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Illinois Compiled Statutes

Information maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Updating the database of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) is an ongoing process. Recent laws may not yet be included in the ILCS database, but they are found on this site as Public Acts soon after they become law. For information concerning the relationship between statutes and Public Acts, refer to the Guide.

Because the statute database is maintained primarily for legislative drafting purposes, statutory changes are sometimes included in the statute database before they take effect. If the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that has not yet taken effect, the version of the law that is currently in effect may have already been removed from the database and you should refer to that Public Act to see the changes made to the current law.

REVENUE
(35 ILCS 200/) Property Tax Code.

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 heading)
Article 21. Due Dates, Delinquencies,
and Enforcement of Payments

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 1

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 1 heading)
Division 1. Due dates and delinquencies

35 ILCS 200/21-5

    (35 ILCS 200/21-5)
    Sec. 21-5. Forfeiture tax extension records; counties of 3,000,000 or more. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the county clerk shall quadrennially or at regular intervals prescribed by county resolution under Section 9-220 prepare a set of records to be known as the county clerk's forfeiture tax extension records, showing in separate columns and items the legal description of all property which has previously been forfeited for the non-payment of general taxes, the amount of the forfeited taxes of prior years, the interest added before forfeiture, the interest added after forfeiture, and all printers' fees and costs chargeable against each property. The records shall also show in proper spaces all annual new and additional amounts of forfeited general taxes, interest added before forfeiture, interest added after forfeiture, and all printers' fees and costs chargeable against the properties which become so chargeable during the years following the general assessment year. The records are to remain at all times at the county clerk's office for use in preparing estimates of costs of redemption and in issuing orders upon the county collector to receive amounts necessary for the redemption of forfeited general taxes. Nothing in this section shall be construed as abolishing or interfering in any way with the collector's tax books, the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture records or any other records or books provided for in this Code.
(Source: P.A. 86-1481; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-10

    (35 ILCS 200/21-10)
    Sec. 21-10. Delinquent tax ledger; counties of 3,000,000 or more. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the county board may by resolution or ordinance require the County Auditor to prepare a delinquent property tax ledger system, or adopt such a system already prepared and give custody of the same to the County Auditor, in which all the delinquent taxes due upon the various properties in the county shall be listed under the legal description of each property provided that the resolution or ordinance of the county board in adopting the system shall provide that a Delinquent Property Tax Ledger shall be installed and maintained by the County Auditor. The ledger shall contain all unpaid general property taxes. The resolution or ordinance shall also provide that a Property Tax Docket shall be installed and maintained by the County Clerk. The docket shall contain and list all court proceedings which affect the general property taxes levied upon any property. The Property Tax Docket and the Property Tax Ledger shall be installed by the respective County Officers within 60 days from the date of the adoption of the ordinance or resolution by the county board. The ordinance or resolution shall prescribe the form and manner of maintenance of the system, which system may also include such other related matters as the ordinance or resolution requires. The ordinance or resolution may also provide for a similar system for delinquent special assessments in the office of the County Clerk. Upon the adoption of such a system by the county board, the County Clerk upon application shall issue a certificate stating the total amount of general taxes, special assessment taxes, interest, penalties and costs which are delinquent upon any property, or if none is delinquent, a statement to that effect. The certificate as issued by the County Clerk may contain such additional information as the resolution or ordinance of the county board adopting such a system requires. That part of the certificate issued by the County Clerk showing the amount of delinquent general property taxes due upon any property shall be certified to by the County Auditor or if none is delinquent, a certification by the County Auditor to that effect. The county board may provide a fee not to exceed $5 for each certificate to be paid to the County Clerk and shall provide that a portion of the fee shall be placed in an indemnity fund in the custody of the County Treasurer to indemnify any person, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal or district which may be damaged by reason of any erroneous certificate.
(Source: P.A. 76-2254; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-15

    (35 ILCS 200/21-15)
    Sec. 21-15. General tax due dates; default by mortgage lender. Except as otherwise provided in this Section or Section 21-40, all property upon which the first installment of taxes remains unpaid on the later of (i) June 1 or (ii) the day after the date specified on the real estate tax bill as the first installment due date annually shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after that date. For property located in a county with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the rate of 1 1/2% per month or portion thereof. For property located in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the rate of (i) 1.5% per month, or portion thereof, if the unpaid taxes are for a tax year before 2023 or (ii) 0.75% per month, or portion thereof, if the unpaid taxes are for tax year 2023 or any tax year thereafter. Except as otherwise provided in this Section or Section 21-40, all property upon which the second installment of taxes remains due and unpaid on the later of (i) September 1 or (ii) the day after the date specified on the real estate tax bill as the second installment due date, annually, shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after that date at the same interest rate. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if a taxpayer owes an arrearage of taxes due to an administrative error, and if the county collector sends a separate bill for that arrearage as provided in Section 14-41, then any part of the arrearage of taxes that remains unpaid on the day after the due date specified on that tax bill shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after that date at the rate of 1 1/2% per month or portion thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, if a taxpayer owes an arrearage of taxes due to an administrative error, and if the county collector sends a separate bill for that arrearage as provided in Section 14-41, then any part of the arrearage of taxes that remains unpaid on the day after the due date specified on that tax bill shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after that date at the rate of (i) 1 1/2% per month, or portion thereof, if the arrearage is for a tax year before tax year 2023 or (ii) 0.75% per month, or portion thereof, if the arrearage is for tax year 2023 or any tax year thereafter. All interest collected shall be paid into the general fund of the county. Payment received by mail and postmarked on or before the required due date is not delinquent.
    Property not subject to the interest charge in Section 9-260 or Section 9-265 shall also not be subject to the interest charge imposed by this Section until such time as the owner of the property receives actual notice of and is billed for the principal amount of back taxes due and owing.
    If an Illinois resident who is a member of the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and who has an ownership interest in property taxed under this Act is called to active duty for deployment outside the continental United States and is on active duty on the due date of any installment of taxes due under this Act, he or she shall not be deemed delinquent in the payment of the installment and no interest shall accrue or be charged as a penalty on the installment until 180 days after that member returns from active duty. To be deemed not delinquent in the payment of an installment of taxes and any interest on that installment, the reservist or guardsperson must make a reasonable effort to notify the county clerk and the county collector of his or her activation to active duty and must notify the county clerk and the county collector within 180 days after his or her deactivation and provide verification of the date of his or her deactivation. An installment of property taxes on the property of any reservist or guardsperson who fails to provide timely notice and verification of deactivation to the county clerk is subject to interest and penalties as delinquent taxes under this Code from the date of deactivation.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when any unpaid taxes become delinquent under this Section through the fault of the mortgage lender, (i) the interest assessed under this Section for delinquent taxes shall be charged against the mortgage lender and not the mortgagor and (ii) the mortgage lender shall pay the taxes, redeem the property and take all necessary steps to remove any liens accruing against the property because of the delinquency. In the event that more than one entity meets the definition of mortgage lender with respect to any mortgage, the interest shall be assessed against the mortgage lender responsible for servicing the mortgage. Unpaid taxes shall be deemed delinquent through the fault of the mortgage lender only if: (a) the mortgage lender has received all payments due the mortgage lender for the property being taxed under the written terms of the mortgage or promissory note secured by the mortgage, (b) the mortgage lender holds funds in escrow to pay the taxes, and (c) the funds are sufficient to pay the taxes after deducting all amounts reasonably anticipated to become due for all hazard insurance premiums and mortgage insurance premiums and any other assessments to be paid from the escrow under the terms of the mortgage. For purposes of this Section, an amount is reasonably anticipated to become due if it is payable within 12 months from the time of determining the sufficiency of funds held in escrow. Unpaid taxes shall not be deemed delinquent through the fault of the mortgage lender if the mortgage lender was directed in writing by the mortgagor not to pay the property taxes, or if the failure to pay the taxes when due resulted from inadequate or inaccurate parcel information provided by the mortgagor, a title or abstract company, or by the agency or unit of government assessing the tax.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-16

    (35 ILCS 200/21-16)
    Sec. 21-16. Property owned by a taxing district; delinquency. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in a county with more than 800,000 inhabitants but fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants, if a lessee is liable for the payment of property taxes extended against property that is owned by a taxing district, and those taxes remain unpaid in whole or in part 60 days after the second installment due date, then the county treasurer shall promptly notify the taxing district that owns the property of the delinquency in writing. The taxing district shall promptly notify the county supervisor of assessments upon the execution of a new lease or the termination of a lease for property owned by the taxing district. The State's Attorney of the county in which the property is located may bring an action against the lessee in the circuit court in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, and, upon proof of liability, the court shall enter judgment against the lessee in a sum equal to the full amount of delinquent taxes, interest, penalties, and costs. This judgment shall be enforceable against the lessee, or any other parties provided by applicable law, in any manner permitted by law for the collection of a debt or judgment. The proceeds of any judgment under this Section shall be distributed to the taxing districts as otherwise provided in this Code.
(Source: P.A. 101-198, eff. 1-1-20.)

35 ILCS 200/21-20

    (35 ILCS 200/21-20)
    Sec. 21-20. Due dates; accelerated billing in counties of less than 3,000,000. Except as otherwise provided in Section 21-40, in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants in which the accelerated method of billing and paying taxes provided for in Section 21-30 is in effect, the estimated first installment of unpaid taxes shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after a date not later than June 1 annually as provided for in the ordinance or resolution of the county board adopting the accelerated method, at the rate of 1 1/2% per month or portion thereof until paid or forfeited. The second installment of unpaid taxes shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after August 1 annually at the same interest rate until paid or forfeited. Payment received by mail and postmarked on or before the required due date is not delinquent. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a taxpayer owes an arrearage of taxes due to an administrative error, and if the county collector sends a separate bill for that arrearage as provided in Section 14-41, then any part of the arrearage of taxes that remains unpaid on the day after the due date specified on that tax bill shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after that date at the rate of 1 1/2% per month or portion thereof.
    If an Illinois resident who is a member of the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and who has an ownership interest in property taxed under this Act is called to active duty for deployment outside the continental United States and is on active duty on the due date of any installment of taxes due under this Act, he or she shall not be deemed delinquent in the payment of the installment and no interest shall accrue or be charged as a penalty on the installment until 180 days after that member returns from active duty. To be deemed not delinquent in the payment of an installment of taxes and any interest on that installment, the reservist or guardsperson must make a reasonable effort to notify the county clerk and the county collector of his or her activation to active duty and must notify the county clerk and the county collector within 180 days after his or her deactivation and provide verification of the date of his or her deactivation. An installment of property taxes on the property of any reservist or guardsperson who fails to provide timely notice and verification of deactivation to the county clerk is subject to interest and penalties as delinquent taxes under this Code from the date of deactivation.
(Source: P.A. 98-286, eff. 1-1-14.)

35 ILCS 200/21-25

    (35 ILCS 200/21-25)
    Sec. 21-25. Due dates; accelerated billing in counties of 3,000,000 or more. Except as hereinafter provided and as provided in Section 21-40, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants in which the accelerated method of billing and paying taxes provided for in Section 21-30 is in effect, the estimated first installment of unpaid taxes shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after March 1 and until paid or forfeited at the rate of (i) 1 1/2% per month or portion thereof if the unpaid taxes are for a tax year before 2023 or (ii) 0.75% per month, or portion thereof, if the unpaid taxes are for tax year 2023 or any tax year thereafter. For tax year 2010, the estimated first installment of unpaid taxes shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after April 1 at the rate of 1.5% per month or portion thereof until paid or forfeited. For tax year 2022, the estimated first installment of unpaid taxes shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after April 1, 2023 at the rate of 1.5% per month or portion thereof until paid or forfeited. For all tax years, the second installment of unpaid taxes shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after August 1 annually at the same interest rate until paid or forfeited. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a taxpayer owes an arrearage of taxes due to an administrative error, and if the county collector sends a separate bill for that arrearage as provided in Section 14-41, then any part of the arrearage of taxes that remains unpaid on the day after the due date specified on that tax bill shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest after that date at the rate of (i) 1 1/2% per month, or portion thereof, if the unpaid taxes are for a tax year before 2023 or (ii) 0.75% per month, or portion thereof, if the unpaid taxes are for tax year 2023 or any tax year thereafter.
    If the county board elects by ordinance adopted prior to July 1 of a levy year to provide for taxes to be paid in 4 installments, each installment for that levy year and each subsequent year shall be deemed delinquent and shall begin to bear interest 30 days after the date specified by the ordinance for mailing bills, at the rate of 1 1/2% per month, or portion thereof, until paid or forfeited. If the unpaid taxes are for a tax year before 2023, then interest shall accrue at the rate of 1.5% per month, or portion thereof, until paid or forfeited. If the unpaid taxes are for tax year 2023 or any tax year thereafter, then interest shall accrue at the rate of 0.75% per month, or portion thereof, until paid or forfeited.
    Payment received by mail and postmarked on or before the required due date is not delinquent.
    Taxes levied on homestead property in which a member of the National Guard or reserves of the armed forces of the United States who was called to active duty on or after August 1, 1990, and who has an ownership interest, shall not be deemed delinquent and no interest shall accrue or be charged as a penalty on such taxes due and payable in 1991 or 1992 until one year after that member returns to civilian status.
    If an Illinois resident who is a member of the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and who has an ownership interest in property taxed under this Act is called to active duty for deployment outside the continental United States and is on active duty on the due date of any installment of taxes due under this Act, he or she shall not be deemed delinquent in the payment of the installment and no interest shall accrue or be charged as a penalty on the installment until 180 days after that member returns to civilian status. To be deemed not delinquent in the payment of an installment of taxes and any interest on that installment, the reservist or guardsperson must make a reasonable effort to notify the county clerk and the county collector of his or her activation to active duty and must notify the county clerk and the county collector within 180 days after his or her deactivation and provide verification of the date of his or her deactivation. An installment of property taxes on the property of any reservist or guardsperson who fails to provide timely notice and verification of deactivation to the county clerk is subject to interest and penalties as delinquent taxes under this Code from the date of deactivation.
(Source: P.A. 102-1112, eff. 12-21-22; 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-27

    (35 ILCS 200/21-27)
    Sec. 21-27. Waiver of interest penalty.
    (a) On the recommendation of the county treasurer, the county board may adopt a resolution under which an interest penalty for the delinquent payment of taxes for any year that otherwise would be imposed under Section 21-15, 21-20, or 21-25 shall be waived in the case of any person who meets all of the following criteria:
        (1) The person is determined eligible for a grant
    
under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act with respect to the taxes for that year.
        (2) The person requests, in writing, on a form
    
approved by the county treasurer, a waiver of the interest penalty, and the request is filed with the county treasurer on or before the first day of the month that an installment of taxes is due.
        (3) The person pays the installment of taxes due, in
    
full, on or before the third day of the month that the installment is due.
        (4) The county treasurer approves the request for a
    
waiver.
    (b) With respect to property that qualifies as a brownfield site under Section 58.2 of the Environmental Protection Act, the county board, upon the recommendation of the county treasurer, may adopt a resolution to waive an interest penalty for the delinquent payment of taxes for any year that otherwise would be imposed under Section 21-15, 21-20, or 21-25 if all of the following criteria are met:
        (1) the property has delinquent taxes and an
    
outstanding interest penalty and the amount of that interest penalty is so large as to, possibly, result in all of the taxes becoming uncollectible;
        (2) the property is part of a redevelopment plan of a
    
unit of local government and that unit of local government does not oppose the waiver of the interest penalty;
        (3) the redevelopment of the property will benefit
    
the public interest by remediating the brownfield contamination;
        (4) the taxpayer delivers to the county treasurer (i)
    
a written request for a waiver of the interest penalty, on a form approved by the county treasurer, and (ii) a copy of the redevelopment plan for the property;
        (5) the taxpayer pays, in full, the amount of up to
    
the amount of the first 2 installments of taxes due, to be held in escrow pending the approval of the waiver, and enters into an agreement with the county treasurer setting forth a schedule for the payment of any remaining taxes due; and
        (6) the county treasurer approves the request for a
    
waiver.
    (c) For the 2019 taxable year (payable in 2020) only, the county board of a county with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants may adopt an ordinance or resolution under which some or all of the interest penalty for the delinquent payment of any installment other than the final installment of taxes for the 2019 taxable year that otherwise would be imposed under Section 21-15, 21-20, or 21-25 shall be waived for all taxpayers in the county, for a period of (i) 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly or (ii) until the first day of the first month during which there is no longer a statewide COVID-19 public health emergency, as evidenced by an effective disaster declaration of the Governor covering all counties in the State.
(Source: P.A. 101-635, eff. 6-5-20.)

