Can I pay someone elses back taxes?

[Josh McCullough]

There is a large track of land close to my house that has back taxes owed to the county since 2010.  I found this info on a public notice website.  I've contacted the owner and said that I'd like to buy the property from him, but first want to take care of the tax issue.  Can I pay those taxes without owning the property? If not, how do they get paid?  He is willing to hold financing for the property, so it wouldn't be a cash or conventional finance deal.  How do we structure this deal?  Time is of the essence!

Thanks yall!

[John Thedford]

Do a purchase contract stating you will pay the back taxes at closing. Take it through a title company to protect yourself. Factor in the back taxes to determine your costs. After you close...then what? That needs to be determined BEFORE you buy.