Columbia County, Arkansas Tax Sales – Dates, Registration, Procedures and Investment Insights

Columbia County, Arkansas, is a nice place where people are friendly and there’s a lot of Southern charm. The area has strong connections to farming, trees, and energy. People who want to invest often watch the county because it has cheap land and there are special sales by the Arkansas government where you can buy property for less money..

Brief Overview of Columbia County’s Tax Sales

In Columbia County, Arkansas, when people don’t pay their property taxes, the land is sold by the state. This happens through an auction, where people can bid to buy the land. In 2025, there will be an auction on September 30 at 10:00 AM in the Union County Courthouse. When someone wins a bid, they get a special paper that shows they own the land. Before bidding, people need to sign up and be ready with the right money to pay.

Important details about Columbia County tax‑deed auctions

Item	Key Facts
Tax Sale Type	Tax deed – buyer receives limited warranty deed. Redemption allowed only until 4 PM the business day before sale
Sale Date	10:00 AM CT (regional COSL auction, late summer/early fall each year)
Location	Union County Courthouse, 3rd Floor Courtroom, 101 N Washington St, El Dorado (venues rotate; check COSL catalog)
Registration	Required. Live: on-site, 9 AM–10 AM, valid U.S. ID, free. Online: account + ID verification + card required
Redemption	Owners must redeem by 4 PM prior business day (delinquent taxes + 10% interest + 10% penalty + costs). No redemption after sale
Bidding	Starts at taxes, interest, penalties, costs. Highest bid wins. Live: full payment due same day (check, card, certified funds – no cash). Online: $100 deposit, balance in 10 business days
Returns	Arkansas is a deed state – investors profit through resale or rental, not interest
Contact	COSL: [email protected], 501-324-9422 • Columbia County Collector: [email protected], 870-234-4171
Updates	COSL Public Auction Catalog (cosl.org) + auction.cosl.org. Notices also in local media (e.g., Arkadelphian)

What makes Arkansas tax‑deed investing unique?

Tax sale type, redemption rules and returns

In Arkansas, they have special auctions where people can buy land. When you buy land this way, you get the deed, which means you own it, instead of just a paper saying you owe money for it. 

Before they auction the land, they let everyone know about it for a year. The people who used to own the land can still get it back until the day before the auction. After that, if you buy it, you get to keep it for good.

In Arkansas, when you buy land at these auctions, you might get it for a really low price, just the amount of taxes that were not paid plus some extra costs. If nobody tries to get the land back, you will get a special deed that shows you own it. If someone later says the auctin wasn’t right and gets it canceled, you will get your money back, but not extra money for waiting.

Deposit requirements

In live auctions, people who want to buy items sign up right there and pay the full price right away. They don’t need to give any money before. In online auctions, if you win, your credit or debit card is charged $100 right away. This $100 shows you are serious about buying. When you buy something, this money goes towards the total price. You have 10 days to pay the rest of the money using a guaranteed payment method, like a bank check. If you don’t pay on time, you will lose the $100 and might not be allowed to bid again in the future.

Registration and bidding process

1. Check the auction calendar. Review the COSL Public Auction Catalog to verify the date, time and location. For Columbia County, the 2025 sale is September 30 at 10 a.m. CT.
   
2. Register. For live auctions, arrive about an hour before the sale and provide a U.S. driver’s license to obtain a bid card. Online buyers must create an account, verify identity and provide payment information.
   
3. Review parcels and perform due diligence. The COSL strongly urges prospective purchasers to research parcel location, size, access, and potential liens or encumbrances. Investors should consult county records and consider hiring a title company.
   
4. Bid and pay. At live auctions, the auctioneer offers parcels in sale‑number order. Bids start at the delinquent taxes and costs. The highest bidder pays the full amount immediately; cash isn’t accepted. Online bidders place bids over a 30‑day period; if successful, their card is charged $100 and they must pay the balance within ten business days.
   
5. Receive the deed. The COSL records a limited warranty deed in the county where the parcel is located and mails it to the purchaser after payment. There is a 90‑day litigation period during which the sale can be challenged.
   

Maximum potential returns

In Arkansas, when people buy property through something called a tax deed auction, they don’t earn money by charging interest like a loan. Instead, they make money based on how much the property is worth. In Arkansas, when people buy property through something called a tax deed auction, they don’t earn money by charging interest like a loan. Instead, they make money based on how much the property is worth. If someone buys land cheaply and then sells it for a higher price or rents it out, they can earn a lot of money.