35 ILCS 200/21-30

    (35 ILCS 200/21-30)
    Sec. 21-30. Accelerated billing. Except as provided in this Section, Section 9-260, and Section 21-40, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, by January 31 annually, estimated tax bills setting out the first installment of property taxes for the preceding year, payable in that year, shall be prepared and mailed. The first installment of taxes on the estimated tax bills shall be computed at (i) 50% of the total of each tax bill for the preceding year for taxes payable on or before December 31, 2009, and (ii) 55% of the total of each tax bill for the preceding year beginning with the first installment payable in 2010. If, prior to the preparation of the estimated tax bills, a certificate of error has been either approved by a court on or before November 30 of the preceding year or certified pursuant to Section 14-15 on or before November 30 of the preceding year, then the first installment of taxes on the estimated tax bills shall be computed at (i) 50% of the total taxes for the preceding year as corrected by the certificate of error for taxes payable on or before December 31, 2009, and (ii) 55% of the total taxes for the preceding year, as corrected by the certificate of error, beginning with the first installment payable in 2010. By June 30 annually, actual tax bills shall be prepared and mailed. These bills shall set out total taxes due and the amount of estimated taxes billed in the first installment, and shall state the balance of taxes due for that year as represented by the sum derived from subtracting the amount of the first installment from the total taxes due for that year.
    The county board may provide by ordinance, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, for taxes to be paid in 4 installments. For the levy year for which the ordinance is first effective and each subsequent year, estimated tax bills setting out the first, second, and third installment of taxes for the preceding year, payable in that year, shall be prepared and mailed not later than the date specified by ordinance. Each installment on estimated tax bills shall be computed at 25% of the total of each tax bill for the preceding year. By the date specified in the ordinance, actual tax bills shall be prepared and mailed. These bills shall set out total taxes due and the amount of estimated taxes billed in the first, second, and third installments and shall state the balance of taxes due for that year as represented by the sum derived from subtracting the amount of the estimated installments from the total taxes due for that year.
    The county board of any county with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants may, by ordinance or resolution, adopt an accelerated method of tax billing. The county board may subsequently rescind the ordinance or resolution and revert to the method otherwise provided for in this Code.
(Source: P.A. 96-490, eff. 8-14-09.)

35 ILCS 200/21-35

    (35 ILCS 200/21-35)
    Sec. 21-35. Estimated billing in overlapping districts. In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, when the certified assessed valuations for that portion of overlapping taxing districts lying in another county for the preceding year have not been received by the county clerk by March 1, the county board, upon petition of the county clerk, may by resolution or ordinance adopted on or prior to April 1 of that year, adopt the estimated property tax billing system provided for in this Section for taxes for the preceding year. The resolution or ordinance shall be effective only for the year in which it is adopted.
    When authorized by the county board to use the estimated property tax billing system, the county clerk shall estimate the assessed valuations for the other counties in the overlapping taxing districts from which certified assessed valuations for the preceding year have not been received by March 1. The estimated assessed valuations shall, for purposes of computing the first installment tax billing in the current year, be treated in the same manner as certified assessed valuations. Where estimated assessed valuations are used, the first installment billing shall be prepared and mailed on or before May 1.
    The county clerk shall make adjustments in the assessments, based on the actual certified assessed valuations later received from the other counties, and such adjustments shall be included in the tax billings for the second installment. A county using the estimated billing system shall complete and mail the adjusted second installment tax billing on or before August 1.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

35 ILCS 200/21-40

    (35 ILCS 200/21-40)
    Sec. 21-40. Ordinance for delayed due date; accrual of interest.
    (a) In any county with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the county board may adopt an ordinance under which 50% of each installment of taxes shall not become delinquent until 60 days after each installment would otherwise become delinquent under Sections 21-15, 21-20, 21-25 or 21-30.
    (b) Beginning with installments of taxes and special assessments payable in 1994, in any county that has been designated, in whole or in part, as a disaster area by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Illinois due to a disaster that occurred during the calendar year in which the taxes are payable or in the preceding calendar year, the county board may adopt an ordinance or resolution under which interest allowed to be assessed on special assessments or allowed to be assessed under Sections 21-15, 21-20, and 21-25 on delinquent installments of taxes for real property within one or more townships (or congressional townships if the assessor's books are organized by congressional townships) designated by the county board, that have been affected by the disaster does not accrue until the court enters the order for sale of the property. The ordinance or resolution shall provide that a person may pay a delinquent installment of taxes or special assessment without interest being assessed until the last working day before the court enters the order for sale of the property. If adopted, the ordinance or resolution must establish a procedure for affected property owners to make application to a designated county official who shall determine, according to the guidelines in the ordinance or resolution, whether the property is substantially damaged or adversely affected and shall approve damaged or adversely affected property for the delay in accrual of interest specified in the ordinance or resolution. The designated county official shall notify the county collector of the parcel number and the name of the owner of property approved for relief.
    (c) (1) The governing authority of any county that has been designated, in whole or in part, as a disaster area by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Illinois may adopt an ordinance or resolution modifying the provisions of this Act relating to any specified installment or installments of real property tax or special assessment on real property that is situated within the designated disaster area and that is determined, in the manner provided in the ordinance or resolution, to be substantially damaged or adversely affected as a result of that disaster.
    The ordinance or resolution may:
        (A) postpone the date on which any specified
    
installment or installments of tax due on that real property in the current year becomes or became delinquent under Section 21-15, 21-20, or 21-25;
        (B) exempt any specified installment or installments
    
of tax due on that real property from the interest penalty provided under Section 21-15, 21-20, or 21-25 until the postponed delinquency date established by the ordinance or resolution;
        (C) postpone the date on which a special assessment
    
due on that real property in the current year becomes or became delinquent; and exempt a special assessment due on that real property from any interest penalty until the postponed delinquency date established by the ordinance or resolution; and
        (D) order the county collector not to give notice of
    
application for judgment for sale under Section 21-110 or 21-120 and not to apply for judgment and order of sale under Section 21-150, until after the postponed delinquency date for the final installment of tax or special assessment due on that real property as established in the ordinance or resolution.
    (2) The ordinance or resolution shall establish a procedure for owners of real property situated in the designated disaster area to make application to a designated county official, who shall determine, within the guidelines established by the ordinance or resolution, if the property is substantially damaged or adversely affected and approve the property for relief as specified in the ordinance or resolution adopted under this subsection (c). The designated county official shall notify the county collector of the parcel number and name of the property owner of property approved for relief.
    (3) The ordinance or resolution may also direct the county collector to give a credit against a special assessment or the extension of the general corporate levy of the county for the year following the year in which the disaster is declared to the owner of property approved for relief in an amount equal to any interest penalty paid by that owner on any specified installment or installments of tax due on that property in the year the disaster is declared, if that interest penalty was paid before the ordinance or resolution was adopted or before the postponed delinquency dates.
    (4) The ordinance or resolution may also direct the county collector to refund any installment or installments, and any special assessment or interest penalties thereon, of tax due, in the year the disaster is declared, on property approved for relief, that have been paid by the holder of a certificate of purchase for a prior year on that property.
(Source: P.A. 88-455; 88-518; 88-660, eff. 9-16-94; 89-89, eff. 6-30-95.)

35 ILCS 200/21-45

    (35 ILCS 200/21-45)
    Sec. 21-45. Failure to issue tax bill in prior year. In the event no tax bill was issued as provided in Section 21-30, on any property in any previous year for any reason, one tax bill shall be prepared and mailed by July 1 of the year subsequent to the year in which no tax bill was issued, and taxes on that property for that year only shall bear interest after the first day of August of that year. In counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, interest shall accrue at the rate of 1 1/2% per month or portion thereof until paid or forfeited. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, if the taxes are for a tax year before tax year 2023, then interest shall accrue at the rate of 1.5% per month, or portion thereof, until paid or forfeited. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, if the taxes are for the 2023 tax year or any tax year thereafter, then interest shall accrue at the rate of 0.75% per month, or portion thereof, until paid or forfeited.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-50

    (35 ILCS 200/21-50)
    Sec. 21-50. Annexations, disconnection or dissolution - Accelerated billing. In the event any property becomes newly liable for taxes levied by any taxing district because of an incorporation or annexation of the taxing district or liability does not exist because of a disconnection of any area of the unit of local government or school district or the dissolution thereof, each estimated installment of property taxes provided for in Section 21-30 shall be computed at 25% of the total of the tax bill for the property for the preceding year. Taxes for which the property becomes newly liable or for which liability does not exist for the property because of a disconnection of any area of, or the dissolution of, any taxing district, shall be added to or subtracted from the balance of taxes due for that year under Section 21-30.
(Source: P.A. 87-17; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-55

    (35 ILCS 200/21-55)
    Sec. 21-55. Cancellation of accelerated tax bill. Any person may object to an estimated tax bill under Section 21-30 on forms provided by the county collector solely on the grounds that the estimate is based on (a) a tax bill pertaining to any property which was divided subsequent to the time for preparation of the collector's books in the year previous to the year the tax bill on which the estimate is based became delinquent, or (b) the property is no longer located within the corporate limits of any taxing district. Upon a finding by the county collector that the protest is factually correct and that tax bills for that property, or divisions thereof, have been or are being prepared and will be mailed as otherwise provided in this Code, the county collector shall mark the estimated bill and his or her books in an appropriate manner and so inform the county clerk and the estimated tax bill shall be cancelled. No payment of taxes shall be required prior to the filing of an objection permitted by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 87-17; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-60

    (35 ILCS 200/21-60)
    Sec. 21-60. Refund of overpayment; accelerated billing. In any county in which the accelerated method of billing and paying taxes as provided for in Section 21-30 is in effect, if a taxpayer has paid an amount on his or her estimated tax bills which exceeds the total taxes for the year as shown on the actual tax bill, the county collector shall refund the amount of the overpayment to the person who paid the estimated installments.
    When a payment in full satisfaction of a year's taxes has been made, but an open balance is shown unpaid on the Warrant Book because of an over estimation of the taxes in the estimated installments, the County Collector shall provide for an appropriate entry in the Warrant Book to close the item.
(Source: P.A. 87-17; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 2

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 2 heading)
Division 2. Enforcement actions

35 ILCS 200/21-70

    (35 ILCS 200/21-70)
    Sec. 21-70. Lien - Payments by representative or agent. When property is assessed to any person as agent for another, or in a representative capacity, the agent or representative shall have a lien on the property, or any property of his or her principal in the agent's possession, until he or she is indemnified against the payment thereof, or, if he or she has paid the tax, until he or she is reimbursed for the payment.
(Source: Laws 1939, p. 886; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-75

    (35 ILCS 200/21-75)
    Sec. 21-75. Lien for taxes. The taxes upon property, together with all penalties, interests and costs that may accrue thereon, shall be a prior and first lien on the property, superior to all other liens and encumbrances, from and including the first day of January in the year in which the taxes are levied until the taxes are paid or until the property is sold under this Code.
    (a) Foreclosure - Property forfeited for 2 or more years. A lien may be foreclosed, in the circuit court in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, whenever the taxes for 2 or more years on the same description of property have been forfeited to the State. The property may be sold under the order of the court by the person having authority to receive County taxes, with notice to interested parties and right of redemption from the sale, (except that the interest or any other amount to be paid upon redemption in addition to the amount for which the property was sold shall be as provided herein), as provided in Sections 21-345 through 21-365 and 21-380, and in conformity with Section 8 of Article IX of the Illinois Constitution.
    In any action to foreclose the lien for delinquent taxes brought by the People of the State of Illinois when the taxes for 2 or more years on the same description of property have been forfeited to the State, service of process shall be made in the manner now prescribed by law. All owners, parties interested, and occupants of any property against which tax liens are sought to be foreclosed shall be named as parties defendant, and shall be served in the manner and form as provided by law for the service of defendants in foreclosures of lien or encumbrances upon real estate. In case there are other parties with ownership interests in the property, they shall be named in the notice under the designation "unknown owners".
    (b) Redemption interest. The interest to be paid upon redemption from all tax foreclosure sales held under this Section shall be:
        (1) If redeemed within 2 months from the date of the
    
sale, 3% per month upon the amount for which the property was sold for each of the first 2 months, or fraction thereof;
        (2) If redeemed between 2 and 6 months from the date
    
of the sale, 12% of the amount of sale;
        (3) If redeemed between 6 and 12 months from the date
    
of the sale, 24% of the amount of sale;
        (4) If redeemed between 12 and 18 months from the
    
date of the sale, 36% of the amount of sale;
        (5) If redeemed between 18 and 24 months from the
    
date of the sale, 48% of the amount of sale;
        (6) If redeemed after 24 months from the date of
    
sale, the 48% for the 24 months plus interest at 6% per year thereafter.
    (c) Enforcement of lien from rents and profits. A lien under this Section may be enforced at any time after 6 months from the day the tax becomes delinquent out of the rents and profits of the land accruing, or accrued and under the control or jurisdiction of a court. This process may be initiated by the county board of the county or by the corporate authorities of any taxing body entitled to receive any part of the delinquent tax, by petition in any pending suit having jurisdiction of the land, or in any application for judgment and order of sale of lands for delinquent taxes in which the land is included, in the name of the People of the State of Illinois.
    The process, practice and procedure under this subsection shall be the same as provided in the Civil Practice Law and the Supreme Court Rules adopted in relation to that Law, except that receivers may be appointed on not less than 3 days' written notice to owners of record or persons in possession. In all petitions the court shall have power to appoint the county collector to take possession of the property only for the purpose of collecting the rents, issues and profits therefrom, and to apply them in satisfaction of the tax lien. When the taxes set forth in the petition are paid in full, the receiver shall be discharged. If the taxes described in the petition are reduced by the final judgment of a court, the county collector shall immediately refund all moneys collected by him or her as receiver over and above the taxes as reduced, and shall deduct that amount from the moneys thereafter distributed to the taxing bodies which received the tax revenue.
    In proceedings to foreclose the tax lien, or in petitions to enforce the lien, the amount due on the collector's books against the property shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of taxes against the property. When any taxes are collected, they shall be paid to the county collector, to be distributed by him or her to the authorities entitled to them. All sales made under this Section shall be conducted under the order and supervision of the court by the county collector.
    An action to foreclose the lien for delinquent taxes under this Code is an action in rem.
(Source: P.A. 84-551; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-80

    (35 ILCS 200/21-80)
    Sec. 21-80. Preventing waste to property; receiver. During the pendency of any tax foreclosure proceeding and until the time to redeem the property sold expires, or redemption is made, from any sale made under any judgment foreclosing the lien of taxes, no waste shall be committed or suffered on any of the property involved. The property shall be maintained in good condition and repair. When violations of local building, health or safety codes make the property dangerous or hazardous, when taxes on the property are delinquent for 2 years or more, or when in the judgment of the court it is to the best interest of the parties, the court may, upon the verified petition of any party to the proceeding, or the holder of the certificate of purchase, appoint a receiver for the property with like powers and duties of receivers as in other cases of foreclosure of mortgages or trust deeds. The court in its discretion, may take any other action as may be necessary or desirable to prevent waste and maintain the property in good condition and repair.
(Source: P.A. 85-795; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-85

    (35 ILCS 200/21-85)
    Sec. 21-85. No receiver for farm or homestead dwelling. No receiver shall be appointed under the provisions of Section 21-80 for property used for farming or for property improved in whole or in part as a family dwelling and occupied by the owner as a residence at the time the unpaid taxes became a lien and continuously thereafter.
(Source: Laws 1939, p. 877; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-90

    (35 ILCS 200/21-90)
    Sec. 21-90. Purchase and sale by county; distribution of proceeds.
    (a) When any property is offered for sale under any of the provisions of this Code, the county board of the county in which the property is located, in its discretion, may bid, or, in the case of forfeited property, may apply to purchase it or otherwise acquire the tax lien or certificate in the name of the county as trustee for all taxing districts having an interest in the property's taxes or special assessments for the nonpayment of which the property is sold. The presiding officer of the county board, with the advice and consent of the board, may appoint on its behalf some officer, person, or entity to attend such sales, bid on tax liens or certificates, and act on behalf of the county when exercising its authority under this Section. The county shall apply on the bid or purchase the unpaid taxes and special assessments due upon the property. No cash need be paid.
    (b) The county, as trustee for all taxing districts having an interest in the property's taxes or special assessments, shall be the designated holder of all tax liens or certificates that are forfeited to the State or county. No cash need be paid for the forfeited tax lien or certificate.
    (c) For any tax lien or certificate acquired under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section, the county may take steps necessary to acquire title to the property and may manage and operate the property, including, but not limited to, mowing of grass, removal of nuisance greenery, removal of garbage, waste, debris or other materials, or the demolition, repair, or remediation of unsafe structures. When a county, or other taxing district within the county, is a petitioner for a tax deed, no filing fee shall be required. When a county or other taxing district within the county is the petitioner for a tax deed, one petition may be filed including all parcels that are tax delinquent within the county or taxing district, and any publication made under Section 22-20 of this Code may combine all such parcels within a single notice. The notice may include the street address as listed on the most recent available tax bills, if available, and shall list the Property Index Number of the parcels for informational purposes. The county, as tax creditor and as trustee for other tax creditors, or other taxing district within the county, shall not be required to allege and prove that all taxes and special assessments which become due and payable after the sale or forfeiture to the county have been paid nor shall the county be required to pay the subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments at any time. The county board or its designee may prohibit the county collector from including the property in the tax sale of one or more subsequent years. The lien of taxes and special assessments which become due and payable after a sale to a county shall merge in the fee title of the county, or other taxing district within the county, on the issuance of a deed.
    The county may sell any property acquired with authority provided in this Section, or assign any tax certificate to any party, including, but not limited to, taxing districts, municipalities, land banks created pursuant to Illinois law, or non-profit developers focused on constructing affordable housing.
    The assigned tax certificate shall be void with no further rights given to the assignee, including no right to refund or reimbursement, if a tax deed has not been recorded within 4 years after the date of the assignment unless a court extends the assignment period as provided in this Section. Upon a motion by the assignee, a court may toll the 4-year deadline for a specified period of time if the court finds the assignee is prevented from obtaining or recording a deed by injunction or order of any court, by the refusal or inability of any court to act upon the application for a tax deed, by a municipality's refusal to issue necessary transfer stamps or approvals for recording, or by the refusal of the clerk to execute the deed. If an assigned tax certificate is void under this Section, it shall be forfeited to the county and held as a valid certificate of sale in the county's name pursuant to this Section 21-90. The proceeds of any sale or assignment under this Section, less all costs of the county incurred in the acquisition, operation, maintenance, and sale of the property or assignment of the tax certificate, including all costs associated with county staff and overhead used to perform the duties of the trustee set forth in this Section, shall be distributed to the taxing districts in proportion to their respective interests therein.
    Under Sections 21-110, 21-115, 21-120, and 21-190, a county may bid or purchase only in the absence of other bidders.
(Source: P.A. 102-363, eff. 1-1-22; 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-95

