Land Redemption

Duties and Responsibilities

The Land Redemption Department handles the collection of property taxes after the Tax Collector has sold them at a tax sale.

The Redemption Process

Please note: Contrary to information floating around the internet, You MUST register as a tax purchaser in Mississippi in order to purchase taxes at the tax sale. You CANNOT simply "pay the back taxes" and become the owner. (Information regarding becoming a tax purchaser can be found in the Tax Collector link below.)

Additionally, paying delinquent taxes for another property owner does not give you ownership of said property. You have simply paid the delinquent taxes for that property owner.

Please click here for information regarding the Tax Collector's office and the Tax Sale process.

1. In Harrison County, the process starts when a homeowner does not pay the land taxes by end of business day on the Friday before the last Monday in August in the Tax Collector's office.
   
2. The property is then listed in the tax sale and is available to be bid on by registered tax purchasers.
   *The property owner is still the legal owner.
3. You can pay (redeem) these taxes up to 2 years from the date of the tax sale. This could/will include any current or prior year owed taxes, interest at 1.5% per month, and any additional fees and penalties required by law.
   *During this redemption period, the property owner is still the legal owner.
4. On the final year of redemption, also known as the maturity year, the Chancery Clerk's office staff performs a property title search to contact any person with a possible vested interest in the property, and inform them of the impending maturity.
   
   This is done via:
• Certified mailing notices sent by the Chancery Clerk's office
  (Harrison County sends (2) two notices)
• Sheriff Notices
  These notices are served by either a county constable or sheriff's deputy
• Full list of properties that will mature in the newspaper
  The Chancery Clerk's office uses the Gazebo Gazette
5. If the taxes are unpaid at the end of the redemption period, the property "matures" into a tax deed and transfers to the tax purchaser.
   *Property is now legally owned by the tax purchaser with all legal rights that ownership entails.
6. If you are the tax purchaser who has acquired the property, you will need to get confirmation of title through the Chancery Court to receive a clear title of ownership. Title clearing removes all previous rights of ownership, liens, and any other claims of interest (dependent upon the court order).

This department also reviews homestead exemption applications and forwards the information to the State Tax Commission. Disallowed homestead exemptions are returned to this department for further action.

Other duties include supervising the printing of the land and personal property rolls each year and processing changes to these rolls for the Board of Supervisors.

*** 2023 TAXES ARE NOW MATURING *** TAXES NOT PAID BY THE MATURITY DATE WILL BE UN-REDEEMABLE BY ORIGINAL OWNER
TAX YEAR	MATURITY DATE	FINAL REDEMPTION DATE
2023	8/26/2026	8/26/2026
1ST NOTICE WAS SENT	2ND NOTICE WILL BE SENT	SHERIFF/CONSTABLES SERVED NOTICES ON
3/23/2026	6/22/2026	4/1/2026

2024 TAXES WILL MATURE IN 2027
TAX YEAR	MATURITY DATE	FINAL REDEMPTION DATE
2024	8/25/2027	8/25/2027
1ST NOTICE WILL BE SENT	2ND NOTICE WILL BE SENT	SHERIFF/CONSTABLES WILL SERVE NOTICES ON
3/22/2027	6/21/2027	4/1/2027

Recording & Redemption - Judicial District 1
Mailing Address Angela Thrash, Chancery Clerk Attn: Recording/Redemption Department P.O. Drawer CC Gulfport, MS 39502	Physical Address Angela Thrash, Chancery Clerk Attn: Recording/Redemption Department 1801 23rd Ave Gulfport, MS 39501
Recording & Redemption Main Number Phone: (228) 865-4036       Fax: (228) 214-1513
Norma Lear - Office Manager Phone: (228) 865-4031       Fax: (228) 214-1513 Email: nalear@co.harrison.ms.us
Patty Johnson - Supervisor Phone: (228) 865-4031       Fax: (228) 214-1513 Email: pjohnson@co.harrison.ms.us
Amber LaCuesta - Deputy Clerk Phone: (228) 865-4031       Fax: (228) 214-1513
Rachel Mitchell - Deputy Clerk Phone: (228) 865-4031       Fax: (228) 214-1513 Email: rgmitchell@co.harrison.ms.us
Autumn Zacharias - Deputy Clerk Phone: (228) 865-4031       Fax: (228) 214-1513 Email: adzacharias@co.harrison.ms.us
Recording & Redemption - Judicial District 2
Mailing Address Angela Thrash, Chancery Clerk Attn: Recording/Redemption Department PO Box 544 Biloxi, MS 39533	Physical Address Angela Thrash, Chancery Clerk Attn: Recording/Redemption Department 730 Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. Blvd Biloxi, MS 39530
Recording & Redemption Main Number Phone: (228) 435-8220       Fax: (228) 435-8292
Gloria Davis - Deputy Clerk Phone: (228) 435-8220       Fax: (228) 435-8292 Email: gdavis@co.harrison.ms.us
Lorie Berumen - Deputy Clerk Phone: (228) 435-8220       Fax: (228) 435-8292 Email: leberumen@co.harrison.ms.us
Michelle Walls - Deputy Clerk Phone: (228) 435-8220       Fax: (228) 435-8292 Email: mwalls@co.harrison.ms.us