Tax sales take place when there are overdue taxes on real estate. Mississippi tax sales are generally held the last Monday in August with notice by publication.  At the tax sale, the the Chancery clerk utilizes an overbid system wherein taxes are auctioned by competitive bid. Successful bidders will pay the taxes due for the real estate.  Upon payment of those taxes, a lien is placed on the property for the buyer.  A tax lien certificate is issued to the buyer as proof of his claim against the property.

If the the original owner does not redeem the property after two years, the buyer will be given a sales deed making him the record title owner.  To redeem the property, the original owner must pay the amount he owed plus any taxes since paid on the property and interest and fees.

At the end of the redemption period, the county Chancery Clerk must send notice to the original owner that the final sale of the property will take place. By statute, the sheriff is required to serve notice on the original property owner.  Notice must also be sent by registered or certified mail.  Failure to give proper notice could be grounds for invalidating the tax sale.

[1] Miss. Code Ann. § 27-43-3 (Supp. 2009).