    (35 ILCS 200/21-95)
    Sec. 21-95. Tax abatement after acquisition by a governmental unit. When any county, municipality, school district, forest preserve district, or park district acquires property through the foreclosure of a lien, through a judicial deed, through the foreclosure of receivership certificate lien, or by acceptance of a deed of conveyance in lieu of foreclosing any lien against the property, or when a government unit acquires property under the Abandoned Housing Rehabilitation Act or a blight reduction or abandoned property program administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority, or when any county or other taxing district acquires a deed for property under Section 21-90 or Sections 21-145 and 21-260, or when any county, municipality, school district, forest preserve district, or park district acquires title to property that was to be transferred to that county, municipality, school district, forest preserve district, or park district under the terms of an annexation agreement, development agreement, donation agreement, plat of subdivision, or zoning ordinance by an entity that has been dissolved or is being dissolved or has been in bankruptcy proceedings or is in bankruptcy proceedings, all due or unpaid property taxes and existing liens for unpaid property taxes imposed or pending under any law or ordinance of this State or any of its political subdivisions shall become null and void.
(Source: P.A. 100-314, eff. 8-24-17; 100-445, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

35 ILCS 200/21-100

    (35 ILCS 200/21-100)
    Sec. 21-100. Notice to county officials; voiding of tax bills. The county board or corporate authorities of the county, or other taxing district acquiring property under Section 21-95 shall give written notice of the acquisition to the chief county assessment officer and the county collector and the county clerk of the county in which the property is located, and request the voiding of the tax liens as provided in this Section. The notice shall describe the acquired property by legal description or property index number.
    Upon receipt of the notice, the county collector and county clerk shall void the current and all prior unpaid taxes on the records in their respective offices by entering the following statement upon their records for the property: "Acquired by ... (name of county, municipality, school district, or park district acquiring the property under Section 21-95). Taxes due and unpaid on this property ... (give legal description or property index number and address of the property) ... are waived and null and void under Section 21-100 of the Property Tax Code. The tax bills of this property are hereby voided and liens for the taxes are extinguished."
(Source: P.A. 96-1142, eff. 7-21-10.)

35 ILCS 200/21-105

    (35 ILCS 200/21-105)
    Sec. 21-105. Liability of owner; rights of tax purchaser. Nothing in Sections 21-95 and 21-100 shall relieve any owner liable for delinquent property taxes under this Code from the payment of any delinquent taxes or liens which have become null and void under those Sections.
    Sections 21-95 and 21-100 shall not adversely affect the rights or interests of the holder of any bona fide certificate of purchase of the property for delinquent taxes. However, upon acquisition of property by a governmental unit as set forth in Section 21-95, the rights and interests of the holder of any bona fide certificate of purchase of the property for delinquent taxes shall be limited to a sale in error and a refund as provided under Section 21-310.
(Source: P.A. 91-177, eff. 1-1-00.)

35 ILCS 200/21-110

    (35 ILCS 200/21-110)
    Sec. 21-110. Published notice of annual application for judgment and sale; delinquent taxes. At any time after all taxes have become delinquent in any year, the Collector shall publish an advertisement, giving notice of the intended application for judgment and sale of the delinquent properties. The advertisement may include the street address on file with the county collector, if available, and shall include the PIN number of each delinquent property. Except as provided below, the advertisement shall be in a newspaper published in the township or road district in which the properties are located. If there is no newspaper published in the township or road district, then the notice shall be published in some newspaper in the same county as the township or road district, to be selected by the county collector. When the property is in a city with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants, the advertisement may be in any newspaper published in the same county. When the property is in an incorporated town which has superseded a civil township, the advertisement shall be in a newspaper published in the incorporated town or if there is no such newspaper, then in a newspaper published in the county.
    The provisions of this Section relating to the time when the Collector shall advertise intended application for judgment for sale are subject to modification by the governing authority of a county in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 21-40.
(Source: P.A. 97-557, eff. 7-1-12.)

35 ILCS 200/21-112

    (35 ILCS 200/21-112)
    Sec. 21-112. Publication time limit.
    (a) The Collector may recommend to a county board that the board pass an ordinance or resolution stating that the Collector shall no longer publish or send notice of delinquent or forfeited property taxes owed by a lessee of the property, pursuant to a leasehold assessment under Section 9-195 or Section 15-55 of the Property Tax Code or their predecessor provisions in the Revenue Act of 1939, if the taxes have been delinquent or forfeited for at least 10 years and there are no current delinquent or forfeited taxes. The Collector shall discontinue publishing and sending notice of the delinquent or forfeited taxes upon passage of the ordinance or resolution.
    (b) The Collector shall no longer publish delinquent or forfeited property taxes for any property under Section 10-35 or any other property that is exempt from taxation under this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-1095, eff. 1-1-19.)

35 ILCS 200/21-115

    (35 ILCS 200/21-115)
    Sec. 21-115. Times of publication of notice. The advertisement shall be published once at least 10 days before the day on which judgment is to be applied for, and shall contain a list of the delinquent properties upon which the taxes or any part thereof remain due and unpaid, the names of owners, if known, the total amount due, and the year or years for which they are due. In counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, advertisement shall include notice of the registration requirement for persons bidding at the sale. Properties upon which taxes have been paid in full under protest shall not be included in the list.
    The collector shall give notice that he or she will apply to the circuit court on a specified day for judgment against the properties for the taxes, and costs, and for an order to sell the properties for the satisfaction of the amount due.
    The collector shall also give notice of a date within the next 5 business days after the date of application on which all the properties for the sale of which an order is made will be exposed to public sale at a location within the county designated by the county collector, for the amount of taxes, and cost due. The advertisement published according to the provisions of this Section shall be deemed to be sufficient notice of the intended application for judgment and of the sale of properties under the order of the court. A county with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants may, by joint agreement, combine its tax sale with the tax sale of one or more other contiguous counties; such a joint tax sale shall be held at a location in one of the participating counties. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section and Section 21-110, in the 10 years following the completion of a general reassessment of property in any county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, made under an order of the Department, the publication shall be made not sooner than 10 days nor more than 90 days after the date when all unpaid taxes on property have become delinquent.
(Source: P.A. 101-379, eff. 1-1-20.)

35 ILCS 200/21-117

    (35 ILCS 200/21-117)
    Sec. 21-117. Costs of publishing delinquent list. A county shall pay for the printer for advertising delinquent lists the following fees:
        (1) in all counties, for tracts of land, $0.40 per
    
column line; and
        (2) for town lots, (i) in counties of the first and
    
second class, $0.40 per column line and (ii) in counties of the third class, $0.50 per column line, to be taxed and collected as costs.
    The printer shall receive for printing the preamble, the descriptive headings, the affidavit, and any other matter accompanying the delinquent list, the sum of $0.40 per column line, to be paid by the county.
    No costs except printer's fee shall be charged on any lands or lots forfeited to the State.
(Source: P.A. 93-963, eff. 8-20-04.)

35 ILCS 200/21-118

    (35 ILCS 200/21-118)
    Sec. 21-118. Tax sale; online database. At least 10 days prior to any tax sale authorized under this Article 21, the county collector may post on his or her website a list of all properties that are eligible to be sold at the sale. The list shall include the street address on file with the county collector, if available, and shall include the PIN number assigned to the property. The list may not include the name of the property owner. The list may designate properties on which a sale in error has previously been declared, provided that those designations are posted at least 7 days before any tax sale authorized under this Article 21. If the list designates properties as properties on which a sale in error has previously been declared, the list shall also include the court case number or administrative number under which the declaration of the sale in error was made and the basis for the sale in error. No sale in error may be declared under this Code based upon an omission from or error on the list of designated properties.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-120

    (35 ILCS 200/21-120)
    Sec. 21-120. Publication of notice of application for judgment; special assessments; counties of 3,000,000 or more. In all cities, villages and incorporated towns in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, separate advertisements may be made giving notice of an intended application for judgment and for an order of sale on account of delinquent special assessments at any time after the first day of August after the special assessments have become delinquent. The procedure in that case is to be in all other respects, except as to the time of making advertisement and application for judgment and sale, the same as in the case of delinquent general taxes. There shall not be included in the advertisement and application for judgment and sale provided by this Section any properties which are included in the advertisement and application for judgment and sale under Section 21-145.
    No advertisement or publication may include parcels for which, under Section 14-15, certificates of error have been executed by the county assessor, or by both the county assessor and board of appeals. In the absence of notice under Section 21-135, or the absence of publication under this Section, the court shall retain jurisdiction to enter final judgments sustaining the assessor's objection on certificates of error. However, the court shall provide for publication and mailing prior to the entry of a final judgment in any case in which the assessor's objection is denied.
    The provisions of this Section relating to the time when the Collector shall advertise intended application for judgment for sale are subject to modification by the governing authority of a county in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 21-40.
(Source: P.A. 87-1189; 88-455; 88-518.)

35 ILCS 200/21-125

    (35 ILCS 200/21-125)
    Sec. 21-125. Sale of properties previously ordered sold. Property ordered sold by unexecuted judgments and orders of sale, previously entered, shall be included in the advertisement for sale only under the previous orders, and shall be sold in the order in which they appear in the delinquent list contained in the advertisement. At any time between annual sales the county collector also may advertise for sale any properties subject to sale under orders previously entered and not executed for any reason. The advertisement and sale shall be regulated by the provisions regulating the annual advertisement and sale of delinquent properties, as far as applicable.
(Source: Laws 1939, p. 886; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-130

    (35 ILCS 200/21-130)
    Sec. 21-130. Use of figures and letters in advertisement and other lists. In all advertisements for the sale of properties for taxes or special assessments, and in entries required to be made by the clerk of the court or other officer, letters, figures, characters or property index numbers may be used to denote townships, ranges, sections, parts of sections, lots or blocks, or parts thereof, the year or the years for which the taxes were due, and the amount of taxes, special assessments, interest and costs. The county collector may subsequently advertise and obtain judgment on properties that have been omitted, or that have been erroneously advertised or described in the first advertisement.
(Source: P.A. 76-2254; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 3

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 3 heading)
Division 3. Notice and publication provisions

35 ILCS 200/21-135

    (35 ILCS 200/21-135)
    Sec. 21-135. Mailed notice of application for judgment and sale. Not less than 15 days before the date of application for judgment and sale of delinquent properties, the county collector shall mail, by registered or certified mail, a notice of the forthcoming application for judgment and sale to the person shown by the current collector's warrant book to be the party in whose name the taxes were last assessed or to the current owner of record and, if applicable, to the party specified under Section 15-170. The notice shall include the intended dates of application for judgment and sale and commencement of the sale, and a description of the properties. The county collector must present proof of the mailing to the court along with the application for judgement.
    In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, a copy of this notice shall also be mailed by the county collector by registered or certified mail to any lienholder of record who annually requests a copy of the notice. The failure of the county collector to mail a notice or its non-delivery to the lienholder shall not affect the validity of the judgment.
    In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, notice shall not be mailed to any person when, under Section 14-15, a certificate of error has been executed by the county assessor or by both the county assessor and board of appeals (until the first Monday in December 1998 and the board of review beginning the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter), except as provided by court order under Section 21-120.
    The collector shall collect $10 from the proceeds of each sale to cover the costs of registered or certified mailing and the costs of advertisement and publication. If a taxpayer pays the taxes on the property after the notice of the forthcoming application for judgment and sale is mailed but before the sale is made, then the collector shall collect $10 from the taxpayer to cover the costs of registered or certified mailing and the costs of advertisement and publication.
(Source: P.A. 93-899, eff. 8-10-04.)

35 ILCS 200/21-140

    (35 ILCS 200/21-140)
    Sec. 21-140. Printer's error in advertisement. In all cases where there is a printer's error in the advertised list which prevents judgment from being obtained against any property, or against all of the delinquent list, at the time stated in the advertisement, the printer shall lose the compensation allowed by this Code for those properties containing errors, or for the entire list, as the case may be.
(Source: Laws 1939, p. 886; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-145

    (35 ILCS 200/21-145)
    Sec. 21-145. Scavenger sale. At the same time the county collector annually publishes the collector's annual sale advertisement under Sections 21-110, 21-115, and 21-120, counties may, if the county board so orders by resolution, publish an advertisement giving notice of the intended sale of certain tax liens and certificates that have been forfeited and are held by the county pursuant to Section 21-90. Under no circumstance may a tax year be offered at a scavenger sale prior to the annual tax sale for that tax year (or, for omitted assessments issued pursuant to Section 9-260, the annual tax sale for that omitted assessment's warrant year, as defined herein).
    The county collector shall include in the advertisement and in the application for judgment and sale under this Section and Section 21-260 the total amount of all general taxes upon those properties which are delinquent as of the date of the advertisement. In lieu of a single annual advertisement and application for judgment and sale under this Section and Section 21-260, the county collector may, from time to time, beginning on the date of the publication of the annual sale advertisement and before August 1 of the next year, publish separate advertisements and make separate applications on eligible properties described in one or more volumes of the delinquent list. The separate advertisements and applications shall, in the aggregate, include all the properties which otherwise would have been included in the single annual advertisement and application for judgment and sale under this Section. Upon the written request of the taxing district which levied the same, the county collector may also include in the advertisement the special taxes and special assessments, together with interest, penalties and costs thereon upon those properties which are delinquent as of the date of the advertisement. The advertisement and application for judgment and sale shall be in the manner prescribed by this Code relating to the annual advertisement and application for judgment and sale of delinquent properties.
    As used in this Section, the term delinquent also includes tax liens and certificates forfeited to the county as trustee and held pursuant to Section 21-90, if those tax liens or certificates are approved for sale by the county board. Any tax lien or certificate held by the county pursuant to Section 21-90 that is offered at a scavenger sale shall be assigned by the county to the winning bidder at the scavenger sale as set forth in Section 21-90. After 4 years from the date of assignment, the assignment is void and the tax certificate shall be forfeited back to the county and held pursuant to Section 21-90, unless a tax deed has been issued and recorded by the assignee or a court order to toll the deadline pursuant to Section 21-90 is entered.
    As used in this Section, "warrant year" means the year preceding the calendar year in which the omitted assessment first became due and payable.
(Source: P.A. 102-519, eff. 8-20-21; 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 3.5

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 3.5 heading)
Division 3.5. Judgments and sales

35 ILCS 200/21-150

    (35 ILCS 200/21-150)
    Sec. 21-150. Time of applying for judgment. Except as otherwise provided in this Section or by ordinance or resolution enacted under subsection (c) of Section 21-40, in any county with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, all applications for judgment and order of sale for taxes and special assessments on delinquent properties shall be made within 90 days after the second installment due date. In Cook County, all applications for judgment and order of sale for taxes and special assessments on delinquent properties shall be made (i) by July 1, 2011 for tax year 2009, (ii) by July 1, 2012 for tax year 2010, (iii) by July 1, 2013 for tax year 2011, (iv) by July 1, 2014 for tax year 2012, (v) by July 1, 2015 for tax year 2013, (vi) by May 1, 2016 for tax year 2014, (vii) by March 1, 2017 for tax year 2015, (viii) by April 1 of the next calendar year after the second installment due date for tax year 2016 and 2017, and (ix) within 365 days of the second installment due date for each tax year thereafter. Notwithstanding these dates, in Cook County, the application for judgment and order of sale for the 2018 annual tax sale that would normally be held in calendar year 2020 shall not be filed earlier than the first day of the first month during which there is no longer a statewide COVID-19 public health emergency, as evidenced by an effective disaster declaration of the Governor covering all counties in the State, except that in no event may this application for judgment and order of sale be filed later than October 1, 2021. When a tax sale is delayed because of a statewide COVID-19 public health emergency, no subsequent annual tax sale may begin earlier than 180 days after the last day of the prior delayed tax sale, and no scavenger tax sale may begin earlier than 90 days after the last day of the prior delayed tax sale. In those counties which have adopted an ordinance under Section 21-40, the application for judgment and order of sale for delinquent taxes shall be made in December. In the 10 years next following the completion of a general reassessment of property in any county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, made under an order of the Department, applications for judgment and order of sale shall be made as soon as may be and on the day specified in the advertisement required by Section 21-110 and 21-115. If for any cause the court is not held on the day specified, the cause shall stand continued, and it shall be unnecessary to re-advertise the list or notice.
    Within 30 days after the day specified for the application for judgment the court shall hear and determine the matter. If judgment is rendered, the sale shall begin on the date within 5 business days specified in the notice as provided in Section 21-115. If the collector is prevented from advertising and obtaining judgment within the time periods specified by this Section, the collector may obtain judgment at any time thereafter; but if the failure arises by the county collector's not complying with any of the requirements of this Code, he or she shall be held on his or her official bond for the full amount of all taxes and special assessments charged against him or her. Any failure on the part of the county collector shall not be allowed as a valid objection to the collection of any tax or assessment, or to entry of a judgment against any delinquent properties included in the application of the county collector.
(Source: P.A. 101-635, eff. 6-5-20; 102-519, eff. 8-20-21.)

