Selling Oklahoma Land With Back Taxes
Behind on property taxes? You still have options. You can sell before the county does, and the back taxes usually come out of the sale money at closing. Here is how the timeline works.
Updated October 2026 · Written by the Twin Sun Land Co. team
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The short version
- Oklahoma property taxes are due November 1 and late after December 31.
- Late taxes earn interest of 1.5% a month.
- After about three years unpaid, the county can sell the land at the June tax resale.
- Oklahoma no longer holds the October tax certificate sale.
- You can sell any time before the resale. Back taxes are paid at closing.
Can I sell land with back taxes in Oklahoma?
Yes. You can sell land that is behind on property taxes. At closing, the title company pays the county treasurer what is owed from the sale money, and you get the rest. Selling before the county’s tax resale lets you keep your equity instead of losing the land.
Example only: say you sell for $40,000 and owe $3,000 in back taxes and interest. The title company pays the treasurer $3,000 at closing. With us, there is no commission and we pay the closing costs, so you keep the other $37,000.
When are Oklahoma property taxes due and late?
Oklahoma property taxes are due November 1. You can pay all of it or half by December 31. If you pay half, the second half is due March 31. If nothing is paid by December 31, the whole bill is late on January 1 and interest of 1.5% a month starts adding up.
- November 1: taxes due.
- December 31: pay in full, or pay the first half.
- January 1: unpaid taxes are delinquent.
- March 31: second half due if you paid half.
- Every month late: 1.5% interest, which is 18% a year.
How long before Oklahoma sells land for unpaid taxes?
About three years. When taxes stay unpaid three years or more, the county treasurer advertises the land and sells it at the yearly tax resale, held the second Monday in June. Land that does not sell is deeded to the county. Either way, the owner loses the land.
Before the resale, the treasurer must:
- Publish a notice in a local newspaper once a week for four weeks.
- Mail a certified notice to the owner of record at least 30 days before the sale.
That letter goes to the address in the county assessor’s records. If you moved, update your address with the assessor now.
The October sale is gone. Oklahoma used to hold a tax certificate sale every October. A newer law ended it. The county now holds the lien itself, and delinquent land goes to the June resale. Many websites still describe the old October sale.
Can I stop a tax resale in Oklahoma?
Usually, yes, if you act before the resale. You can pay the treasurer everything owed, including interest and costs, and keep the land. Or you can sell the land first and let the back taxes be paid at closing. Call the county treasurer to confirm your deadline.
Do not wait for the newspaper notice. Title work takes time, and most closings take 30 to 45 days. If the resale is close, tell us the date so we can push the title company.
Where do I check how much tax I owe?
On the county treasurer’s website or the county’s online tax roll. Many Oklahoma counties use oktaxrolls.com, where you can look up your tax account. You can also call the treasurer’s office in the county seat. Your tax bill shows your parcel number too.
Tax roll links for our county guides:
- Canadian, Logan, Grady, Lincoln, Creek, Osage and Payne counties on oktaxrolls.com.
- Oklahoma County Treasurer public access.
- Tulsa County Treasurer tax information.
Find your county’s links on its page in our county guide.
Should I just let the county take the land?
Usually not. If the county sells your land at resale, you lose it, and you may get nothing for any value above what was owed unless you claim it. Selling first means the taxes get paid and you keep the rest of the money. Even land with low value is worth a phone call.
Ask the county treasurer how surplus money from a resale is handled before you count on it. The simpler path is to sell before the resale and leave with a check.
Frequently asked questions
Will you buy land that is about to go to the tax resale?
Often, yes. Tell us the resale date up front. Title work takes time, so the sooner you call, the more options you have.
Do I have to pay the back taxes before I sell?
No. The back taxes are paid from the sale money at closing. You do not need cash up front.
What if I owe more in taxes than the land is worth?
That happens with very small or hard-to-reach parcels. Call us anyway. We will tell you honestly whether the numbers work.
Is there still an October tax sale in Oklahoma?
No. Oklahoma ended the October tax certificate sale. The county now holds the tax lien, and land that stays delinquent about three years goes to the June resale.
Where does the resale notice get mailed?
To the owner of record at the address in the county assessor’s records. If you moved, update your mailing address with the assessor.
Check your county
Last updated October 2026. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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