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Tennessee General Bill of Sale

Tennessee does not require a bill of sale, but the Tennessee Department of Revenue recommends one. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Tennessee item bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Tennessee Department of Revenue looks for. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Tennessee
General Bill of Sale

Seller

Buyer

Item details

Price and terms

How to sell a item in Tennessee

A general bill of sale works for anything that is personal property and does not have its own form: furniture, electronics, appliances, tools, bicycles, musical instruments, collectibles. It records the description, serial number if any, price, date and as-is terms so both parties have a receipt that holds up.

Seller steps

  1. Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
  2. Agree on the price and fill in the Tennessee item bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the Serial no..
  3. Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. Tennessee does not require a notary.
  4. Hand over any registration papers, manuals, receipts or health records that go with the item.
  5. Hand over the item and keep your signed copy of the bill of sale for your records.

Buyer steps

  1. Check the Serial no. against the item itself before you sign.
  2. Keep the signed bill of sale with your records; it is your proof of ownership and purchase price.
  3. If you bought it for a business, give the bill of sale to your bookkeeper for the asset record.

Before you sign

  • Describe the item the way an insurer would: brand, model, size, color, serial.
  • Note any defects in the terms field.
  • For multiple items, list them in the description or attach a sheet.
  • Both parties sign and keep a copy.

Why a bill of sale matters for a item

  • A written receipt for anything worth arguing about.
  • Records the serial number for electronics and bikes, which helps if they are stolen.
  • An as-is clause ends disputes over condition.
  • Businesses need it to book an asset or expense.

Want both parties to walk away with a signed copy and a notary page ready? The $9 ready-to-sign pack adds them.

Tennessee at a glance

Bill of sale
Not required, strongly recommended
Notary
Notarization optional
Official state form
None published; any signed bill of sale is accepted
Where the buyer registers
Tennessee Department of Revenue (www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration.html)
License plates
Stay with seller

Tennessee county clerks title a used vehicle on the assigned title and odometer statement; a notarized bill of sale is required only when the seller has no title and the buyer applies for certification of ownership. Gifts and low-price sales use the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers. Plates stay with the seller.

Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.

Other Tennessee forms

General Bill of Sale in other states

All states →

Tennessee item bill of sale questions

Is a bill of sale required to sell a item in Tennessee?+

Tennessee does not require a bill of sale, but the Tennessee Department of Revenue recommends one. Tennessee county clerks title a used vehicle on the assigned title and odometer statement; a notarized bill of sale is required only when the seller has no title and the buyer applies for certification of ownership. Gifts and low-price sales use the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers. Plates stay with the seller. Tennessee has no mandatory form, so any complete, signed bill of sale like the one generated here is accepted.

Does a Tennessee item bill of sale need to be notarized?+

Tennessee does not require notarization. Two signatures are enough. If you want extra certainty, the ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page you can use anyway.

Does the buyer need to file a item bill of sale in Tennessee?+

No. Items are not titled or registered with the state, so there is nothing to file. The signed bill of sale is the ownership record; each party keeps a copy.

When do I need a general bill of sale?+

Any time you sell something valuable enough that you would want proof of the sale: furniture over a few hundred dollars, electronics, tools, collectibles. For vehicles, boats, trailers and the other categories here, use the specific form so nothing is missed.

Is a general bill of sale legally binding?+

Yes. Once signed by both parties it is a contract documenting the sale and its terms.