35 ILCS 200/21-155

    (35 ILCS 200/21-155)
    Sec. 21-155. Application for judgment on special assessments or special taxes; counties of 3,000,000 or more. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the application for judgment upon delinquent special assessments or special taxes in each year shall include only special assessments, special taxes, or installments thereof, and interest, as are returned as delinquent to the county collector on or before August 1 in the year in which the application is made, and in the case of those levied upon property in any city with 1,000,000 or more inhabitants, as were marked on the general tax books of the county collector on or before March 10 of the same year or within 15 days after the county collector received the general tax books that year. The judgment of sale shall include interest on matured installments up to the date of the judgment.
    In the 10 years following the completion of a general reassessment in any county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, made under an order of the Department, the application shall be made during the month of October for judgment and order of sale for special assessments, special taxes, or installments thereof, and interest, in each year on delinquent properties, notwithstanding that such special assessments, special taxes, or installments thereof, and interest are not returned as delinquent to the county collector, on or before August 1 in the year in which the application is made, and in the case of those levied upon property in any city with 1,000,000 or more inhabitants, notwithstanding that such special assessments, special taxes or installments thereof, and interest, were not marked on the general tax books of the county collector, on or before March 10 of the same year or within 15 days after the county collector received the general tax books in that year, in that case, the county collector shall include in the application all special assessments, special taxes, and installments thereof, and interest, then remaining unpaid. Within 30 days after the county collector has received the general tax books, the special assessments, special taxes, or installments thereof, and interest, then remaining unpaid, shall be marked therein. If for any reason, the application cannot be made during the month of October, it shall be made at any time not later than January 1.
(Source: P.A. 83-1312; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-160

    (35 ILCS 200/21-160)
    Sec. 21-160. Annual tax judgment, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record. The collector shall transcribe into a record prepared for that purpose, and known as the annual tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record, the list of delinquent properties. On or before the day on which application for judgment is to be made, the record shall be made out in numerical order and contain all the information necessary to be recorded.
    The record shall set forth the name of the owner, if known; the description of the property; the year or years for which the tax or, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the tax or special assessments is due; the valuation on which the tax is extended; the amount of the consolidated and other taxes or in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the consolidated and other taxes and special assessments; the costs; and the total amount of charges against the property.
    The final record shall also be ruled in columns, to show in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants the withdrawal of any special assessments from collection and in all counties to show the amount paid before entry of judgment; the amount of judgment and a column for remarks; the amount paid before sale and after entry of judgment; the amount of the sale; amount of interest or penalty; amount of cost; amount forfeited to the State; date of sale; acres or part sold; name of purchaser; amount of sale and penalty; taxes of succeeding years; interest and when paid, interest and cost; total amount of redemption; date of redemption; when deed executed; by whom redeemed; and a column for remarks or receipt of redemption money.
    The final record shall be kept in the office of the county clerk.
(Source: P.A. 95-269, eff. 8-17-07.)

35 ILCS 200/21-165

    (35 ILCS 200/21-165)
    Sec. 21-165. Payment of delinquent tax before sale. Any person owning or claiming properties upon which application for judgment is applied for and any lienholder of record may, in person or by agent, pay the taxes, and costs due, or in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the taxes, special assessments, interest and costs due, to the county collector at any time on or before the business day immediately preceding the day the taxes are sold, and the collector must accept those payments. A home rule unit may not regulate the hours and procedures employed by the county collector in a manner that is inconsistent with this Section. No deadline for the payment of taxes, special assessments, interest, or costs may be imposed by any county, including a home rule unit, if the deadline is inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.
(Source: P.A. 97-557, eff. 7-1-12.)

35 ILCS 200/21-170

    (35 ILCS 200/21-170)
    Sec. 21-170. Report of payments and corrections. On the day on which application for judgment on delinquent property is applied for, the collector, assisted by the county clerk, shall post all payments compare and correct the list, and shall make and subscribe an affidavit, which shall be substantially in the following form:
State of Illinois)
                 ) ss.
County of .......)
    I ...., collector of the county of ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that the foregoing is a true and correct list of the delinquent property within the county of ...., upon which I have been unable to collect the taxes (and special assessments, interest, and printer's fees, if any), charged thereon, as required by law, for the year or years therein set forth; and that the taxes now remain due and unpaid, to the best of my knowledge and belief.
    Dated ..........
    The affidavit shall be entered at the end of the list, and signed by the collector.
(Source: P.A. 88-455; 89-126, eff. 7-11-95.)

35 ILCS 200/21-175

    (35 ILCS 200/21-175)
    Sec. 21-175. Proceedings by court. Defenses to the entry of judgment against properties included in the delinquent list shall be entertained by the court only when: (a) the defense includes a writing specifying the particular grounds for the objection; and (b) except as otherwise provided in Sections 14-15, 14-25, 23-5, and 23-25, the taxes to which objection is made are paid under protest under Section 23-5 and a tax objection complaint is filed under Section 23-10.
    If any party objecting is entitled to a refund of all or any part of a tax paid, the court shall enter judgment accordingly, and also shall enter judgment for the taxes, special assessments, interest and penalties as appear to be due. The judgment shall be considered as a several judgment against each property or part thereof, for each kind of tax or special assessment included therein. The court shall direct the clerk to prepare and enter an order for the sale of the property against which judgment is entered. However, if a defense is made that the property, or any part thereof, is exempt from taxation and it is demonstrated that a proceeding to determine the exempt status of the property is pending under Section 16-70 or 16-130 or is being conducted under Section 8-35 or 8-40, the court shall not enter a judgment relating to that property until the proceedings being conducted under Section 8-35 or Section 8-40 have terminated.
(Source: P.A. 88-455; 88-642, eff. 9-9-94; 89-126, eff. 7-11-95.)

35 ILCS 200/21-180

    (35 ILCS 200/21-180)
    Sec. 21-180. Form of court order. A judgment and order of sale shall be substantially in the following form:
    Whereas, due notice has been given of the intended application for a judgment against properties, and no sufficient defense having been made or cause shown why judgment should not be entered against the properties, for taxes (special assessments, if any), interest, penalties and costs due and unpaid thereon for the year or years herein set forth, therefore the court hereby enters judgment against the above stated properties or parts of properties, in favor of the People of the State of Illinois, for the amount of taxes (and special assessments, if any), interest, penalties and costs due thereon. It is ordered by the court that the properties, or so much of each of them as shall be sufficient to satisfy the amount of taxes (and special assessments, if any), interest, penalties and costs due thereon, be sold as the law directs.
    The order shall be signed by the judge. In all judicial proceedings of any kind, for the collection of taxes and special assessments, all amendments may be made which, by law, could be made in any personal action pending in that court.
(Source: P.A. 84-1275; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-185

    (35 ILCS 200/21-185)
    Sec. 21-185. Cure of error or informality in assessment rolls or tax list or in the assessment, levy or collection of the taxes. No assessment of property or charge for any of the taxes shall be considered illegal on account of any irregularity in the tax lists or assessment rolls, or on account of the assessment rolls or tax lists not having been made, completed or returned within the time required by law, or on account of the property having been charged or listed in the assessment or tax list without name, or in any other name than that of the rightful owner. No error or informality in the proceedings of any of the officers connected with the assessment, levying or collection of the taxes, not affecting the substantial justice of the tax itself, shall vitiate or in any manner affect the tax or the assessment thereof. Any irregularity or informality in the assessment rolls or tax lists, or in any of the proceedings connected with the assessment or levy of the taxes, or any omission or defective act of any other officer or officers connected with the assessment or levying of the taxes, may be, in the discretion of the court, corrected, supplied and made to conform to law by the court, or by the person (in the presence of the court) from whose neglect or default it was occasioned. Where separate advertisement and application for judgment and order of sale is made on account of delinquent special taxes or special assessments in all cities, villages and incorporated towns in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, and in cities, villages and incorporated towns in other counties in which the county board by resolution has extended the time in which the return, required in Section 20-100, may be made, the procedure shall, in all respects, be the same as in this section prescribed, except that there shall be 2 separate judgments and orders for sale, one on account of delinquent special taxes and special assessments and the other on account of delinquent general taxes.
(Source: P.A. 84-1275; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 4

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 4 heading)
Division 4. Annual tax sale procedure

35 ILCS 200/21-190

    (35 ILCS 200/21-190)
    Sec. 21-190. Entry of judgment for sale. If judgment is rendered against any property for any tax or, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, for any tax or special assessment, the county collector shall, after publishing a notice for sale in compliance with the requirements of Sections 21-110 and 21-115 or 21-120, proceed to offer the property for sale pursuant to the judgment. However, in the case of an appeal from the judgment, if the party, when filing notice of appeal deposits with the county collector the amount of the judgment and costs, the collector shall not sell the property until the appeal is disposed of.
(Source: P.A. 79-451; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-195

    (35 ILCS 200/21-195)
    Sec. 21-195. Examination of record; certificate of correctness. On the day advertised for sale, the county clerk, assisted by the collector, shall examine the list upon which judgment has been entered and ascertain that all payments have been properly noted thereon. The county clerk shall make a certificate to be entered on the record, following the order of court that the record is correct, and that judgment was entered upon the property therein mentioned for the taxes, interest and costs due thereon. The certificate shall be attested by the circuit court clerk under seal of the court and shall be the process on which the property or any interest therein shall be sold for taxes, special assessments, interest and costs due thereon, and may be substantially in the following form:
State of Illinois County of .....
    I, ...., clerk of the circuit court, in and for the county of ...., do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct record of the delinquent property in the county, against which judgment and order of sale was duly entered in the circuit court for the county, on (insert date), for the amount of the taxes, special assessments, interest and costs due severally thereon as therein set forth, and that the judgment and order of court in relation thereto fully appears on the record.
Dated (insert date).
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

35 ILCS 200/21-200

    (35 ILCS 200/21-200)
    Sec. 21-200. County clerk assistance at sale. The county clerk, in person or by deputy, shall attend all sales for taxes, made by the collector, and shall assist at the sales.
(Source: Laws 1939, p. 886; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-205

    (35 ILCS 200/21-205)
    Sec. 21-205. Tax sale procedures.
    (a) The collector, in person or by deputy, shall attend, on the day and in the place specified in the notice for the sale of property for taxes, and shall, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or later at the collector's discretion, proceed to offer for sale, separately and in consecutive order, all property in the list on which the taxes, special assessments, interest or costs have not been paid. However, in any county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the offer for sale shall be made between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The collector's office shall be kept open during all hours in which the sale is in progress. The sale shall be continued from day to day, until all property in the delinquent list has been offered for sale. However, any city, village or incorporated town interested in the collection of any tax or special assessment, may, in default of bidders, withdraw from collection the special assessment levied against any property by the corporate authorities of the city, village or incorporated town. In case of a withdrawal, there shall be no sale of that property on account of the delinquent special assessment thereon.
    (b) Until January 1, 2013, in every sale of property pursuant to the provisions of this Code, the collector may employ any automated means that the collector deems appropriate. Beginning on January 1, 2013, either (i) the collector shall employ an automated bidding system that is programmed to accept the lowest redemption price bid by an eligible tax purchaser, subject to the penalty percentage limitation set forth in Section 21-215, or (ii) all tax sales shall be digitally recorded with video and audio. All bidders are required to personally attend the sale and, if automated means are used, all hardware and software used with respect to those automated means must be certified by the Department and re-certified by the Department every 5 years. If the tax sales are digitally recorded and no automated bidding system is used, then the recordings shall be maintained by the collector for a period of at least 3 years from the date of the tax sale. The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly are declarative of existing law.
    (b-5) For any annual tax sale conducted on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, each county collector in a county with 275,000 or more inhabitants shall adopt a single bidder rule sufficient to prohibit a tax purchaser from registering more than one related bidding entity at the tax sale. The corporate authorities in any county with less than 275,000 inhabitants may, by ordinance, allow the county collector of that county to adopt such a single bidder rule. In any county that has adopted a single bidder rule under this subsection (b-5), the county treasurer shall include a representation and warranty form in each registration package attesting to compliance with the single bidder rule, except that the county may, by ordinance, opt out of this representation and warranty form requirement. A single bidder rule under this subsection may be in the following form:
        (1) A registered tax buying entity (principal) may
    
only have one registered buyer at the tax sale and may not have a related bidding entity directly or indirectly register as a buyer or participate in the tax sale. A registered tax buying entity may not engage in any multiple bidding strategy for the purpose of having more than one related bidding entity submit bids at the tax sale.
        (2) A related bidding entity is defined as any
    
individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, business organization, or other entity that has a shareholder, partner, principal, officer, general partner, or other person or entity having (i) an ownership interest in a bidding entity in common with any other registered participant in the tax sale or (ii) a common guarantor in connection with a source of financing with any other registered participant in the tax sale. The determination of whether registered entities are related so as to prohibit those entities from submitting duplicate bids in violation of the single bidder rule is at the sole and exclusive discretion of the county treasurer or his or her designated representatives.
    (c) County collectors may, when applicable, eject tax bidders who disrupt the tax sale or use illegal bid practices.
(Source: P.A. 102-519, eff. 8-20-21.)

35 ILCS 200/21-210

    (35 ILCS 200/21-210)
    Sec. 21-210. Bids by taxing districts. Any city, incorporated town or village, corporate authorities, commissioners, or persons interested in any special assessment or installment thereof, may become purchaser at any sale, and may designate and appoint some officer or person to attend and bid at the sale on its behalf.
(Source: Laws 1939, p. 886; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-215

    (35 ILCS 200/21-215)
    Sec. 21-215. Penalty bids. The person at the sale offering to pay the amount due on each property for the least penalty percentage shall be the purchaser of that property. No bid shall be accepted for a penalty exceeding 9% of the amount of the tax or special assessment on property.
(Source: P.A. 102-363, eff. 1-1-22.)

35 ILCS 200/21-220

    (35 ILCS 200/21-220)
    Sec. 21-220. Letter of credit or bond in counties of 3,000,000 or more; registration in other counties. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, no person shall make an offer to pay the amount due on any property and the collector shall not accept or acknowledge an offer from any person who has not deposited with the collector, not less than 10 days prior to making such offer, an irrevocable and unconditional letter of credit or such other unconditional bond payable to the order of the collector in an amount not less than 1.5 times the amount of any tax or special assessment due upon the property, provided that in no event shall the irrevocable and unconditional letter of credit or such other unconditional bond be in an amount less than $1,000. The collector may without notice draw upon the letter of credit or bond in the event payment of the amount due together with interest and costs thereon is not made forthwith by the person purchasing any property. At all times during the sale, any person making an offer or offers to pay the amount or amounts due on any properties shall maintain the letter of credit or bond with the collector in an amount not less than 1.5 times the amount due on the properties which he or she has purchased and for which he or she has not paid.
    In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, unless the county board provides otherwise, no person shall be eligible to bid who did not register with the county collector at least 10 business days prior to the first day of sale authorized under Section 21-115. The registration must be accompanied by a deposit in an amount determined by the county collector, but not to exceed $250 in counties of less than 50,000 inhabitants or $500 in all other counties, which must be applied to the amount due on the properties that the registrant has purchased. If the registrant cannot participate in the tax sale, then he or she may notify the tax collector, no later than 5 business days prior to the sale, of the name of the substitute person who will participate in the sale in the registrant's place, and an additional deposit is not required for any such substitute person. If the registrant does not attend the sale, then the deposit is forfeited to the Tax Sale Automation Fund established under Section 21-245. If the registrant does attend the sale and attempts, but fails, to purchase any parcels offered for sale, then the deposit must be refunded to the registrant.
(Source: P.A. 95-537, eff. 8-28-07.)