In Arkansas, when people buy property through something called a tax deed auction, they don’t earn money by charging interest like a loan. Instead, they make money based on how much the property is worth. In Arkansas, when people buy property through something called a tax deed auction, they don’t earn money by charging interest like a loan. Instead, they make money based on how much the property is worth. If someone buys land cheaply and then sells it for a higher price or rents it out, they can earn a lot of money.

Because it doesn’t take much money to start buying in Arkansas, many people think these auctions are a good chance to earn money

Open to U.S. investors only

In Arkansas, people can take part in special sales called auctions. These sales are for anyone who lives in the U.S., like people and businesses. However, if you don’t live in the U.S., you can’t buy the land that hasn’t been paid for. Also, people who used to own the land or work for the county can’t bid in these auctions..

Columbia County overview

Columbia County is in the middle of southern Arkansas and is about the size of 767 square miles, which is quite big! The main city is Magnolia, where about 22,024 people lived in 2024. This county is part of the South Arkansas area and shares a special resource with nearby Union County: it’s where the biggest supply of bromine in the whole United States is found. Some of the biggest companies that work there include Albemarle Corporation, which processes bromine, American Fuel Cells and Coated Fabrics Company (called Amfuel), and Southern Arkansas University, which is a school.

Fun facts about Columbia County and Arkansas

• Columbia County has nice hills with good farming land and forests where people can cut trees. Long ago, cotton was a big crop grown here, and today, people raise cows and chickens.

• There are fun places to visit, too! Logoly State Park is Arkansas’s first park for learning about nature, and Lake Columbia is great for fishing and boating. Every year, the county has the Magnolia Blossom Festival and the Columbia County Fair, which many people enjoy.

• For music lovers, the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra plays in Magnolia. There are also many old buildings, like those in the Magnolia Commercial Historic District, that are recognized as important places.

• Getting around is easy! Magnolia Municipal Airport is close to downtown Magnolia, and there are major roads like U.S. Highways 82, 79, and 371, as well as Arkansas Highways 19 and 355, which help people travel to nearby towns.

• Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is a big part of the county. It brings in many students and helps the community grow, making it a good place to live.

Why Columbia County and Arkansas are ideal for tax‑deed investors

• **Affordable Prices:** When you bid on properties with unpaid taxes, the starting prices are usually very low. In this county, prices are lower than in bigger cities, which means people can buy homes and land that are worth more.

• **Different Jobs:** The county has many types of jobs, like making chemicals, growing food, cutting trees, and running schools. Having different kinds of businesses helps keep the economy strong and steady.

• **Future Growth:** New road projects, like making U.S. Highway 82 bigger and building the Magnolia bypass, will help more people and businesses come to Columbia County. This makes it a good place for new stores and homes.

• **Fun Activities and Good Living:** People who love the outdoors can enjoy parks, lakes, and forests for hunting. There are also fun events and activities from Southern Arkansas University (SAU) that make the community lively. These fun things help keep the demand for homes strong over time.

How the auction works – step by step

1. Delinquency and certification (approx. 2 years): When taxes remain unpaid, the property is certified to the state after roughly two years. The owner still has the right to redeem by paying taxes, interest and penalties.
   
2. Notice and redemption (30 days to 4 p.m. before sale): The COSL notifies owners and interested parties by mail and publication. Owners may redeem up to 4 p.m. on the last business day before the sale.
   
3. Public auction: The COSL conducts a live auction where bidding starts at the amount of delinquent taxes and costs. If a parcel doesn’t sell, it is listed in the post‑auction system 30 days later.
   
4. Post‑auction sale: Unsold parcels can be purchased through the online auction. Bidders register, provide ID and payment details, and place bids over 30 days. A $100 earnest money deposit is charged when a bid wins.
   
5. Payment and deed: Winning bidders must pay the full amount immediately at live auctions or within 10 business days online. The COSL records a limited warranty deed and sends it to the buyer. A 90‑day litigation period follows.
   

Expected returns and investment yield

People who buy tax deeds in Arkansas don’t make money from interest like other types of investments, because there’s no special certificate for it. They make money by buying properties for less than what they are worth and then either renting them out or selling them for more money. In Columbia County, you can find different types of land like empty lots, homes in the country, or places for businesses, which helps investors have different options. But some of these properties might have problems like old bills, unpaid city fees, or environmental issues, so it’s important to check everything carefully before buying.

