Tennessee Code Title 67. Taxes and Licenses § 67-5-2510

(a) Whenever any property is sold at a tax sale and is purchased by the state, by a county, by a municipality, or by a county and municipality, the officers of the state, or the county, or the municipality, or of county and municipality, purchasing the property, shall notify the county trustee and the collector of any municipal taxes that are a lien upon the property, when actual possession has been taken of such lands, and the county trustee and the collector of municipal taxes are then authorized and directed to note the payment of the taxes, for which the sale was held upon the tax rolls, by endorsing thereon the words: “Paid by sale of property, see Land Ledger, p. __; actual possession having been taken by __________ (County, City, or City and County),” or equivalent words.

(b) If actual possession is not taken by the state, by a county, or by a municipality, or by a county and municipality, the lands shall not be removed from the tax rolls, nor shall the lands be removed from the tax rolls, if the owner or former tenant is permitted to remain in possession of the property without the payment of rent to the state, county or municipality or county and municipality.