35 ILCS 200/21-225

    (35 ILCS 200/21-225)
    Sec. 21-225. Forfeited tax liens and certificates. Every tax lien or certificate for property offered at public sale, and not sold for want of bidders, unless it is released from sale by the withdrawal from collection of a special assessment levied thereon, shall be forfeited to the county, as trustee for the taxing districts, and managed pursuant to Section 21-90. Tax certificates are also forfeited to the county in those circumstances described in subsection (d) of Section 21-310 and subsection (f) of Section 22-40 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-230

    (35 ILCS 200/21-230)
    Sec. 21-230. Record of sales and redemptions. When any property is sold, the county clerk shall enter on the Tax Judgment, Sale, Redemption and Forfeiture Record, in the blank columns provided for that purpose, the name of the purchaser and the final bid. When any property is redeemed from sale, the county clerk shall enter the name of the person redeeming, the redemption date and the amount of redemption, in the proper column.
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 631; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-235

    (35 ILCS 200/21-235)
    Sec. 21-235. Record of forfeitures. All tax liens and certificates forfeited to the county at the sale shall be noted on the Tax Judgment, Sale, Redemption and Forfeiture Record.
    In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, a list of all property charged with delinquent special assessments and forfeited to the county at the sale shall be returned to the collector of the levying municipality.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-240

    (35 ILCS 200/21-240)
    Sec. 21-240. Payment for property purchased at tax sale; reoffering for sale. Except as otherwise provided below, the person purchasing any property, or any part thereof, shall be liable to the county for the amount due and shall forthwith pay to the county collector the amount charged on the property. Upon failure to do so, the amount due shall be recoverable in a civil action brought in the name of the People of the State of Illinois in any court of competent jurisdiction. The person so purchasing shall be relieved of liability only by payment of the amount due together with interest and costs thereon, or if the property is reoffered at the sale, purchased and paid for. Reoffering of the property for sale shall be at the discretion of the collector. The sale shall not be closed until payment is made or the property again offered for sale. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, only the taxes, special assessments, interest and costs as advertised in the sale shall be required to be paid forthwith. Except if the purchaser is the county as trustee pursuant to Section 21-90, the general taxes charged on the land remaining due and unpaid, including amounts subject to certificates of error, not included in the advertisement, shall be paid by the purchaser within 10 days after the sale, except that upon payment of the fee provided by law to the County Clerk (which fee shall be deemed part of the costs of sale) the purchaser may make written application, within the 10 day period, to the county clerk for a statement of all taxes, interest and costs due and an estimate of the cost of redemption of all forfeited general taxes, which were not included in the advertisement. After obtaining such statement and estimate and an order on the county collector to receive the amount of forfeited general taxes, if any, the purchaser shall pay to the county collector all the remaining taxes, interest and costs, and the amount necessary to redeem the forfeited general taxes. The county collector shall issue the purchaser a receipt therefor. Any delay in providing the statement or in accepting payment, and delivering receipt therefor, shall not be counted as a part of the 10 days. When the receipt of the collector is issued, a copy shall be filed with the county clerk and the county clerk shall include the amount shown in such receipt in the amount of the purchase price of the property in the certificate of purchase. The purchaser then shall be entitled to a certificate of purchase. If a purchaser fails to complete his or her purchase as provided in this Section, the purchase shall become void, and be of no effect, but the collector shall not refund the amount paid in cash at the time of the sale, except in cases of sale in error under subsection (a) of Section 21-310. That amount shall be treated as a payment and distributed to the taxing bodies as other collections are distributed. The lien for taxes for the amount paid shall remain on the property, in favor of the purchaser, his or her heirs or assigns, until paid with 5% interest per year on that amount from the date the purchaser paid it. The amount and fact of such ineffective purchase shall be entered in the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record opposite the property upon which the lien remains. No redemption shall be made without payment of this amount for the benefit of the purchaser, and no future sale of the property shall be made except subject to the lien of such purchaser. This section shall not apply to any purchase by any city, village or incorporated town in default of other bidders at any sale for delinquent special assessments.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-245

    (35 ILCS 200/21-245)
    Sec. 21-245. Automation fee. In all counties, each person purchasing any property at a sale under this Code shall pay to the county collector, prior to the issuance of any tax certificate, an automation fee set by the county collector of not more than $10 for each item purchased. A like sum shall be paid for each year that all or a portion of the subsequent taxes are paid by a tax purchaser and posted to the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record where the underlying certificate is recorded. In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants:
        (a) The fee shall be paid at the time of the purchase
    
if the record keeping system used for processing the delinquent property tax sales is automated or has been approved for automation by the county board. The fee shall be collected in the same manner as other fees or costs.
        (b) Fees collected under this Section shall be
    
retained by the county treasurer in a fund designated as the Tax Sale Automation Fund. The fund shall be audited by the county auditor. The county board, with the approval of the county treasurer, shall make expenditures from the fund (1) to pay any costs related to the automation of property tax collections and delinquent property tax sales, including the cost of hardware, software, research and development, and personnel and (2) to defray the cost of providing electronic access to property tax collection records and delinquent tax sale records.
(Source: P.A. 100-1070, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

35 ILCS 200/21-250

    (35 ILCS 200/21-250)
    Sec. 21-250. Certificate of purchase. The county clerk shall make out and deliver to the purchaser of any property sold under Section 21-205, or to the county if the lien is acquired pursuant to Section 21-90 and a certificate is requested by the county or its agent, a tax certificate countersigned by the collector, describing the property sold, the date of sale, the amount of taxes, special assessments, interest and cost for which they were sold and that payment of the sale price has been made. If any person becomes the purchaser of more than one property owned by one party or person, the purchaser may have the whole or one or more of them included in one certificate, but separate certificates shall be issued in all other cases. A tax certificate shall be assignable by endorsement. An assignment shall vest in the assignee or his or her legal representatives, all the right and title of the original purchaser.
    If the tax certificate is lost or destroyed, the county clerk shall issue a duplicate certificate upon written request and a sworn affidavit by the tax sale purchaser, or his or her assignee, that the tax certificate is lost or destroyed. The county clerk shall cause a notation to be made in the tax sale and judgment book that a duplicate certificate has been issued, and redemption payments shall be made only to the holder of the duplicate certificate.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-251

    (35 ILCS 200/21-251)
    Sec. 21-251. Registry of owners of certificates of purchase.
    (a) The county clerk of each county shall create and maintain a registry system that permanently records the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of owners or assignees of certificates of purchase issued pursuant to any tax sale conducted under this Code. The registry may consist of a single record or a combination of records maintained in paper or electronic form and may include copies of records kept by the county treasurer for other purposes, all to be used as the county clerk deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Section. The information in the registry shall be made available to the public.
    (b) The county clerk of each county is authorized to promulgate reasonable rules, procedures, and forms for purposes of creating and maintaining the registry and for access to the registry information by members of the public. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, any owner of a certificate of purchase pursuant to assignment may elect whether to register that assignment as provided in this Section, but all owners of certificates of purchase shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section. In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the county clerk shall provide by rule whether registration of assignments of certificates of purchase shall be elective or mandatory.
    (c) The owner of a certificate of purchase pursuant to assignment, in order to register that assignment, shall submit to the county clerk the owner's name, address, and telephone number in accordance with any rules, procedures, and forms promulgated by the clerk. Any registered owner of a certificate of purchase may update the registration at any time without charge by submitting to the county clerk any lawful change of name, address, or telephone number.
    (d) If notice is required to be given to the owner of the certificate of purchase in any proceeding, whether judicial or administrative, affecting a tax sale conducted under any provision of this Code, the notice may be directed to the most recent owner of the certificate of purchase appearing in the county clerk's registry under this Section. Any notice that has been directed as provided in this Section shall be conclusively presumed to be properly directed to the owner of the certificate of purchase for all purposes related to the proceeding in which the notice is given. No objection or assertion by any assignee of a certificate of purchase in any proceeding shall be heard on grounds that a notice to the tax purchaser was misdirected, unless that assignee's current and lawful name, address, and telephone number were submitted to the county clerk's registry at the time of the notice in question.
    (e) The county clerk may assess an automation fee of no more than $10 to be paid by the owner of the certificate of purchase for each assignment of the certificate that is registered under this Section. The fee shall be collected in the same manner as other fees and costs and shall be held by the county clerk in a fund for purposes of automating his or her office. The fee provided for under this Section shall not be chargeable to the cost of redemption under Section 21-355 nor shall it be posted under Section 21-360 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 92-729, eff. 7-25-02.)

35 ILCS 200/21-252

    (35 ILCS 200/21-252)
    Sec. 21-252. Index of tax sale records. The county clerk may make an index of tax-sale records. The index shall be kept in the county clerk's office as a public record, open to inspection during office hours.
(Source: Laws 1939, p. 886; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-253

    (35 ILCS 200/21-253)
    Sec. 21-253. Annual tax sale postponed. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the annual tax sale that would ordinarily be held in calendar year 2020 shall be held no earlier than (i) 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly or (2) until the first day of the first month during which there is no longer a statewide COVID-19 public health emergency, as evidenced by an effective disaster declaration of the Governor covering all counties in the State.
(Source: P.A. 101-635, eff. 6-5-20.)

35 ILCS 200/21-255

    (35 ILCS 200/21-255)
    Sec. 21-255. County clerk's books and records - Prima facie evidence. The books and records of the county clerk, or copies thereof, certified by the clerk, shall be prima facie evidence to prove the sale of any property for taxes or special assessments, the redemption of the property, or payment of taxes or special assessments thereon.
(Source: Laws 1939, p. 886; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 5

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 5 heading)
Division 5. Scavenger sales; procedures

35 ILCS 200/21-260

    (35 ILCS 200/21-260)
    Sec. 21-260. Collector's scavenger sale. Upon the county collector's application under Section 21-145, to be known as the Scavenger Sale Application, the Court shall enter judgment for the general taxes, special taxes, special assessments, interest, penalties and costs as are included in the advertisement and appear to be due thereon after allowing an opportunity to object and a hearing upon the objections as provided in Section 21-175, and order those properties sold by the County Collector at public sale, or by electronic automated sale if the collector chooses to conduct an electronic automated sale pursuant to Section 21-261, to the highest bidder for cash, notwithstanding the bid may be less than the full amount of taxes, special taxes, special assessments, interest, penalties and costs for which judgment has been entered.
    (a) Conducting the sale; bidding. All properties shall be offered for sale in consecutive order as they appear in the delinquent list. The minimum bid for any property shall be $250 or one-half of the tax if the total liability is less than $500. For in-person scavenger sales, the successful bidder shall pay the amount of the minimum bid to the County Collector by the end of the business day on which the bid was placed. That amount shall be paid in cash, by certified or cashier's check, by money order, or, if the successful bidder is a governmental unit, by a check issued by that governmental unit. For electronic automated scavenger sales, the successful bidder shall pay the minimum bid amount by the close of the business day on which the bid was placed. That amount shall be paid online via ACH debit or by the electronic payment method required by the county collector. For in-person scavenger sales, if the bid exceeds the minimum bid, the successful bidder shall pay the balance of the bid to the county collector in cash, by certified or cashier's check, by money order, or, if the successful bidder is a governmental unit, by a check issued by that governmental unit by the close of the next business day. For electronic automated scavenger sales, the successful bidder shall pay, by the close of the next business day, the balance of the bid online via ACH debit or by the electronic payment method required by the county collector. If the minimum bid is not paid at the time of sale or if the balance is not paid by the close of the next business day, then the sale is void and the minimum bid, if paid, is forfeited to the county general fund. In that event, the property shall be reoffered for sale within 30 days of the last offering of property in regular order. The collector shall make available to the public a list of all properties to be included in any reoffering due to the voiding of the original sale. The collector is not required to serve or publish any other notice of the reoffering of those properties. In the event that any of the properties are not sold upon reoffering, or are sold for less than the amount of the original voided sale, the original bidder who failed to pay the bid amount shall remain liable for the unpaid balance of the bid in an action under Section 21-240. Liability shall not be reduced where the bidder upon reoffering also fails to pay the bid amount, and in that event both bidders shall remain liable for the unpaid balance of their respective bids. A sale of properties under this Section shall not be final until confirmed by the court.
    (b) Confirmation of sales. The county collector shall file his or her report of sale in the court within 30 days of the date of sale of each property. No notice of the county collector's application to confirm the sales shall be required except as prescribed by rule of the court. Upon confirmation, except in cases where the sale becomes void under Section 22-85, or in cases where the order of confirmation is vacated by the court, a sale under this Section shall extinguish the in rem lien of the general taxes, special taxes and special assessments for which judgment has been entered and a redemption shall not revive the lien. Confirmation of the sale shall in no event affect the owner's personal liability to pay the taxes, interest and penalties as provided in this Code or prevent institution of a proceeding under Section 21-440 to collect any amount that may remain due after the sale.
    (c) Issuance of tax sale certificates. Upon confirmation of the sale, the County Clerk and the County Collector shall issue to the purchaser a certificate of purchase in the form prescribed by Section 21-250 as near as may be. A certificate of purchase shall not be issued to any person who is ineligible to bid at the sale or to receive a certificate of purchase under Section 21-265.
    (d) Scavenger Tax Judgment, Sale and Redemption Record; sale of parcels not sold. The county collector shall prepare a Scavenger Tax Judgment, Sale and Redemption Record. The county clerk shall write or stamp on the scavenger tax judgment, sale, forfeiture and redemption record opposite the description of any property offered for sale and not sold, or not confirmed for any reason, the words "offered but not sold". The properties which are offered for sale under this Section and not sold or not confirmed shall be offered for sale annually thereafter in the manner provided in this Section until sold, except in the case of mineral rights, which after 10 consecutive years of being offered for sale under this Section and not sold or confirmed shall no longer be required to be offered for sale. At any time between annual sales the County Collector may advertise for sale any properties subject to sale under judgments for sale previously entered under this Section and not executed for any reason. The advertisement and sale shall be regulated by the provisions of this Code as far as applicable.
    (e) Proceeding to tax deed. The owner of the certificate of purchase shall give notice as required by Sections 22-5 through 22-30, and may extend the period of redemption as provided by Section 21-385. At any time within 6 months prior to expiration of the period of redemption from a sale under this Code, the owner of a certificate of purchase may file a petition and may obtain a tax deed under Sections 22-30 through 22-55. All proceedings for the issuance of a tax deed and all tax deeds for properties sold under this Section shall be subject to Sections 22-30 through 22-55. Deeds issued under this Section are subject to Section 22-70. This Section shall be liberally construed so that the deeds provided for in this Section convey merchantable title.
    (f) Redemptions from scavenger sales. Redemptions may be made from sales under this Section in the same manner and upon the same terms and conditions as redemptions from sales made under the County Collector's annual application for judgment and order of sale, except that in lieu of penalty the person redeeming shall pay interest as follows if the sale occurs before September 9, 1993:
        (1) If redeemed within the first 2 months from the
    
date of the sale, 3% per month or portion thereof upon the amount for which the property was sold;
        (2) If redeemed between 2 and 6 months from the date
    
of the sale, 12% of the amount for which the property was sold;
        (3) If redeemed between 6 and 12 months from the date
    
of the sale, 24% of the amount for which the property was sold;
        (4) If redeemed between 12 and 18 months from the
    
date of the sale, 36% of the amount for which the property was sold;
        (5) If redeemed between 18 and 24 months from the
    
date of the sale, 48% of the amount for which the property was sold;
        (6) If redeemed after 24 months from the date of
    
sale, the 48% herein provided together with interest at 6% per year thereafter.
    If the sale occurs on or after September 9, 1993, the person redeeming shall pay interest on that part of the amount for which the property was sold equal to or less than the full amount of delinquent taxes, special assessments, penalties, interest, and costs, included in the judgment and order of sale as follows:
        (1) If redeemed within the first 2 months from the
    
date of the sale, 3% per month upon the amount of taxes, special assessments, penalties, interest, and costs due for each of the first 2 months, or fraction thereof.
        (2) If redeemed at any time between 2 and 6 months
    
from the date of the sale, 12% of the amount of taxes, special assessments, penalties, interest, and costs due.
        (3) If redeemed at any time between 6 and 12 months
    
from the date of the sale, 24% of the amount of taxes, special assessments, penalties, interest, and costs due.
        (4) If redeemed at any time between 12 and 18 months
    
from the date of the sale, 36% of the amount of taxes, special assessments, penalties, interest, and costs due.
        (5) If redeemed at any time between 18 and 24 months
    
from the date of the sale, 48% of the amount of taxes, special assessments, penalties, interest, and costs due.
        (6) If redeemed after 24 months from the date of
    
