2023 Tennessee Code › Title 67 - TAXES AND LICENSES (§§ 67-1-101 — 67-10-107) › Chapter 5 - PROPERTY TAXES (§§ 67-5-101 — 67-5-2803) › Part 24 - TAX LIEN - ENFORCEMENT GENERALLY (§§ 67-5-2401 — 67-5-2423) › Section 67-5-2404 - Delivery of delinquent tax list to attorney - Appeals

(a)
(1)
After the publication of the notice in §
67-5-2401
, and between the dates of February 1 and April 1, the trustee shall deliver the delinquent lists showing all unpaid property taxes to an attorney chosen by the trustee with the approval of the county mayor.
(2)
Compensation of the attorney shall be determined in advance through negotiations between the trustee and the attorney, subject to the approval of the county legislative body, but in no event shall such compensation exceed ten percent (10%) of all delinquent property taxes collected.
(3)
It is the duty of the county trustee and the county mayor to cause the attorney to prepare and file suits in the chancery or circuit court for the collection of all delinquent property taxes, and all arrears of taxes due the state, county and municipality.
(4)
In order that delinquent and municipal taxes may be collected at the same time as other taxes, it is the duty of the proper municipal officers to furnish the county trustee or the trustee's attorney certified lists of delinquent municipal taxes, unless otherwise provided.
(5)
This subsection (a) shall not apply to counties with a metropolitan form of government or to counties having the following populations according to the 1970 federal census or any subsequent federal census:
not less than
nor more than
3,765
5,200
6,600
6,700
8,100
8,200
12,300
12,350
12,400
12,550
14,700
14,800
36,900
37,100
56,200
56,300
(b)
(1)
After the publication of the notice in §
67-5-2401
, and between the dates of February 1 and April 1, the trustee shall deliver the delinquent lists showing all unpaid property taxes to an attorney chosen by the trustee with the approval of the county mayor, and it shall be the duty of the county trustee and the county mayor to cause the attorney to prepare and file suits in the chancery or circuit court for the collection of all delinquent property taxes, and all arrears of taxes due the state, county and municipality; and, so that delinquent and municipal taxes may be collected at the same time as other taxes, it shall be the duty of the proper municipal officers to furnish the county trustee or the trustee's attorney certified lists of delinquent municipal taxes, unless otherwise provided.
(2)
This subsection (b) shall apply only to counties with a metropolitan form of government and to counties having the following populations according to the 1970 federal census or any subsequent federal census:
not less than
nor more than
3,765
5,200
6,600
6,700
8,100
8,200
12,300
12,350
12,400
12,550
14,700
14,800
36,900
37,100
56,200
56,300
(c)
(1)
Upon written agreement between the county trustee and the clerk of the court where suit has been filed for collection of delinquent taxes, the county trustee may continue to collect delinquent property taxes, including penalty and interest due, regarding any property included on the delinquent tax list delivered by the county trustee to an attorney for the filing of suits for collection until such property has been sold at a delinquent tax sale if the offices of the court clerk and the county trustee have computer systems that are sufficiently connected so as to enable the county trustee to collect the correct amount of taxes, penalties, and interest due. The county trustee shall pay over to the court clerk the entire amount so collected pursuant to such agreement and the court clerk shall allocate such amount as if the moneys were collected by the court clerk. This subsection (c) shall only apply to any county having a population of not less than one hundred thirty-four thousand seven hundred (134,700) nor more than one hundred thirty-four thousand eight hundred (134,800), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, upon adoption of a resolution by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the county legislative body authorizing the county trustee to collect delinquent property taxes as provided in this subsection (c).
(2)
Upon written agreement between the county trustee and the clerk of the court where suit has been filed for collection of delinquent taxes, the county trustee may continue to collect delinquent property taxes, including penalty, interest, fees, and costs on all property included on the delinquent list delivered by the county trustee to the delinquent tax attorneys appointed for the filing of suits until the time such properties are sold in a delinquent tax sale. The county trustee shall pay over or allocate to the court clerk the entire amount so collected pursuant to such agreement and the court clerk, or the county trustee pursuant to such agreement, shall allocate such amount as if the moneys were collected by the court clerk. This subdivision (c)(2) shall apply to any county having over three hundred thousand (300,000) tax parcels, upon adoption of a resolution by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the county legislative body authorizing the county trustee to collect delinquent taxes as provided in this subdivision (c)(2).
(d)
If a taxpayer or other adverse party to the tax entity appeals a judgment or other order in an action to collect or enforce a lien for unpaid taxes, or files suit for recovery pursuant to chapter 1, part 9 of this title, or to set aside a tax sale pursuant to §
67-5-2504
, the court may, in its discretion, and upon the tax entity prevailing in such action, award reasonable attorneys' fees in addition to the compensation set forth in this section. Any request for such fees shall be supported by affidavit and such fees shall become additional expenses of the tax suit for the purposes of §
67-5-2410(d)
, and shall be secured by the lien in favor of the tax entity as costs accruing on the taxes pursuant to §
67-5-2101(a)
. Nothing in this subsection (d) shall be construed as authorizing an award of attorney's fees in favor of a taxpayer or other adverse party to the tax entity.
(e)
The maximum compensation provisions in this section and §§
67-5-2410
,
67-5-2501
, and
67-5-2506
shall not be applicable to nor limit fees or expenses authorized by the court to be paid to the delinquent tax attorney pursuant to subsection (d), §§
67-5-2410(d)
,
67-5-2502(c)(2)
,
67-5-2701
(
l
), and 67-5-2702(g) or any other law. This subsection (e) is intended to be procedural and remedial in its application and is made applicable retroactively to the extent allowed by law.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 967,s 30, eff. 5/21/2024.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 170, s 3, eff. 4/18/2019.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 93, s 1, eff. 4/10/2015.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 708, s 1, eff. 4/15/2014.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 353, s 12, eff. 5/13/2013.
Acts 1923, ch. 77, § 6; Shan. Supp., § 913b14; mod. Code 1932, § 1588; Acts 1975, ch. 32, § 1; 1978, ch. 869, §§ 1, 6-8; impl. am. Acts 1978, ch. 934, §§ 16, 36; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 67-2002; Acts 1987, ch. 392, § 1; 2003 , ch. 90, § 2; 2004, ch. 591, § 1.