Live data — updated September 28, 2026
George County, MS Tax-Forfeited Land (2026): 21 Parcels Sold by the State
Quick answer: The State of Mississippi, not the county, owns 21 parcels in George County that went unsold at county tax sales and were not redeemed within two years. The Secretary of State sells them by online application. You buy the land itself and receive a State land patent, not a lien.
What you are buying. Land the State already owns. A parcel that draws no bid at a county tax sale is struck off to the State, and if nobody redeems it within two years the chancery clerk certifies it to the Secretary of State (Miss. Code 27-45-21). The Secretary of State sells it by application, not auction, and you receive a land patent signed by the Governor and the Secretary of State (Tax-Forfeited Lands).
The price. The Secretary of State gets a current market value from the county tax assessor, checks the title, and recommends a price to the Governor's Office: the higher of half the market value (a quarter for the former owner or a blighted parcel), the back taxes and fees, or your offer. The Governor must approve the sale; you then get an offer letter, pay, and the patent is prepared. It usually takes 60 to 90 days from application (Secretary of State FAQ). The amount on each listing is an estimate of that price; the offer letter sets the real one.
Redemption. None. The former owner's two-year window closed before the land passed to the State, so there is no redemption against a patent and no interest to earn.
Title. The State does not guarantee title. Many buyers file a suit in chancery court to confirm and quiet title (Miss. Code 11-17-3), and a tax sale where the clerk failed to send the required notice is void (27-43-3). A patent that has been out for ten years is presumed valid (29-1-115).
Apply online. The Secretary of State takes every application through its Tax-Forfeited Online Property Application site.
See the full Mississippi tax-forfeited inventory, the Mississippi investor guide and the live Mississippi auction calendar for the counties' own August tax sales.
Frequently asked questions
How do I buy tax-forfeited land in Mississippi?
Apply online through the Secretary of State's Tax-Forfeited Online Property Application site. The Secretary of State gets a market value from the county assessor, checks the title and recommends a price to the Governor's Office; once the Governor approves, you receive an offer letter, pay, and receive a land patent. It usually takes 60 to 90 days.
What does the State charge?
The higher of half the county assessor's market value (a quarter for the former owner or a blighted parcel), the back taxes and fees, or your offer. The Governor must approve the sale.
Can the former owner redeem?
No. The two-year redemption window from the county tax sale (Miss. Code 27-45-3) closed before the land passed to the State (27-45-21).