Selling land with back taxes in Missouri
Yes, you can sell Missouri land that has back taxes. The unpaid taxes are paid from the sale at closing. What matters is timing, because once the land goes to a tax sale your window gets shorter.
Request an offerHow Missouri handles unpaid property taxes
Missouri sells the land at a tax sale, but the deed can be redeemed for a set period afterward. You can win the land back during that window by paying the taxes, costs and a premium.
The redemption rule in Missouri: Delinquent land is sold at the county collector's tax sale on the fourth Monday in August, and the buyer gets a certificate of purchase. After a first or second offering sale, the owner can redeem for 1 year, and then until the buyer gets the collector's deed. If no bid covered the taxes at two yearly sales, the third offering allows only 90 days to redeem, and later sales allow none. The buyer must give at least 90 days' notice before taking the deed, and its lien ends without a recorded deed within 18 months. Counties that opt into the Land Tax Collection Law, for some or all parcels, use a court foreclosure with redemption until the sheriff's sale. There, vacant property assessed as residential loses the right to redeem at judgment if the court finds it vacant for at least 6 months.
Law: RSMo 140.150, 140.250, 140.340, 140.405, 140.410, 141.230, 141.520 and 141.530. Rules change, so confirm with the county tax collector.
What to do before the tax sale
- Call the county tax office and get the exact amount owed and the next sale date.
- Decide whether you want to keep the land. If not, selling before the sale stops the interest and penalties from growing.
- Gather the parcel number and any tax bills. A buyer and the title company need them to order a payoff.
Missouri land at a glance
- Average farm real estate value: $5,200 per acre (2026, USDA).
- Average property tax on farmland: about $11.92 per acre per year (2022 Census of Agriculture).
- Transfer tax: Missouri has no state real estate transfer or deed tax. Since 2010 the Missouri Constitution bars the state and local governments from imposing any new tax on real estate sales or transfers. County recorders of deeds charge recording fees.
- Seller disclosure: Missouri requires a seller to disclose in writing known radioactive or hazardous contamination (RSMo 442.055) and known methamphetamine production on the parcel (RSMo 442.606). Under 442.055, the seller knows of contamination if the seller received a report saying the land is or was contaminated.
These are statewide averages, not an appraisal. See selling land in Missouri for county values, or try the land value estimator.
How a cash sale handles this
Liberty Acres is a family-owned cash land buyer. We buy land anywhere in the US, in any condition, including land with back taxes, inherited land and land with no road access. We pay back taxes and all closing costs, use no agents and charge no commissions, and close through a title company, escrow company or real estate attorney who pays you by wire or check.
Common questions
Can I sell my land in Missouri if I owe back taxes?
Yes. The back taxes are paid from the sale at closing through the title company. Liberty Acres pays back taxes and all closing costs.
How long do I have to redeem land after a tax sale in Missouri?
Delinquent land is sold at the county collector's tax sale on the fourth Monday in August, and the buyer gets a certificate of purchase. After a first or second offering sale, the owner can redeem for 1 year, and then until the buyer gets the collector's deed. If no bid covered the taxes at two yearly sales, the third offering allows only 90 days to redeem, and later sales allow none. The buyer must give at least 90 days' notice before taking the deed, and its lien ends without a recorded deed within 18 months. Counties that opt into the Land Tax Collection Law, for some or all parcels, use a court foreclosure with redemption until the sheriff's sale. There, vacant property assessed as residential loses the right to redeem at judgment if the court finds it vacant for at least 6 months.
Can I still sell after the tax sale?
It depends on the Missouri rule above. If the law gives a redemption period after the sale, you can redeem or sell during it, but the payoff grows and title work gets harder. If it does not, your ownership ends when redemption ends, so sell before then.
Sources
- Missouri tax sale law: RSMo 140.150, 140.250, 140.340, 140.405, 140.410, 141.230, 141.520 and 141.530
- USDA NASS Land Values 2026 and 2022 Census of Agriculture
State rules last checked 2026-10-10. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules vary by state, so talk to a local attorney or CPA about your situation.