As of noon Thursday, not much time remains for owners of properties with delinquent 2022 taxes to pay what they owe or risk their properties going to Lincoln County’s land sale.  

Land owners have until 5 p.m. Friday to take care of the debt.

On Wednesday, 2,050 land parcels were published for sale at a total value of $1,350,781.60. The original list was published two weeks prior. On average, 1,500-1,600 properties make it to the tax sale, according to Lincoln County Tax Assessor and Collector Blake Pickering.

Unless due taxes are paid prior to Monday, Aug. 28, the office of the tax assessor and collector will “within legal hours online at www.civicsource.com, offer for sale and sell, the herein below described lands … for delinquent county taxes, cost and damages, to the highest bidder for cash according to law.”

Online bidding begins at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude at 2:30 p.m. Minimum bids are listed below each property in the tax listing.

If an owner’s property is sold in the one-day sale, they still have an opportunity to redeem it. To do so, he or she must pay the original amount owed, plus 1.5% interest per month that it remained due.

“It is significantly cheaper if they get in and take care of it before it goes to the land sale,” said Pickering. “There is a higher interest rate, and additional fees associated with it afterward.”

If the owner of a sold property has not made an attempt to redeem it after 12 months, the office of the Chancery Clerk will send a letter to the person or persons to notify them of the opportunity. Properties not redeemed after two years are considered officially sold to the person who submitted the highest bid in the land sale.

“Anybody interested in participating in the land sale as a buyer must sign up at civicsource.com by the end of the work day Friday,” Pickering said. 

The internet-based sale can be accessed from any computer.

“If you need a quick tutorial or are not comfortable using another computer, we will be in the Lincoln County boardroom for the entirety of the sale,” Pickering said, “and we will have laptops available for use.”

Tax sales lists are available in the print and e-editions of The Daily Leader for Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.