Tennessee delinquent tax lists by county
Short answer: Tennessee is a redeemable deed state, so a winning bidder gets a redeemable deed, which is ownership subject to the former owner buying it back inside the redemption window. County tax sales convey deeds subject to a redemption of up to 1 year at 12%. Each county publishes its own delinquent roll through the County Trustee. Below is every Tennessee county we cover, with the live count of distressed owners in each.
Counties covered
8
Every one has its own ranked list and county-level rules page.
Flagged owners statewide
3,139
Carrying at least one distress signal in public records, refreshed daily.
Sale type
Redeemable deed
A 2 year right exists on paper but is waived in nearly every deed of trust.
Every Tennessee county we cover
Sorted largest first. Each county page carries the official list source, the sale rules and the live ranked list of owners under pressure right now.
| County | County seat | Population | Flagged owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | Memphis | 916,000 | 239 |
| Davidson County | Nashville | 715,000 | 263 |
| Knox County | Knoxville | 490,000 | 575 |
| Hamilton County | Chattanooga | 375,000 | 365 |
| Rutherford County | Murfreesboro | 373,000 | 110 |
| Williamson County | Franklin | 260,000 | 389 |
| Montgomery County | Clarksville | 231,000 | 430 |
| Sumner County | Gallatin | 205,000 | 768 |
Tennessee tax sale rules
| Tax sale system | Tennessee is a redeemable deed state. A winning bidder gets a redeemable deed, which is ownership subject to the former owner buying it back inside the redemption window. |
|---|---|
| Rate and cadence | County tax sales convey deeds subject to a redemption of up to 1 year at 12%. |
| Owner redemption | A 2 year right exists on paper but is waived in nearly every deed of trust. |
| Who publishes the list | The County Trustee in each county. |
| Foreclosure path | Non-judicial, typically 2 to 3 months from filing to sale. |
| Deficiency after sale | Allowed. |
| Local note | Twenty days of publication can carry a Tennessee trustee sale; it is one of the fastest states. |
The Tennessee delinquency clock
Tennessee delinquent tax list FAQ
Is Tennessee a tax lien or tax deed state?
Tennessee is a redeemable deed state. A winning bidder gets a redeemable deed, which is ownership subject to the former owner buying it back inside the redemption window. County tax sales convey deeds subject to a redemption of up to 1 year at 12%.
Where do I find the Tennessee delinquent tax list?
Each county publishes its own list through the County Trustee, usually as a PDF before a scheduled sale. Pick your county below for the official source plus the year-round ranked list of distressed owners in that area.
How long does an owner have to redeem in Tennessee?
A 2 year right exists on paper but is waived in nearly every deed of trust. That window is the single biggest thing separating a good tax-sale trade from a bad one, because it decides how long your money sits before you can act.
How many tax-delinquent properties are there in Tennessee?
Across the 8 Tennessee counties we track, roughly 3,139 properties currently carry at least one distress signal in public records, including tax delinquency, foreclosure filings, vacancy and long-distance ownership. The counts refresh daily.
Can I buy Tennessee tax-delinquent property before the auction?
Yes. The delinquency appears in the public record months before any sale is scheduled, and during that window the owner can still sell normally. That is the whole opportunity: no bidding war, an inspection is possible, and an owner with equity walks away with money instead of nothing.