tax certificate
tax certificate. An instrument issued to the buyer of property at a tax sale, certifying the sale and entitling the buyer to a tax deed and possession of the property upon the expiration of the redemption period. • If the property is redeemed, the tax certificate is voided. See REDEMPTION PERIOD; tax sale under SALE. Cf. tax deed under DEED. [Cases: Taxation 730, 731. C.J.S. Taxation §§ 1365–1369.]