Depending on the county, each county has interest paid to the certificate holder. Often the county buys the certificate. The owner has a right of redemption, which includes paying you interest. If you are intending on buying, skip trace the owner, call them, and explain your offer. The tax lien process and the ownership process are uniquely different and independent of each other, except the interest and the rights of redemption. Each county across the united states has rules. 3224 counties i...