sale, the 48% provided for the 24 months together with interest at 6% per annum thereafter on the amount of taxes, special assessments, penalties, interest, and costs due.
    The person redeeming shall not be required to pay any interest on any part of the amount for which the property was sold that exceeds the full amount of delinquent taxes, special assessments, penalties, interest, and costs included in the judgment and order of sale.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, except for owner-occupied single family residential units which are condominium units, cooperative units or dwellings, the amount required to be paid for redemption shall also include an amount equal to all delinquent taxes on the property which taxes were delinquent at the time of sale. The delinquent taxes shall be apportioned by the county collector among the taxing districts in which the property is situated in accordance with law. In the event that all moneys received from any sale held under this Section exceed an amount equal to all delinquent taxes on the property sold, which taxes were delinquent at the time of sale, together with all publication and other costs associated with the sale, then, upon redemption, the County Collector and the County Clerk shall apply the excess amount to the cost of redemption.
    (g) Bidding by county or other taxing districts. Any taxing district may bid at a scavenger sale. The county board of the county in which properties offered for sale under this Section are located may bid as trustee for all taxing districts having an interest in the taxes for the nonpayment of which the parcels are offered. The County shall apply on the bid the unpaid taxes due upon the property and no cash need be paid. The County or other taxing district acquiring a tax sale certificate shall take all steps necessary to acquire title to the property and may manage and operate the property so acquired.
    When a county, or other taxing district within the county, is a petitioner for a tax deed, no filing fee shall be required on the petition. The county as a tax creditor and as trustee for other tax creditors, or other taxing district within the county shall not be required to allege and prove that all taxes and special assessments which become due and payable after the sale to the county have been paid. The county shall not be required to pay the subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments at any time. Upon the written request of the county board or its designee, the county collector shall not offer the property for sale at any tax sale subsequent to the sale of the property to the county under this Section. The lien of taxes and special assessments which become due and payable after a sale to a county shall merge in the fee title of the county, or other taxing district, on the issuance of a deed. The County may sell the properties so acquired, or the certificate of purchase thereto, and the proceeds of the sale shall be distributed to the taxing districts in proportion to their respective interests therein. The presiding officer of the county board, with the advice and consent of the County Board, may appoint some officer or person to attend scavenger sales and bid on its behalf.
    (h) Miscellaneous provisions. In the event that the tract of land or lot sold at any such sale is not redeemed within the time permitted by law and a tax deed is issued, all moneys that may be received from the sale of properties in excess of the delinquent taxes, together with all publication and other costs associated with the sale, shall, upon petition of any interested party to the court that issued the tax deed, be distributed by the County Collector pursuant to order of the court among the persons having legal or equitable interests in the property according to the fair value of their interests in the tract or lot. Section 21-415 does not apply to properties sold under this Section. Appeals may be taken from the orders and judgments entered under this Section as in other civil cases. The remedy herein provided is in addition to other remedies for the collection of delinquent taxes.
    (i) The changes to this Section made by Public Act 95-477 apply only to matters in which a petition for tax deed is filed on or after June 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-477).
    (j) The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly apply to matters in which a petition for tax deed is filed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. Failure of any party or any public official to comply with the changes made to this Section by Public Act 102-528 does not invalidate any tax deed issued prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 102-519, eff. 8-20-21; 102-528, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1003, eff. 5-27-22.)

35 ILCS 200/21-261

    (35 ILCS 200/21-261)
    Sec. 21-261. Scavenger sale automation. Beginning in calendar year 2021, for every scavenger sale held pursuant to Section 21-260 of this Code, the county collector may employ any electronic automated means that the collector deems appropriate, provided that any electronic automated bidding system so used shall be programmed to accept the highest cash bid made by an eligible tax purchaser. If the county collector conducts the scavenger sale using an electronic automated bidding system, no personal attendance by bidders will be required at the scavenger sale. If automated means are used, all hardware and software used with respect to those automated means must be certified by the Department and re-certified by the Department every 5 years.
(Source: P.A. 102-519, eff. 8-20-21.)

35 ILCS 200/21-265

    (35 ILCS 200/21-265)
    Sec. 21-265. Scavenger sale; persons ineligible to bid or purchase. No person, except a unit of local government, shall be eligible to bid or receive a certificate of purchase at any sale under Section 21-260 unless that person has completed and delivered to the county clerk a true, accurate and complete application for certificate of purchase which shall affirm that:
        (1) the person has not bid upon or applied to
    
purchase any property at the sale for a person who is the party or agent of the party who owns the property or is responsible for the payment of the delinquent taxes;
        (2) the person is not, nor is he or she the agent
    
for, the owner or party responsible for payment of the general taxes on any property which is located in the same county in which the sale is held and which is tax delinquent or forfeited for all or any part of each of 2 or more years, excepting any year for which a certificate of error issued under Sections 14-15, 14-20, and 14-25 is pending for adjudication; and
        (3) the person, although otherwise eligible to bid,
    
has not either directly or through an agent twice during the same sale failed to complete a purchase by the immediate payment of the minimum bid or the payment of the balance of a bid within the time provided by Section 21-260.
(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

35 ILCS 200/21-270

    (35 ILCS 200/21-270)
    Sec. 21-270. Scavenger sale registration. No person, except a unit of local government, shall be eligible to bid or to receive a certificate of purchase who did not register with the county collector at least 5 business days in advance of the first day of the sale under Section 21-260. The collector may charge, for each registration, a fee of not more than $50 in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants and not more than $100 in counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants. Registration shall be made upon such forms and according to such regulations as the county collector deems necessary in order to effect complete and accurate disclosure of the identity of all persons beneficially interested, directly or indirectly, in each sale under Section 21-260. The information to be disclosed shall include, but not be limited to, the name, address and telephone number of the purchaser to whom the clerk and collector will be requested to issue a certificate of purchase; if the purchaser is a corporation, the place of incorporation and the names and addresses of its shareholders unless the corporation is publicly held; if the purchaser is a partnership, the names and addresses of all general and limited partners; if the purchaser is doing business under an assumed business name, the county where such name is registered and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all persons having an ownership interest in the business; and the identity and location of any other tax delinquent property owned by the bidder and purchaser.
     Every application for certificate of purchase and form for registration authorized and required by this Section and Section 21-275 shall be executed under penalty of perjury as though under oath or affirmation, but no acknowledgement is required.
(Source: P.A. 86-949; 87-669; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-275

    (35 ILCS 200/21-275)
    Sec. 21-275. Scavenger sale; application for certificate of purchase. The application for certificate of purchase shall be executed by the purchaser and by any individual bidder acting in the purchaser's behalf. The application shall be initially executed and delivered to the county clerk at the time of registration for the sale as provided in this Section. Before receiving any certificate of purchase, each purchaser and individual bidder acting in the purchaser's behalf shall sign and deliver to the county clerk a schedule or schedules of the properties for which that purchaser has successfully bid and is applying to purchase, which schedule(s) shall be attached to and incorporated within the application. The schedule(s) shall be accompanied by a fee, for each property listed, of $10 in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants and $20 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants. The application and schedule(s) shall be in substantially the following form:
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF PURCHASE
Date of Application: ...............
Name of Purchaser: .................
Address: ...........................
Name of Bidder: ....................
Address: ...........................
    I (we) hereby apply to the County Clerk and County Treasurer of ..... County for issuance of a certificate of purchase for each of the properties on the attached schedule(s), and state as follows:
    1. I (we) made (or authorized) the successful bid on each property listed on the attached schedule(s) at the sale of delinquent properties under Section 21-260 of the Property Tax Code conducted by the County Treasurer of ..... County, Illinois, on the dates indicated for each property on the schedule(s).
    2. At least 5 business days before the first day of this sale, I (we) submitted a truthful, accurate and complete registration to the Treasurer of ..... County on the form(s) and according to the regulations prescribed by the Treasurer's office.
    3. Neither I (we) nor any person or firm identified in the registration submitted to the Treasurer of ..... County was an owner or agent of an owner, mortgagee or agent of a mortgagee, lienholder or agent of a lienholder, holder of beneficial interest or agent of a holder of a beneficial interest in or of any property identified on the schedule(s) attached to this application on January 1st of any years for which taxes were delinquent at the time of my (our) bid(s) described in the schedule(s).
    4. Neither I (we) nor any person or firm identified in the registration submitted to the Treasurer of ..... County was an owner or agent of an owner, mortgagee or agent of a mortgagee, lienholder or agent of a lienholder, holder of a beneficial interest or agent of a holder of a beneficial interest in or of the property identified on the schedule(s) attached to this application at the time of the bid(s) described in the schedule.
    5. Neither I (we) nor any person or firm identified in the registration submitted to the Treasurer of ..... County was an owner or agent for an owner, or party or agent for a party responsible for the payment of delinquent taxes, on any property in the county which was tax delinquent or forfeited for all or any part of each of 2 or more years when the registration was submitted.
    6. Neither I (we) nor any person acting in my (our) behalf has twice failed to complete a purchase at the sale during which the properties on the attached schedule(s) were offered by failing to immediately pay a minimum bid or by failing to pay the balance of a bid for any property within one business day thereafter.
    I (we) hereby affirm that I (we) have read this application and that the statements made in it are personally known by me (us) to be true, accurate and complete, under penalty of perjury as provided by law.
    I (we) further understand that this application shall be void unless the schedule(s) of properties referred to in the application is (are) completed and delivered to the County Clerk.
........................                 Dated: ..............
(Signature of Purchaser)
........................                 Dated: ..............
(Signature of Bidder)
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTIES
Permanent Index Number                             Date of Bid
(insert number)                                  (insert date)
    I (we) hereby affirm that I (we) successfully bid upon the above properties at the sale conducted by the County Treasurer of ..... County on the indicated dates, and I (we) request that the County Clerk of ..... County attach this schedule to my (our) application for certificate of purchase dated ......
    Signed under penalty of perjury as provided by law:
........................                 Dated: ..............
(Signature of Purchaser)
........................                 Dated: ..............
(Signature of Bidder)
(Source: P.A. 86-949; 87-669; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-280

    (35 ILCS 200/21-280)
    Sec. 21-280. Scavenger sale; ineligible bid; liability.
    (a) Any person who is ineligible under Section 21-265 to bid or to receive a certificate of purchase from a sale under Section 21-260, who nevertheless registers to bid or bids or receives or acquires ownership of a certificate of purchase from a sale, and any person who registers to bid or bids at a sale on behalf of an ineligible person, shall be personally liable, jointly and severally, in a sum equal to the full amount of delinquent or forfeited general taxes, special taxes or special assessments, interest, penalties, and costs for which the judgment for sale under Section 21-260 was entered. The liability provided by this Section shall be in addition to the liability for the general taxes imposed by Section 9-175 through 9-185 and shall not be offset by any other payment of the taxes.
    (b) The state's attorney of the county in which the sale under Section 21-260 was conducted may bring an action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois against the person and, upon a finding of liability under this Section, the court shall enter judgment against the person in a sum equal to the full amount of delinquent or forfeited general taxes, special taxes or special assessments, interest, penalties, and costs for which judgment for sale under Section 21-260 was entered, together with the costs of the action and reasonable attorney's fees. The proceeds of any judgment under this Section shall be paid into the county general fund.
(Source: P.A. 86-949; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-285

    (35 ILCS 200/21-285)
    Sec. 21-285. Tax scavenger sale fraud; definitions. For purposes of Section 21-290:
        (1) "Ownership interest" means any title or other
    
interest in property, including without limitation any beneficial interest in a land trust, the holder of which is considered to be the owner of the property for purposes of taxation under Section 9-175.
        (2) "Nonownership interest" means any interest in
    
real property other than a contingent interest and other than an ownership interest as defined in this Section, including without limitation a mortgage, equitable mortgage or other interest in the nature of a mortgage, leasehold, easement, or lien.
        (3) "Real property" has the same meaning as defined
    
in Section 1-130, and includes leasehold estates subject to taxation as property under Section 9-195.
        (4) "Beneficial interest" and "land trust" have the
    
meanings given to those terms in the Land Trust Beneficial Interest Disclosure Act.
(Source: P.A. 86-949; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-290

    (35 ILCS 200/21-290)
    Sec. 21-290. Offense of scavenger sale fraud. A person commits the offense of tax sale fraud who knowingly:
        (a) enters a bid or authorizes or procures the entry
    
of a bid on any property offered for sale under Section 21-260, when the person in whose behalf the bid is made or authorized or procured has an ownership interest or nonownership interest in the property, or where that person had such an interest on January 1 of any year for which delinquent taxes were included within the judgment for sale under Section 21-260;
        (b) acquires, or attempts to acquire, ownership of
    
any certificate of purchase for property sold under Section 21-260, when the person in whose behalf such certificate of purchase is or would be acquired has an ownership interest or nonownership interest in the property, or where that person had that interest on January 1 of any year for which delinquent taxes were included within the judgment for sale under Section 21-260;
        (c) conveys or assigns any certificate of purchase
    
for property sold under Section 21-260 to any person who has an ownership interest or nonownership interest in the property, or who had that interest on January 1 of any year for which delinquent taxes were included within the judgment for sale under Section 21-260;
        (d) makes a false statement in any application for
    
certificate of purchase or registration form submitted under Sections 21-270 and 21-275; or
        (e) forfeits 2 or more bids at any one sale under
    
Section 21-260 by failing to pay the minimum cash bid timely or by failing to pay the balance of the bid timely as required by Section 21-260.
    Tax sale fraud is a Class A misdemeanor. A subsequent conviction for tax sale fraud as defined in subsections (a) through (d) of this Section is a Class 4 felony.
(Source: P.A. 86-949; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 6

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 6 heading)
Division 6. Indemnity fund; sales in error

35 ILCS 200/21-295

    (35 ILCS 200/21-295)
    Sec. 21-295. Creation of indemnity fund.
    (a) In counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, each person purchasing any property at a sale under this Code shall pay to the County Collector, prior to the issuance of any certificate of purchase, an indemnity fee set by the county collector of not more than $20 for each item purchased. A like sum shall be paid for each year that all or a portion of subsequent taxes are paid by the tax purchaser and posted to the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record where the underlying certificate of purchase is recorded.
    (a-5) In counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, each person purchasing property at a sale under this Code shall pay to the County Collector a nonrefundable fee of $80 for each item purchased plus an additional sum equal to 5% of the taxes, interest, and penalties paid under Section 21-240. In these counties, the certificate holder shall also pay to the County Collector a fee of $80 for each year that all or a portion of subsequent taxes are paid by the tax purchaser and posted to the tax judgment, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record. The changes to this subsection made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly are not a new enactment, but declaratory of existing law.
    (b) The amount paid prior to issuance of the certificate of purchase pursuant to subsection (a) or (a-5) shall be included in the purchase price of the property in the certificate of purchase and all amounts paid under this Section shall be included in the amount required to redeem under Section 21-355, except for the nonrefundable $80 fee for each item purchased at the tax sale as provided in this Section. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of Section 21-300, all money received under subsection (a) or (a-5) shall be paid by the Collector to the County Treasurer of the County in which the land is situated, for the purpose of an indemnity fund. The County Treasurer, as trustee of that fund, shall invest all of that fund, principal and income, in his or her hands from time to time, if not immediately required for payments of indemnities under subsection (a) of Section 21-305, in investments permitted by the Illinois State Board of Investment under Article 22A of the Illinois Pension Code. The county collector shall report annually to the county clerk on the condition and income of the fund. The indemnity fund shall be held to satisfy judgments obtained against the County Treasurer, as trustee of the fund. No payment shall be made from the fund, except upon a judgment of the court which ordered the issuance of a tax deed.
(Source: P.A. 100-1070, eff. 1-1-19; 101-659, eff. 3-23-21.)