Foreign investor participation

Only bidders with a U.S. home of record may participate. Foreign individuals and entities are prohibited from purchasing tax‑delinquent parcels. Investors must also avoid conflicts of interest; county officials, the Commissioner’s employees and former owners cannot bid.

Importance of due diligence

Before bidding on a Columbia County parcel, investors should:

• Verify property location and access. Check parcel maps through the COSL catalog or county assessor, and consider visiting the site.
  
• Check for liens or encumbrances. Some municipal liens, improvement district assessments or IRS liens may survive the tax sale. Title searches or consultation with a title company help uncover hidden issues.
  
• Understand land use and zoning. Research county zoning regulations and inquire about building restrictions. Rural parcels may lack utilities or road access.
  
• Review redemption status. Confirm that the property has not been redeemed before the sale. Properties may be removed from the catalog up until 4 p.m. the business day prior to the auction.
  

Skipping these steps can lead to unexpected costs or unusable property. The Commissioner’s rules state that the state does not guarantee the usability, access or condition of any parcel, and buyers must conduct their own research.

Buying over‑the‑counter (post‑auction) liens/deeds in Columbia County

If a parcel doesn’t sell at the live auction, it becomes available for purchase through the Unsold‑Property Auction system. Bidders may find bargains with little competition. Benefits include:

• Fixed minimum bid: The reserve bid is equal to the delinquent taxes, penalties and costs.
  
• Convenient online process: Bids are submitted over a 30‑day period, allowing time for research and budgeting. Identity verification is required.
  
• No in‑person travel: Investors can participate remotely. However, earnest money is still charged, and failure to pay the balance results in forfeiture.
  

Despite the convenience, due diligence remains essential; unsold parcels may have accessibility issues or other problems.

Pro tips for Columbia County tax‑deed investors

• Use the COSL catalog and DataScoutPro to research parcels. Satellite imagery and GIS layers help identify land features, access and neighbouring properties.
  
• Inspect properties in person if possible. Rural tracts may be landlocked or located in flood‑prone areas.
  
• Budget for additional costs. Investors are responsible for paying current‑year taxes by October 15, even after winning an auction. Recording fees, quiet‑title actions and insurance may add to expenses.
  
• Track upcoming auctions. The COSL announces live auction lists in May and holds sales from July through October. Set calendar reminders and check for venue changes.
  
• Understand the 90‑day litigation period. Avoid making major improvements until the challenge period expires.
  

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

When are Columbia County tax sales held?

Tax‑delinquent parcels from Columbia County are sold at regional auctions hosted by the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands. The auctions take place between July and October each year, with Columbia County’s parcels slated for September 30, 2025 at 10 a.m. CT. Dates and locations may vary annually, so always confirm through the COSL catalog.

Do I need to register before bidding?

Yes. Live auction registration opens about one hour before the sale and requires a U.S. driver’s license Online post‑auction bidders must create an account, verify identity and provide credit/debit card information.

Is there a deposit to participate?

For live auctions, no deposit is required; the full purchase price is due at the auction by check or card. For post‑auction sales, a $100 earnest money charge is applied to your card when your bid wins. The balance must be paid within 10 business days.

Can an owner redeem the property after the sale?

No. Since July 1 2023, auction sales are final and parcels sold through the COSL cannot be redeemed. Owners must redeem by 4 p.m. the business day before the sale by paying all taxes, interest, penalties and costs.

Are foreign investors allowed to bid?

No. Arkansas law prohibits individuals or entities whose home of record is outside the United States from purchasing tax‑delinquent parcels. Bidders must have a U.S. address and government‑issued ID.

Where can I find more information?

Visit cosl.org for the Public Auction Catalog, buyer’s guide and auction calendar. For county‑specific questions, contact Columbia County Collector Rachel Waller at [email protected] or call 870‑234‑4171. You can also reach the Commissioner of State Lands at [email protected] or 501‑324‑9422.

Useful links

• Columbia County Website 
• State of Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands
• Arkansas offers a wealth of opportunities with Tax Deed Investing
• Let’s talk about Tax Deeds and how you can profit from them!
• Discover Tax Deeds and how you can find property for as little as $50! 

Need a hand?

Start building your portfolio with tax-sale properties in Columbia County. Our Auction Calendar shows what’s coming up. Get familiar with the process using our free resources and if you need more support, Book a free call with an expert to walk through your goals and next steps.

Interested in Columbia County investing? Check out our Auction Calendar to find your next property. Book a free call or access our free resources to start building your tax deed strategy today.

Sign up or log in to view the full content.