In Oklahoma, the tax deed process is employed for tax foreclosure, where the actual property is sold to satisfy unpaid property taxes after a certain period of delinquency. This is different from tax lien states, where a lien is sold against the property, granting the owner the right to collect back due taxes and earn interest.

Under normal circumstances, if a property owner fails to pay property taxes for three or more years, the county treasurer has the authority to sell the home to recover the outstanding debt. To initiate the tax deed process, the county treasurer sends a notice to the record owner of the property at least 30 days before the sale, using certified mail.

Additionally, the county treasurer is required to publish a notice of the sale in a newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks. However, if the county lacks a newspaper or refuses to publish the notice, the information must be posted at the courthouse.

The tax sale itself is conducted through a public auction, where the county treasurer sells the property to the highest bidder. The winning bid must be at least equal to the lesser of two-thirds of the property’s assessed value or the total amount of taxes, penalties, interest, and costs due. If no one bids the minimum amount, the treasurer bids off the property in the name of the county, and the county gains ownership of the home.

The property owner has a redemption period of two years after the tax sale. During this time, the property owner can pay the full amount of the taxes, penalties, interest, and costs due and redeem the property. If the property owner does not redeem the property within the redemption period, the high bidder or the county becomes the new owner of the property.