35 ILCS 200/21-300

    (35 ILCS 200/21-300)
    Sec. 21-300. Amount to be retained in indemnity fund.
    (a) The county board in each county shall determine the amount of the fund to be maintained in that county, which amount shall not be less than 0.03% of the total assessed valuation, as equalized by the Department, of property within the County, or $50,000, whichever is greater, and shall not be greater than $1,000,000 in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, and not greater than $2,000,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants. Any moneys accumulated by the County Treasurer in excess of the amount so established, as trustee of the fund, shall be paid by him or her annually to the general fund of the County.
    (b) In counties in which a Tort Liability Fund is established, all sums of money received under subsection (a) of Section 21-295 may be deposited in the general fund of the county for general county governmental purposes, if the county board provides by ordinance that the indemnity required by this Section shall be provided by the Tort Liability Fund.
(Source: P.A. 86-1028; 86-1431; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-305

    (35 ILCS 200/21-305)
    Sec. 21-305. Payments from Indemnity Fund.
    (a) Any owner of property sold under any provision of this Code who sustains loss or damage by reason of the issuance of a tax deed under Section 21-445 or 22-40 and who is barred or is in any way precluded from bringing an action for the recovery of the property shall have the right to indemnity for the loss or damage sustained, limited as follows:
        (1) An owner who resided on property that contained 4
    
or less dwelling units on the last day of the period of redemption and who is equitably entitled to compensation for the loss or damage sustained has the right to indemnity. An equitable indemnity award shall be limited to the fair cash value of the property as of the date the tax deed was issued less any mortgages or liens on the property, and the award will not exceed $99,000. The Court shall liberally construe this equitable entitlement standard to provide compensation wherever, in the discretion of the Court, the equities warrant the action.
        An owner of a property that contained 4 or less
    
dwelling units who requests an award in excess of $99,000 must prove that the loss of his or her property was not attributable to his or her own fault or negligence before an award in excess of $99,000 will be granted.
        (2) An owner who sustains the loss or damage of any
    
property occasioned by reason of the issuance of a tax deed, without fault or negligence of his or her own, has the right to indemnity limited to the fair cash value of the property less any mortgages or liens on the property. In determining the existence of fault or negligence, the court shall consider whether the owner exercised ordinary reasonable diligence under all of the relevant circumstances.
        (3) In determining the fair cash value of property
    
less any mortgages or liens on the property, the fair cash value shall be reduced by the principal amount of all taxes paid by the tax purchaser or his or her assignee before the issuance of the tax deed.
        (4) If an award made under paragraph (1) or (2) is
    
subject to a reduction by the amount of an outstanding mortgage or lien on the property, other than the principal amount of all taxes paid by the tax purchaser or his or her assignee before the issuance of the tax deed and the petitioner would be personally liable to the mortgagee or lienholder for all or part of that reduction amount, the court shall order an additional indemnity award to be paid directly to the mortgagee or lienholder sufficient to discharge the petitioner's personal liability. The court, in its discretion, may order the joinder of the mortgagee or lienholder as an additional party to the indemnity action.
    (b) Indemnity fund; subrogation.
        (1) Any person claiming indemnity hereunder shall
    
petition the Court which ordered the tax deed to issue, shall name the County Treasurer, as Trustee of the indemnity fund, as defendant to the petition, and shall ask that judgment be entered against the County Treasurer, as Trustee, in the amount of the indemnity sought. The provisions of the Civil Practice Law shall apply to proceedings under the petition, except that neither the petitioner nor County Treasurer shall be entitled to trial by jury on the issues presented in the petition. The Court shall liberally construe this Section to provide compensation wherever in the discretion of the Court the equities warrant such action.
        (2) The County Treasurer, as Trustee of the indemnity
    
fund, shall be subrogated to all parties in whose favor judgment may be rendered against him or her, and by third party complaint may bring in as a defendant any person, other than the tax deed grantee and its successors in title, not a party to the action who is or may be liable to him or her, as subrogee, for all or part of the petitioner's claim against him or her.
    (c) Any contract involving the proceeds of a judgment for indemnity under this Section, between the tax deed grantee or its successors in title and the indemnity petitioner or his or her successors, shall be in writing. In any action brought under Section 21-305, the Collector shall be entitled to discovery regarding, but not limited to, the following:
        (1) the identity of all persons beneficially
    
interested in the contract, directly or indirectly, including at least the following information: the names and addresses of any natural persons; the place of incorporation of any corporation and the names and addresses of its shareholders unless it is publicly held; the names and addresses of all general and limited partners of any partnership; the names and addresses of all persons having an ownership interest in any entity doing business under an assumed name, and the county in which the assumed business name is registered; and the nature and extent of the interest in the contract of each person identified;
        (2) the time period during which the contract was
    
negotiated and agreed upon, from the date of the first direct or indirect contact between any of the contracting parties to the date of its execution;
        (3) the name and address of each natural person who
    
took part in negotiating the contract, and the identity and relationship of the party that the person represented in the negotiations; and
        (4) the existence of an agreement for payment of
    
attorney's fees by or on behalf of each party.
    Any information disclosed during discovery may be subject to protective order as deemed appropriate by the court. The terms of the contract shall not be used as evidence of value.
    (d) A petition of indemnity under this Section must be filed within 10 years after the date the tax deed was issued.
(Source: P.A. 97-557, eff. 7-1-12.)

35 ILCS 200/21-306

    (35 ILCS 200/21-306)
    Sec. 21-306. Indemnity fund fraud.
    (a) A person commits the offense of indemnity fund fraud when that person knowingly:
        (1) offers or agrees to become a party to, or to
    
acquire an interest in, a contract involving the proceeds of a judgment for indemnity under Section 21-305 before the end of the period of redemption from the tax sale to which the judgment relates;
        (2) fraudulently induces a party to forego bringing
    
an action for the recovery of the property;
        (3) makes a deceptive misrepresentation during the
    
course of negotiating an agreement under subsection (c) of Section 21-305; or
        (4) conspires to violate any of the provisions of
    
this subsection.
    (b) Commission of any one act described in subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. Commission of more than one act described in subsection (a) during a single course of conduct is a Class 4 felony. A second or subsequent conviction for violation of any portion of this Section is a Class 4 felony.
    (c) The State's Attorney of the county in which a judgment for indemnity under Section 21-305 is entered may bring a civil action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois against a person who violates paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a). Upon a finding of liability in the action the court shall enter judgment in favor of the People in a sum equal to three times the amount of the judgment for indemnity, together with costs of the action and reasonable attorney's fees. The proceeds of any judgment under this subsection shall be paid into the general fund of the county.
(Source: P.A. 91-564, eff. 8-14-99.)

35 ILCS 200/21-310

    (35 ILCS 200/21-310)
    Sec. 21-310. Sales in error.
    (a) When, upon application of the county collector, the owner of the certificate of purchase, the holder of a 5% lien issued pursuant to Section 21-240, or a municipality which owns or has owned the property ordered sold, it appears to the satisfaction of the court which ordered the property sold that any of the following subsections are applicable, the court shall declare the sale to be a sale in error:
        (1) the property was not subject to taxation, or all
    
or any part of the lien of taxes sold has become null and void pursuant to Section 21-95 or unenforceable pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 18-250 or subsection (b) of Section 22-40;
        (2) the taxes or special assessments had been paid
    
prior to the sale of the property;
        (3) there is a double assessment;
        (4) the description is void for uncertainty;
        (5) the assessor, chief county assessment officer,
    
board of review, board of appeals, or other county official has made an error material to the tax certificate at issue (other than an error of judgment as to the value of any property), provided, however, that a sale in error may not be declared upon application of the owner of the certificate of purchase under this paragraph (5) if the county collector provided notice in accordance with Section 21-118 that the same property received a previous sale in error on the same facts;
        (5.5) the owner of the homestead property had
    
tendered timely and full payment to the county collector that the owner reasonably believed was due and owing on the homestead property, and the county collector did not apply the payment to the homestead property; provided that this provision applies only to homeowners, not their agents or third-party payors;
        (6) a voluntary or involuntary petition was filed by
    
or against the legal or beneficial owner of the property requesting relief under the provisions of 11 U.S.C. Chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13, and the bankruptcy case was open on the date the collector's application for judgment was filed pursuant to Section 21-150 or 21-155 or the date of the tax sale;
        (7) the property is owned by the United States, the
    
State of Illinois, a municipality, or a taxing district; or
        (8) the owner of the property is a reservist or
    
guardsperson who is granted an extension of his or her due date under Sections 21-15, 21-20, and 21-25 of this Act.
    (b) When, upon application of the owner of the certificate of purchase only, it appears to the satisfaction of the court which ordered the property sold that any of the following subsections are applicable, the court shall declare the sale to be a sale in error:
        (1) A voluntary or involuntary petition under the
    
provisions of 11 U.S.C. Chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13 has been filed subsequent to the tax sale and prior to the issuance of the tax deed, and the bankruptcy case was open on the date the petition for a sale in error was filed.
        (2) The improvements upon the property sold have been
    
substantially destroyed subsequent to the tax sale and prior to the issuance of the tax deed; however, if the court declares a sale in error under this paragraph (2), the court may order the holder of the certificate of purchase to assign the certificate to the county collector if requested by the county collector. The county collector may, upon request of the county, as trustee, or upon request of a taxing district having an interest in the taxes sold, further assign any certificate of purchase received pursuant to this paragraph (2) to the county acting as trustee for taxing districts pursuant to Section 21-90 of this Code or to the taxing district having an interest in the taxes sold.
        (3) There is an interest held by the United States in
    
the property sold which could not be extinguished by the tax deed.
        (4) The real property contains a hazardous substance,
    
hazardous waste, or underground storage tank that would require cleanup or other removal under any federal, State, or local law, ordinance, or regulation, only if the tax purchaser purchased the property without actual knowledge of the hazardous substance, hazardous waste, or underground storage tank. The presence of a grease trap on the property is not grounds for a sale in error under this paragraph (4). This paragraph (4) applies only if the owner of the certificate of purchase has made application for a sale in error at any time before the issuance of a tax deed. If the court declares a sale in error under this paragraph (4), the court may order the holder of the certificate of purchase to assign the certificate to the county collector if requested by the county collector. The county collector may, upon request of the county, as trustee, or upon request of a taxing district having an interest in the taxes sold, further assign any certificate of purchase received pursuant to this paragraph (4) to the county acting as trustee for taxing districts pursuant to Section 21-90 of this Code or to the taxing district having an interest in the taxes sold.
    Whenever a court declares a sale in error under this subsection (b), the State's attorney shall promptly notify the county collector in writing.
    (c) When the county collector discovers, prior to the expiration of the period of redemption, that a tax sale should not have occurred for one or more of the reasons set forth in subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5.5), (a)(6), (a)(7), or (a)(8) of this Section, the county collector shall notify the last known owner of the tax certificate by certified and regular mail, or other means reasonably calculated to provide actual notice, that the county collector intends to declare an administrative sale in error and of the reasons therefor, including documentation sufficient to establish the reason why the sale should not have occurred. The owner of the certificate of purchase may object in writing within 28 days after the date of the mailing by the county collector. If an objection is filed, the county collector shall not administratively declare a sale in error, but may apply to the circuit court for a sale in error as provided in subsection (a) of this Section. Thirty days following the receipt of notice by the last known owner of the certificate of purchase, or within a reasonable time thereafter, the county collector shall make a written declaration, based upon clear and convincing evidence, that the taxes were sold in error and shall deliver a copy thereof to the county clerk within 30 days after the date the declaration is made for entry in the tax judgment, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section. The county collector shall promptly notify the last known owner of the certificate of purchase of the declaration by regular mail and shall, except if the certificate was issued pursuant to a no-cash bid, promptly pay the amount of the tax sale, together with interest and costs as provided in Section 21-315, upon surrender of the original certificate of purchase.
    (d) If a sale is declared to be a sale in error for any reason set forth in Section 22-35, Section 22-50, or subdivision (a)(5), (b)(2), or (b)(4) of this Section, the tax certificate shall be forfeited to the county as trustee pursuant to Section 21-90 of this Code, unless the county collector informs the county and the county clerk in writing that the tax certificate shall not be forfeited to the county as trustee. The county clerk shall make entry in the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record, that the property was erroneously sold and that the tax certificate is forfeited to the county pursuant to Section 21-90, and the county collector shall, on demand of the owner of the certificate of purchase, refund the amount paid, except for the nonrefundable $80 fee paid, pursuant to Section 21-295, for each item purchased at the tax sale, pay any interest and costs as may be ordered under Sections 21-315 through 21-335, and cancel the certificate so far as it relates to the property. The county collector shall deduct from the accounts of the appropriate taxing bodies their pro rata amounts paid.
    (e) Whenever the collector declares an administrative sale in error under this Section, the collector must send a copy of the declaration of the administrative sale in error, and documentation sufficient to establish the reason why the sale should not have occurred, to the government entity responsible for maintaining assessment books and property record cards for the subject property. That entity must review the documentation sent by the collector, make a determination as to whether an update to the assessment books or property record cards is necessary to prevent a recurrence of the sale in error, and update the assessment books or property record cards as appropriate.
    (f) Whenever a court declares a sale in error under this Section, the State's attorney must send a copy of the application and order declaring the sale in error to the county collector, the county clerk, and the government entity responsible for maintaining the assessment books and property record cards for the subject property. The collector, the county clerk, and the other government entity must each review the application and order sent by the State's attorney and make a determination as to whether an update to its respective records is necessary to prevent a recurrence of the sale in error, and update its records as appropriate.
    The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly apply to matters concerning tax certificates issued on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-315

    (35 ILCS 200/21-315)
    Sec. 21-315. Refund of costs; interest on refund.
    (a) If a sale in error under Section 21-310, 22-35, or 22-50 is declared, the amount refunded shall also include all costs paid by the owner of the certificate of purchase or his or her assignor which were posted to the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record, except that if the sale in error is declared under Section 22-50, in counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants the amount refunded shall not include the $100 fee paid in accordance with Section 21-330.
    (b) In those cases which arise solely under grounds set forth in Section 21-310, the amount refunded shall also include interest on the refund of the amount paid for the certificate of purchase, except as otherwise provided in this Section. Interest shall be awarded and paid to the tax purchaser at the rate of 1% per month from the date of sale to the date of payment, or in an amount equivalent to the penalty interest which would be recovered on a redemption at the time of payment pursuant to the order for sale in error, whichever is less. Interest shall not be paid when the sale in error is made pursuant to Section 22-35, Section 22-50, subdivision (a)(5), (b)(1), (b)(2), or (b)(4) of Section 21-310, any ground not enumerated in Section 21-310, or in any other case where the court determines that the tax purchaser had actual knowledge prior to the sale of the grounds on which the sale is declared to be erroneous.
    (c) When the county collector files a petition for sale in error under Section 21-310 and mails a notice thereof by certified or registered mail to the last known owner of the certificate of purchase, any interest otherwise payable under this Section shall cease to accrue as of the date the petition is filed, unless the tax purchaser agrees to an order for sale in error upon the presentation of the petition to the court. Notices under this subsection may be mailed to the last known owner of the certificate of purchase. When the owner of the certificate of purchase contests the collector's petition solely to determine whether the grounds for sale in error are such as to support a claim for interest, the court may direct that the principal amount of the refund be paid to the owner of the certificate of purchase forthwith. If the court thereafter determines that a claim for interest lies under this Section, it shall award such interest from the date of sale to the date the principal amount was paid. If the owner of the certificate of purchase files an objection to the county collector's intention to declare an administrative sale in error, as provided under subsection (c) of Section 21-310, and, thereafter, the county collector elects to apply to the circuit court for a sale in error under subsection (a) of Section 21-310, then, if the circuit court grants the county collector's application for a sale in error, the court may not award interest to the owner of the certificate of purchase for the period after the mailing date of the county collector's notice of intention to declare an administrative sale in error.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-320

    (35 ILCS 200/21-320)
    Sec. 21-320. Refund of other taxes paid by holder of certificate of purchase. If a sale in error under Section 21-310, 22-35, or 22-50 is declared, the amount refunded shall also include other taxes paid or redeemed by the owner of the certificate of purchase or his or her assignor subsequent to the tax sale, together with interest on those other taxes under the same terms as interest is otherwise payable under Section 21-315. The interest under this subsection shall be calculated at the rate of 1% per month from the date the other taxes were paid and not from the date of sale. The collector shall take credit in settlement of his or her accounts for the refund of the other taxes as in other cases of sale in error under Section 21-310.
(Source: P.A. 92-224, eff. 1-1-02; 92-729, eff. 7-25-02.)

35 ILCS 200/21-325

    (35 ILCS 200/21-325)
    Sec. 21-325. Payment of interest - Counties of 3,000,000 or more. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, all payments of interest or costs under Sections 21-315 and 21-320 and subsection (c) of Section 21-310 shall be paid as provided in Sections 21-330, 21-335 and 21-340. In all other counties, the county treasurer may determine in his or her discretion whether payment of interest and costs shall be made as provided in Sections 21-330, 21-335 and 21-340. In the other counties, where the treasurer determines not to make payment as provided in those subsections, the treasurer shall pay any interest or costs under this Section pro rata from those accounts where the principal refund of the tax sale purchase price under Section 21-310 is taken.
(Source: P.A. 92-729, eff. 7-25-02.)

35 ILCS 200/21-330

    (35 ILCS 200/21-330)
    Sec. 21-330. Fund for payment of interest. In all counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the county board, by resolution, may impose a fee for payment of interest and costs. Each person purchasing any property at a sale under this Code shall pay to the county collector, prior to the issuance of any certificate of purchase, a fee of up to $60 for each item purchased. Each person purchasing any property at a sale held under this Code in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants shall pay to the county collector, prior to the issuance of any certificate of purchase, a fee of $100 for each item purchased. That amount shall be included in the price paid for the certificate of purchase and the amount required to redeem under Section 21-355.
    All sums of money received under this Section shall be paid by the collector to the county treasurer of the county in which the property is situated for deposit into a special fund. It shall be the duty of the county treasurer, as trustee of the fund, to invest the principal and income of the fund from time to time, if not immediately required for payments under this Section, in investments as are authorized by Sections 3-10009 and 3-11002 of the Counties Code. The fund shall be held to pay interest and costs by the county treasurer as trustee of the fund. No payment shall be made from the fund except by order of the court declaring a sale in error under Section 21-310, 22-35, or 22-50 or by declaration of the county collector under subsection (c) of Section 21-310. Payments under this Section are subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of Section 21-315 concerning sales in error declared under Section 22-50 in counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants. Any moneys accumulated in the fund by the county treasurer in excess of (i) $100,000 in counties with 250,000 or less inhabitants or (ii) $500,000 in counties with more than 250,000 inhabitants shall be paid each year prior to the commencement of the annual tax sale, first to satisfy any existing unpaid judgments entered pursuant to Section 21-295, and any funds remaining thereafter shall be paid to the general fund of the county.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-335

    (35 ILCS 200/21-335)
    Sec. 21-335. Claims for interest and costs. Any person claiming interest or costs under Sections 21-315 through 21-330 shall include the claim in his or her petition for sale in error under Section 21-310, 22-35, or 22-50. Any claim for interest or costs which is not included in the petition is waived. Interest or costs may be awarded, however, to the extent permitted by this Section upon a sale in error petition filed by the county collector or municipality or upon a declaration by the county collector pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 21-310, without requiring a separate filing by the claimant. Any refund of interest or costs upon the petition for sale in error or upon a declaration by the county collector pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 21-310 shall be paid by the county treasurer as trustee of the fund created by this Section. The fund shall be the sole source for payment and satisfaction of orders for interest or costs, except as otherwise provided in this subsection. If the court determines that the fund has been depleted and will not be restored in time to pay an award with reasonable promptness, the court may authorize the collector to pay the interest portion of the award pro rata from those accounts where the principal refund of the tax sale purchase price under Section 21-310 is taken.
(Source: P.A. 92-224, eff. 1-1-02; 92-729, eff. 7-25-02.)

