chancery Court and are scheduled by each county / Clerk and Master, roughly annually and often in the fall Governing law: Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, Parts 25-27 (esp. §§ 67-5-2501, 67-5-2701).
Where to bid: GovEase (counties that sell online)mostly in-person / county-specific (Chancery Court / Clerk and Master sales in many counties)
| What is sold | Redeemable tax deeds |
|---|---|
| Interest / penalty | 12% per annum on the full purchase price, accruing from the date the purchaser pays the clerk until a motion to redeem is filed (Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-5-2701(b)) |
| Redemption period | From entry of the order confirming the sale, tiered by length of delinquency (§ 67-5-2701(a)): 1 year if delinquency is 5 years or less; 180 days if more than 5 but less than 8 years; 90 days if 8 years or more; 30 days for property shown to be vacant/abandoned (or qualifying vacant commercial structures) |
| When sales happen | No fixed statewide date; sales follow a delinquent-tax suit in Chancery Court and are scheduled by each county / Clerk and Master, roughly annually and often in the fall |
| Governing law | Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, Parts 25-27 (esp. §§ 67-5-2501, 67-5-2701) |
| Investor notes | Price bid-up, court-ordered sale of the land itself — no lien certificates are sold. The purchaser's interest is on the entire bid (including any overbid), unlike capped-interest states, and the clerk issues a tax deed only after the redemption period expires unredeemed. |
Sources
- https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-67-taxes-and-licenses/tn-code-sect-67-5-2701/
- https://legalclarity.org/is-tennessee-a-tax-lien-or-tax-deed-state/
- https://taxlien.io/rankings/
- https://www.taxsaleatlas.com/tennessee/anderson/
Law verified 2026-10-30 against the sources above. Confirm current details with the county tax collector / clerk before bidding — counties can change dates and procedures.