Illinois Tax Delinquent Property Lists by County
2 Illinois counties with browseable tax-delinquent property data. Download investor-ready CSV lists free.
How Illinois Tax Sales Work
See Illinois Property Tax Code, 35 ILCS 200, Articles 21-22. Specific procedures vary by county — always verify with the local tax assessor/collector before bidding.
All Illinois Counties (2)
Illinois Tax Sale Questions
How does Illinois bidding work?▾
It's a bid-down penalty auction. The maximum penalty is 18%, bid down toward 0%, and the lowest bid wins. The penalty is re-added every six-month period, so an 18% bid effectively yields 18% per six months, not per year.
How long is the Illinois redemption period?▾
Two years minimum for most property and 2.5 years for owner-occupied residential property of one to six units. The tax-sale purchaser can extend the deadline to a maximum of three years from the sale.
Do I get the property if I win a certificate?▾
Not at the sale. You hold a certificate of purchase. Only if the owner fails to redeem, and you correctly serve statutory notice and petition the circuit court, can a tax deed issue.
What happens if I miss a notice deadline?▾
The notice-and-petition process is strict. Failing to follow it forfeits the certificate — you typically then get a refund with interest through a "sale in error" rather than a tax deed. Illinois is a procedure-heavy state better suited to experienced buyers.