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 25 - TAX LIEN - SALE OF PROPERTY (§§ 67-5-2501 — 67-5-2516) › Section 67-5-2506 - Sale of land for county taxes only

(a)
(1)
When a parcel is sold for payment of delinquent taxes it must be sold pursuant to this chapter. This subdivision (a)(1) is procedural and remedial in its application and applies retroactively to the extent allowed by law.
(2)
It is the duty of the clerk of the court ordering the sale to bid, on behalf of the governmental entities for which the taxes are owing, to ascertain the amount due for taxes, interest, penalties and costs, where no other bidder offers the same or higher bid; provided, that, in the case of property where the county legislative body has determined that no bid should be made on behalf of the governmental entities to which taxes are owing due to a determination that such property poses an environmental risk or has financial liabilities associated with the property such that it is not in the best interest of the county to take possession of the property, the clerk shall not offer a bid. The county legislative body may also make a determination that no bid shall be made on behalf of the governmental entities on nonbuildable or nonconforming parcels, including, without limitation:
(A)
Storm water detention basins;
(B)
Drainage ditches;
(C)
Private road right-of-ways;
(D)
Private drives;
(E)
Common open areas; and
(F)
Utility easements.
(3)
Up to ten percent (10%) of the sale proceeds shall be applied, first, to payment of any unpaid balance of compensation due the prosecuting attorney; second, the proceeds of the sale shall be applied to the costs of the suits; and third, the remainder shall be applied to the county first and second, to any municipality having a tax lien on the same property.
(4)
This subsection (a) does 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)
When any parcel is sold for payment of delinquent taxes, it shall be sold pursuant to this chapter. This subdivision (b)(1) is procedural and remedial in its application and is made applicable retroactively to the extent allowed by law.
(2)
It is the duty of the clerk of the court ordering the sale to bid, on behalf of the governmental entities for which the taxes are owing, to ascertain the amount due for taxes, interest, penalties and costs, where no other bidder offers the same or higher bid; provided, that, in the case of property where the county legislative body has determined that no bid should be made on behalf of the governmental entities to which taxes are owing due to a determination that such property poses an environmental risk, the clerk shall not offer a bid.
(3)
The proceeds from such sale shall be applied, first, to the payment of the penalty allowed as compensation for prosecuting the suits; second, to the costs; and third, the remainder shall be prorated, first, to the county and, second, to any municipality that has a tax lien thereon.
(4)
This subsection (b) applies 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
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 967,s 1, eff. 5/21/2024.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 170, s 6, eff. 4/18/2019.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1085, s 2, eff. 5/20/2016.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 825, s 1, eff. 4/29/2014.
Acts 1949, ch. 193, § 1; C. Supp. 1950, § 1612.2 (Williams, § 1051.1); Acts 1978, ch. 869, §§ 5-8; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 67-2033; Acts 1996, ch. 787, § 4.