Auction set for tax-delinquent properties in four counties

Tax-delinquent properties in Independence, Jackson, White, and Woodruff counties will go up for public auction on Sept. 11, Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land announced.

The regional auction will begin at 10 a.m. at the Downtown Church of Christ auditorium, 900 N. Main St., in Searcy. Registration opens at 9 a.m. Parcels will be offered, with sales conducted alphabetically by county.

“Regional auctions have been a popular and efficient adaptation,” Land said in a release. “Bidders can be at the sales for multiple counties at a single event.”

Bidders must register before placing a bid and present a federal or state-issued ID. Payment in full is due at the auction site by business or personal check, debit card, or credit card. Cash is not accepted.

Sales open at the amount of taxes, penalties, and interest owed on each parcel. Winning bidders are also responsible for 2024 taxes, which must be paid to the county collector by Oct. 15. Land emphasized that property taxes fund schools, roads, libraries, and public services.

Parcels not sold at auction will be listed for post-auction sales 30 days later through the Commissioner of State Lands’ website, www.cosl.org. The site also offers the Public Auction Catalog, buyer’s guide, and instructional videos for researching and purchasing parcels.

Land reminded property owners that since 2023, redemption of tax-delinquent parcels must be completed by 4 p.m. on the last business day before the auction. Once a parcel is sold, it cannot be redeemed.

Owners may pay delinquent taxes online, by mail, or in person at the Commissioner’s office in Little Rock.