Tax Delinquent Property in Louisiana — What Happens and How to Sell Fast

Falling behind on property taxes in Louisiana can put your home at serious risk — but most homeowners don't know exactly how the process works or how much time they actually have. The good news is that Louisiana gives property owners more time and more options than most states. The bad news is that if you ignore the problem long enough, you can lose your home entirely. Here's what you need to know.

How Louisiana Property Taxes Work

In Louisiana, property taxes are assessed and collected at the parish level. Tax bills go out in November and are due by December 31st of each year. If you miss that deadline, the penalties and interest begin adding up immediately.

Louisiana actually has some of the lowest property tax rates in the country — averaging around 0.55% of assessed value — but that doesn't mean falling behind is risk-free. The consequences escalate quickly once you're past due.

When Taxes Are Due

Property tax bills are mailed in November. Payment is due December 31st. Interest begins accruing January 1st of the following year.

Penalties & Interest

Louisiana charges 1.25% interest per month on unpaid taxes, plus a penalty of up to 5% of the tax owed. These add up fast over multiple years.

What Happens When You Don't Pay Property Taxes in Louisiana

The Louisiana Tax Delinquency Timeline

January 1

Taxes become delinquentInterest starts accruing at 1.25% per month. The sheriff's office begins tracking delinquent accounts.

June–September

Tax sale advertisementThe parish sheriff advertises properties with unpaid taxes in the local newspaper. This is public notice that your property may be sold.

Sheriff's Tax Sale

Tax lien sold to third partyThe parish sells a tax lien on your property to the highest bidder at a public auction. The buyer pays your tax debt and receives a tax sale certificate. You still own the property at this point.

3-Year Redemption Period

You have 3 years to redeemAfter the tax sale, Louisiana gives you 3 years to pay back the tax sale purchaser — the original taxes plus interest and costs — to reclaim clear title to your property. This is one of the most generous redemption periods in the country.

After 3 Years

Tax sale purchaser can take titleIf you haven't redeemed the property within 3 years, the tax sale purchaser can apply for a tax deed and become the legal owner. At this point you lose the property entirely.

⚠️ The 3-Year Window Is Not as Long as It Sounds

Three years feels like a long time, but many Louisiana homeowners let it slip by — especially if they're not living at the property, dealing with other financial hardship, or simply didn't know the clock was ticking. If your property has been through a tax sale and you're inside that 3-year window, act now — don't wait.

Can You Sell a Tax Delinquent Property in Louisiana?

Yes — and in many cases, selling is the smartest move. Here's how it works:

When you sell a property with delinquent taxes, the back taxes, penalties, interest, and any tax sale redemption costs are paid at closing from the sale proceeds. You don't need to come up with the money upfront. The title company handles it — the tax debt gets cleared, and you receive whatever is left after all obligations are paid.

This means even if you owe several years of back taxes, a sale can still put money in your pocket and clean up the title in one transaction.

What If the Property Already Had a Tax Sale?

If your property has already been through a Louisiana sheriff's tax sale and you're inside the 3-year redemption period, you can still sell — but the process is more complex. The title company will need to:

Identify the tax sale purchaser and the redemption amount owed
Pay the redemption at closing before clear title can transfer
Verify there are no other outstanding tax years still unpaid
Confirm the 3-year period hasn't expired

We've navigated tax sale situations regularly in Louisiana and work with title companies experienced in handling these redemptions. It's not as complicated as it sounds when you have the right people involved.

What If the 3 Years Have Already Passed?

If the 3-year redemption period has expired and the tax sale purchaser has received a tax deed, the situation is more serious — they may now legally own the property. However, Louisiana tax title law has nuances, and in some cases the tax deed can be challenged or negotiated. If you're in this situation, contact us immediately and we'll tell you honestly what options remain.

Tax Delinquent Property in Louisiana? We Can Help.

Back taxes get paid at closing. You walk away with whatever equity remains. We buy in all 64 parishes — cash offer in 24 hours.

💰 Get My Cash Offer

Why Selling for Cash Is Often the Best Solution

When you have delinquent property taxes, the options are:

Pay the taxes yourself — if you have the cash, pay everything owed plus penalties and get current. This keeps the property but requires money you may not have.
Set up a payment plan — some parishes allow installment agreements for delinquent taxes. Ask your parish tax collector about this option.
Sell the property — taxes and liens paid at closing from proceeds. Clean break, cash in hand, no more tax burden going forward.
Do nothing — let the tax sale happen and eventually lose the property with nothing to show for it.

For homeowners who can't pay the back taxes and don't want to lose the property to a tax sale with zero proceeds, selling is almost always the right move — especially if there's any equity in the property.

How We Handle Tax Delinquent Properties

Contact us and tell us about the tax situationLet us know the property address, how many years of back taxes are owed, and whether a tax sale has already occurred. The more you know, the faster we can move.
We research the tax statusWe'll pull the property's tax history, identify what's owed, and confirm the current status with the parish tax collector.
We make a cash offer within 24 hoursOur offer accounts for the taxes owed at closing. We show you clearly what you'd walk away with after everything is paid.
Title company handles the tax payoff at closingAt closing, all delinquent taxes, penalties, and redemption costs are paid directly from the sale proceeds. You receive the remainder. Clean title transfers to us.

Frequently Asked Questions — Tax Delinquent Property in Louisiana

Can I sell my house if I owe back property taxes in Louisiana? +

Yes — back property taxes are paid at closing from the sale proceeds, just like a mortgage payoff. You don't need to pay the taxes before selling. The title company handles it as part of the closing process.

How many years of back taxes can you help with? +

There's no limit on how many years we can work with — as long as the property hasn't been permanently transferred to a tax sale purchaser through an expired redemption period. We've helped with properties that had 5+ years of delinquent taxes.

What if the property already had a tax sale? +

If you're still within the 3-year redemption period, we can still buy — the redemption amount gets paid at closing. If the period has expired, the situation is more complex. Call us and we'll assess what options remain.

Will I get any money if there are a lot of back taxes? +

It depends on how much the property is worth versus what's owed in taxes. If the property value exceeds the tax debt, you'll receive the difference at closing. We'll show you the math clearly before you decide.

Do you buy tax delinquent properties in rural Louisiana parishes? +

Yes — all 64 parishes including rural areas. Tax delinquency is common in smaller parishes and we handle these situations regularly throughout southwest, central, and north Louisiana.