The TaxLienSimple Index / Tennessee
Tennessee Tax-Lien & Tax-Deed Investing
What Tennessee statute actually pays, return, redemption and bid method, cross-referenced with the live auction inventory we track. Every figure traces to state law or a county source.
Statutes verified Jul 29, 2026
Statutory note. Property is sold by deed to the highest bidder at a court-confirmed sale, subject to a statutory 1-year redemption at 12%.
Remote Investor Snapshot
Verified public-data profile for out-of-area investors, every figure below traces to the cited government source. Blank fields mean the source does not publish that value for this area (we never estimate).
Market & demographics
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022
Housing market
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022
Property-tax burden
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022
Natural-hazard risk & safety
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (2023); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (2023 annual)
Growth & livability signals
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (2023); U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022 (household broadband subscription; FCC availability not yet integrated); U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022 (educational attainment, school-quality proxy; NCES ratings not yet integrated)
Risk & opportunity flags
Source: U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund / IRS designated Opportunity Zones; U.S. EPA (SEMS National Priorities List; ACRES Brownfields)
Counties we track in Tennessee
| # | County | TaxLienSimple Index | Live parcels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelby County | B 61 | 1,678 |
| 2 | Hawkins County | B 58 | 55 |
| 3 | Hamblen County | B 58 | 38 |
| 4 | Henry County | B 57 | 33 |
| 5 | Sullivan County | B 56 | 4 |
| 6 | Madison County | B 55 | 65 |
| 7 | Obion County | B 55 | 3 |
| 8 | Wayne County | B 55 | 3 |
| 9 | Lawrence County | B 55 | 2 |
| 10 | Washington County | B 55 | 2 |
| 11 | Coffee County | B 55 | 1 |
| 12 | Decatur County | B 55 | 1 |
| 13 | Stewart County | B 54 | 26 |
| 14 | Gibson County | B 54 | 23 |
| 15 | Weakley County | B 54 | 20 |
| 16 | Cumberland County | C 52 | 1 |
| 17 | Haywood County | C 52 | 1 |
| 18 | Maury County | C 52 | 1 |
Tennessee tax sale, FAQ
What is the TaxLienSimple Index for Tennessee?
Tennessee scores 55/100 (Tier B), ranked #20 of 51 jurisdictions. The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0-100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track, not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.
How does redemption and return work in Tennessee?
12% per annum. Redemption period: 1 year (shortened to 180/90/30 days for long-delinquent or vacant/abandoned parcels). Property is sold by deed to the highest bidder at a court-confirmed sale, subject to a statutory 1-year redemption at 12%.
What is Tennessee's statutory return on a tax lien or tax deed purchase?
12% per annum. Property is sold by deed to the highest bidder at a court-confirmed sale, subject to a statutory 1-year redemption at 12%.
What is the bid method for Tennessee tax sales?
Tennessee uses a highest bid (deed) method for its redeemable deed sales.
Does Tennessee use tax-lien auctions or tax-deed sales?
Tennessee uses a redeemable deed system. Property is sold by deed to the highest bidder at a court-confirmed sale, subject to a statutory 1-year redemption at 12%.
See the actual parcels in Tennessee
Browse the live tax-lien, deed and foreclosure inventory we track, search by county, redemption window and opening bid.
Browse live auction inventory → · Tennessee tax delinquent property list → · Tennessee state guide → · How to find and verify a tax sale list → · Set a max bid → · Academy: deed states and redeemable deeds →© 2026 TaxLienSimple · The TaxLienSimple Index is compiled from state tax statutes and county treasurer/tax-collector offices; live inventory counts reflect parcels currently tracked by TaxLienSimple and update continuously. Nothing here is investment or legal advice.