Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-4-215 (2026)
Distress warrants
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) A local collector has the power to issue a distress warrant for taxes collectible by the local collector.
- (b) Prior to the issuance of a distress warrant, the local collector shall give not less than ten (10) days' written notice to the taxpayer by either:
- (1) Delivering such notice in person;
- (2) Leaving such notice at the dwelling place or usual place of business of the taxpayer; or
- (3) By mailing such notice to the taxpayer's last known address.
- (c)
- (1) The sheriff into whose hands such distress warrant may come, or the sheriff's deputy, may execute the distress warrant by distraint and sale of personal property belonging to such delinquent taxpayer, and the proceedings in respect to the distress warrant shall be the same as are provided by law for proceedings under execution at law from a court of record; and the executing officer shall be entitled to the same fees, commissions and the necessary expense of removing and keeping property distrained as in case of an execution from a court of record.
- (2) If the officer cannot find personal property to satisfy the distress warrant, the officer may levy the distress warrant upon any real estate in the officer's county belonging to such delinquent taxpayer. If levied on land, the distress warrant, together with the officer's return on the warrant, shall be returned to the circuit court of the county in which the land lies, and the land shall be condemned and sold under the orders of the circuit court, in the same manner as in case of a levy on land of an execution issued by a general sessions court. Suit or suits may be brought, if necessary.
- (d) If any sheriff willfully fails, refuses or neglects to execute any distress warrant directed to the sheriff within the time provided in this part, the official bond of such sheriff shall be liable for the tax, penalty, interest, and cost due by the taxpayer, and, on complaint of any proper officer, this penalty shall be enforced by the attorney general and reporter in any manner permitted by law.
- (e) A distress warrant issued by a municipal tax collector may be executed within the boundaries of a municipality by the chief of police or a police officer of the municipality who is granted the authority expressed in this section to serve distress warrants.
Acts 1937, ch. 108, art. 3, §§ 5, 13; C. Supp. 1950, §§ 1248.8, 1248.16 (Williams, §§ 1248.141, 1248.142g); Acts 1978, ch. 839, § 20; impl. am. Acts 1979, ch. 68, § 3; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 67-4325 -- 67-4327; Acts 1987, ch. 346, § 2; 2009, ch. 480, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3
cases, 1999–2001 · leading case: Lamar Fletcher v. State of Tennessee, 9 S.W.3d 103 (Tenn. 1999).
Lamar Fletcher v. State of Tennessee, 9 S.W.3d 103 (Tenn. 1999). “1 Upon the appellant’s failure to pay the litigation tax, the Clerk and Master of the Davidson County Chancery Court issued a distress warrant pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 67-4-215 for collection of the tax.”
Lamar Fletcher v. TN Claims Comm. (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-4-215 (d) (1998). 5 The full language of Tennessee Code Annotated § 67-4-603(b)(1) reads: (b)(1) When any defendant in a criminal action is liable to pay the applicable privilege tax, the clerk of the court shall certify to the commissioner of correction,…”
Gary Willingham v. Gallatin Grp., Inc. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “Accordingly, to turn its delinquent tax claim against the taxpayer into a lien on the taxpayer’s property, a local government must file 7 Tenn.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-4-215(d): 1 case
Lamar Fletcher v. TN Claims Comm. (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-4-215 (d) (1998). 5 The full language of Tennessee Code Annotated § 67-4-603(b)(1) reads: (b)(1) When any defendant in a criminal action is liable to pay the applicable privilege tax, the clerk of the court shall certify to the commissioner of correction,…”
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