35 ILCS 200/21-340

    (35 ILCS 200/21-340)
    Sec. 21-340. Recovery of amount of tax or special assessment paid by purchaser at erroneous sale. In addition to all other remedies, when the purchaser or assignee of a certificate of purchase that has been declared an erroneous sale, has paid any tax or special assessment upon the property sold, which was not paid by the owner of the property and was not refunded to the tax purchaser or assignee by the county, the purchaser or assignee may recover from the owner the amount he or she paid, with 10% interest, as money paid for the owner's use.
(Source: P.A. 84-644; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 7

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 7 heading)
Division 7. Redemption procedures and notice requirements

35 ILCS 200/21-345

    (35 ILCS 200/21-345)
    Sec. 21-345. Right of redemption.
    (a) Property sold under this Code may be redeemed only by those persons having a right of redemption as defined in this Section and only in accordance with this Code.
    A right to redeem property from any sale under this Code shall exist in any owner or person interested in that property, other than an undisclosed beneficiary of an Illinois land trust, whether or not the interest in the property sold is recorded or filed. Any redemption shall be presumed to have been made by or on behalf of the owners and persons interested in the property and shall inure to the benefit of the persons having the legal or equitable title to the property redeemed, subject to the right of the person making the redemption to be reimbursed by the persons benefited. No redemption shall be held invalid by reason of the failure of the person redeeming to have recorded or filed the document evidencing an interest in the property prior to redemption, other than an undisclosed beneficiary of an Illinois land trust.
    (b) Any person who desires to redeem and does not desire to contest the validity of a petition for tax deed may redeem pursuant to this Section and related Sections of this Code without submitting a written protest under Section 21-380. This subsection (b) shall be construed as declarative of existing law and not as a new enactment.
(Source: P.A. 91-564, eff. 8-14-99.)

35 ILCS 200/21-350

    (35 ILCS 200/21-350)
    Sec. 21-350. Period of redemption. Property sold under this Code may be redeemed at any time before the expiration of 2.5 years from the date of sale, except that:
        (a) If on the date of sale the property is vacant
    
non-farm property or property containing an improvement consisting of a structure or structures with 7 or more residential units or that is commercial or industrial property, it may be redeemed at any time before the expiration of 1 year from the date of sale.
        (b) (Blank).
        (c) If the period of redemption has been extended by
    
the certificate holder as provided in Section 21-385 or Section 22-5, the property may be redeemed on or before the extended redemption date. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly apply to matters concerning tax certificates issued on or after January 1, 2024.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-355

    (35 ILCS 200/21-355)
    Sec. 21-355. Amount of redemption. Any person desiring to redeem shall deposit an amount specified in this Section with the county clerk of the county in which the property is situated, in legal money of the United States, or by cashier's check, certified check, post office money order or money order issued by a financial institution insured by an agency or instrumentality of the United States, payable to the county clerk of the proper county. The deposit shall be deemed timely only if actually received in person at the county clerk's office prior to the close of business as defined in Section 3-2007 of the Counties Code on or before the expiration of the period of redemption or by United States mail with a post office cancellation mark dated not less than one day prior to the expiration of the period of redemption. The deposit shall be in an amount equal to the total of the following:
        (a) the certificate amount, which shall include all
    
tax principal, special assessments, interest and penalties paid by the tax purchaser together with costs and fees of sale and fees paid under Sections 21-295 and 21-315 through 21-335, except for the nonrefundable $80 fee paid, pursuant to Section 21-295, for each item purchased at the tax sale;
        (b) the accrued penalty, computed through the date of
    
redemption as a percentage of the certificate amount, as follows:
            (1) if the redemption occurs on or before the
        
expiration of 6 months from the date of sale, the certificate amount times the penalty bid at sale;
            (2) if the redemption occurs after 6 months from
        
the date of sale, and on or before the expiration of 12 months from the date of sale, the certificate amount times 2 times the penalty bid at sale;
            (3) if the redemption occurs after 12 months from
        
the date of sale and on or before the expiration of 18 months from the date of sale, the certificate amount times 3 times the penalty bid at sale;
            (4) if the redemption occurs after 18 months from
        
the date of sale and on or before the expiration of 24 months from the date of sale, the certificate amount times 4 times the penalty bid at sale;
            (5) if the redemption occurs after 24 months from
        
the date of sale and on or before the expiration of 30 months from the date of sale, the certificate amount times 5 times the penalty bid at sale;
            (6) if the redemption occurs after 30 months from
        
the date of sale and on or before the expiration of 36 months from the date of sale, the certificate amount times 6 times the penalty bid at sale.
        In the event that the property to be redeemed has
    
been purchased under Section 21-405 before January 1, 2024, the penalty bid shall be 12% per penalty period as set forth in subparagraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection (b). The changes to this subdivision (b)(6) made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly are not a new enactment, but declaratory of existing law.
        If the property to be redeemed is property with
    
respect to which a tax lien or certificate is acquired on or after January 1, 2024 by the county as trustee pursuant to Section 21-90, the penalty bid is 0.75% and shall accrue monthly instead of according to the penalty periods established in subparagraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection (b).
        (c) The total of all taxes, special assessments,
    
accrued interest on those taxes and special assessments and costs charged in connection with the payment of those taxes or special assessments, except for the nonrefundable $80 fee paid, pursuant to Section 21-295, for each item purchased at the tax sale, which have been paid by the tax certificate holder on or after the date those taxes or special assessments became delinquent together with 12% penalty on each amount so paid for each year or portion thereof intervening between the date of that payment and the date of redemption. In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, however, a tax certificate holder may not pay all or part of an installment of a subsequent tax or special assessment for any year, nor shall any tender of such a payment be accepted, until after the second or final installment of the subsequent tax or special assessment has become delinquent or until after the holder of the certificate of purchase has filed a petition for a tax deed under Section 22.30. The person redeeming shall also pay the amount of interest charged on the subsequent tax or special assessment and paid as a penalty by the tax certificate holder. This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to tax years beginning with the 1995 taxes, payable in 1996, and thereafter.
        (d) Any amount paid to redeem a forfeiture occurring
    
before January 1, 2024 but after the tax sale together with 12% penalty thereon for each year or portion thereof intervening between the date of the forfeiture redemption and the date of redemption from the sale.
        (e) Any amount paid by the certificate holder for
    
redemption of a subsequently occurring tax sale, including tax liens or certificates held by the county as trustee, pursuant to Section 21-90.
        (f) All fees paid to the county clerk under Section
    
22-5.
        (g) All fees paid to the registrar of titles incident
    
to registering the tax certificate in compliance with the Registered Titles (Torrens) Act.
        (h) All fees paid to the circuit clerk and the
    
sheriff, a licensed or registered private detective, or the coroner in connection with the filing of the petition for tax deed and service of notices under Sections 22-15 through 22-30 and 22-40 in addition to (1) a fee of $35 if a petition for tax deed has been filed, which fee shall be posted to the tax judgement, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record, to be paid to the purchaser or his or her assignee; (2) a fee of $4 if a notice under Section 22-5 has been filed, which fee shall be posted to the tax judgment, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record, to be paid to the purchaser or his or her assignee; (3) all costs paid to record a lis pendens notice in connection with filing a petition under this Code; and (4) if a petition for tax deed has been filed, all fees up to $150 per redemption paid to a registered or licensed title insurance company or title insurance agent for a title search to identify all owners, parties interested, and occupants of the property, to be paid to the purchaser or his or her assignee. The fees in (1) and (2) of this paragraph (h) shall be exempt from the posting requirements of Section 21-360. The costs incurred in causing notices to be served by a licensed or registered private detective under Section 22-15, may not exceed the amount that the sheriff would be authorized by law to charge if those notices had been served by the sheriff.
        (i) All fees paid for publication of notice of the
    
tax sale in accordance with Section 22-20.
        (j) All sums paid to any county, city, village or
    
incorporated town for reimbursement under Section 22-35.
        (k) All costs and expenses of receivership under
    
Section 21-410, to the extent that these costs and expenses exceed any income from the property in question, if the costs and expenditures have been approved by the court appointing the receiver and a certified copy of the order or approval is filed and posted by the certificate holder with the county clerk. Only actual costs expended may be posted on the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-360

    (35 ILCS 200/21-360)
    Sec. 21-360. Posting requirements. Except as otherwise provided in Section 21-355, the county clerk shall not be required to include amounts described in paragraphs (c) through (k) of Section 21-355 in the payment for redemption or the amount received for redemption, nor shall payment thereof be a charge on the property sold for taxes, unless the tax certificate holder has filed and posted with the county clerk prior to redemption and in any event not less than 30 days prior to the expiration of the period of redemption or extended period of redemption an official, original or duplicate receipt for payment of those fees, costs and expenses permitted under paragraphs (c) through (k) of Section 21-355. Upon submission of an official original or duplicate receipt, the county clerk shall stamp the date upon each document received. If, in a county where the county clerk accepts electronic records, a tax certificate holder submits to the county clerk an official original or duplicate receipt as an electronic record, the county clerk shall acknowledge receipt of the record and shall provide confirmation in the same manner to the certificate holder. The confirmation from the county clerk shall indicate the date of receipt and shall serve as proof that the document was received by the county clerk. The county clerk shall not be required to include amounts described in paragraphs (c) through (k) of Section 21-355 in the payment for redemption or the amount received for redemption, nor shall payment thereof be a charge on the property sold for taxes, unless the purchaser or his or her assignee obtains this acknowledgement of delivery.
(Source: P.A. 100-975, eff. 8-19-18.)

35 ILCS 200/21-365

    (35 ILCS 200/21-365)
    Sec. 21-365. Deficiency judgment. If the sold property is not redeemed, a deficiency judgment shall not be taken on account of the receivership proceedings against the owner or owners of the property. In the event that income to the receiver exceeds expenditures, net income is to be deposited with the clerk of the court ordering the tax sale and shall be distributed as determined by the court ordering the appointment of the receiver.
(Source: P.A. 86-286; 86-413; 86-418; 86-949; 86-1028; 86-1158; 86-1481; 87-145; 87-236; 87-435; 87-895; 87-1189; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-370

    (35 ILCS 200/21-370)
    Sec. 21-370. Redemption of forfeited property. Except as otherwise provided in Section 21-375, any property forfeited to the county may be redeemed or sold in the following manner:
    When property has been forfeited for delinquent general taxes, the person desiring to redeem shall apply to the county clerk who shall order the county collector to receive from the person the amount of the forfeited general taxes, statutory costs, interest prior to forfeiture, printer's fees due thereon and, in addition, forfeiture interest at a rate of 12% per year or fraction thereof. Upon presentation of the county clerk's order to the county collector, the collector shall receive the amount due on account of forfeited general taxes and give the person duplicate receipts, setting forth a description of the property and amount received. One of the receipts shall be countersigned by the county clerk and, when so countersigned, shall be evidence of the redemption of the property. The receipt shall not be valid until it is countersigned by the county clerk. The other receipt shall be filed by the county clerk in his or her office, and the clerk shall make a proper entry of the redemption of the property on the appropriate books in his or her office and charge the amount of the redemption to the county collector.
    In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, when property has been forfeited because of the nonpayment of delinquent special assessments, the county clerk shall collect from the person desiring to redeem the amount due on the delinquent special assessment, together with the interest, costs and penalties fixed by law, and shall issue a receipt therefor setting forth a description of the property and the amount received. The receipt shall be evidence of the redemption of the property therein described. In addition, the city comptroller or other officer designated and authorized by the city council, board of trustees or other governing body of any municipal corporation which levied any special assessment shall have power to collect the amounts due on properties which have been forfeited, and the interest and penalties due thereon, based upon an estimate of the cost of redemption computed by the county clerk and at a rate to be fixed by the city council, board of trustees or other governing body as to the interest and penalties due thereon and shall issue a receipt therefor. The person receiving the receipt shall file with the county clerk the receipt of the municipal officer that such special assessments and interest and penalties have been paid. Upon the presentation of the receipt the county clerk shall issue to the person a certificate of cancellation setting forth a description of the property, the special assessment warrant and installment, and the amount received by the municipal officer. The certificate of cancellation shall be evidence of the redemption of the property therein described. The city council, board of trustees, or other governing body may authorize the municipal officer to waive penalties for the first year in excess of 7%. The form of the receipt of redemption for filing with the county clerk shall be as prescribed by law.
    In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, when property has been forfeited in whole or in part for the non-payment of delinquent special assessments, the person desiring to redeem shall apply to the municipal collector who shall receive the amount due on the delinquent special assessment, together with the interest, costs and penalties fixed by law, and issue a certificate therefor. The recipient shall file the certificate of the municipal collector that the special assessments and the costs, interest and penalties thereon have been paid with the county clerk. The municipal collector's certificate of payment shall be filed by the county clerk in his or her office and the clerk shall make a proper entry of the redemption on the books in his or her office.
    This Section 21-370 does not apply to any forfeiture that occurs on or after January 1, 2024.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-375

    (35 ILCS 200/21-375)
    Sec. 21-375. Partial redemption of forfeited properties. In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, when forfeited taxes on a property remain unpaid for one or more years, it is permissible to pay to the county or township collector, one or more full years of back or forfeited taxes, interest prior to forfeiture, statutory costs, printers' fees, and forfeiture interest or penalties, attaching thereto beginning with the earliest year for which the taxes are unpaid. In no case shall payment on account of a designated years' taxes be accepted unless the sums due for prior years have first been paid or are tendered at the same time.
    Any person seeking to make payments under this Section shall notify the county clerk of his or her intention in person or by agent or in writing. If notice is given while the collector has possession of the collector's books, the county clerk shall prepare an addendum to be presented to the collector and attached, by the collector, to the collector's books on which the description of the property involved appears, which addendum shall become a part of the collector's books. If notice is given after the tax sale, but before receipt by the county collector of the current collector's books, the county clerk shall prepare an addendum and attach it to the Tax Judgment, Sale, Redemption, and Forfeiture record, on which the property involved appears, which addendum shall become a part of that record.
    The addendum shall show separately, for the year or years to be paid, (a) the amount of back or forfeited taxes, (b) interest prior to forfeiture, (c) statutory costs and printers' fees, and (d) forfeiture interest or penalties attaching thereto. The county clerk shall, at the same time, order the county or town collector to receive from the person the amount due on account of the taxes, for the year or years determined as provided above, of the back or forfeited taxes, interest prior to forfeiture, statutory costs, printers' fees, and forfeiture interest or penalties to date attaching to the back or forfeited taxes.
    Upon presentation of the order from the county clerk, and receipt of the addendum if the books are in the collector's possession, the collector shall receive the sum tendered on account of the taxes for the year or years designated, and make out duplicate receipts therefor. The receipts shall set forth a description of the property, the year or years paid, and the total amount received. One copy of the receipt shall be given the person making payment and, when countersigned by the county clerk, shall be evidence of the payment therein set forth. The second copy shall be filed by the county clerk in his or her office.
    If the collector's books are in the collector's possession, he or she shall enter the payment on the current collector's books or addendum, and he or she shall also enter any unpaid balance on the Tax Judgment, Sale, Redemption and Forfeiture record at the proper time.
    After the tax sale and before receipt by the county collector of the current collector's books, the county clerk shall make a proper entry on the Tax Judgment, Sale, Redemption and Forfeiture record, and shall charge the county collector with the sum received. The county clerk shall also enter any unpaid balance on the county collector's books at the proper time.
    The county collector shall distribute all sums received as required by law.
(Source: P.A. 76-2254; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-380

    (35 ILCS 200/21-380)
    Sec. 21-380. Redemption under protest. Any person redeeming under this Section at a time subsequent to the filing of a petition under Section 22-30 or 21-445, who desires to preserve his or her right to defend against the petition for a tax deed, shall accompany the deposit for redemption with a writing substantially in the following form:
Redemption Under Protest
Tax Deed Case No. ............................................
Vol. No. .....................................................
Property Index No.
    or Legal Description. ....................................
Original Amount of Tax $. ....................................
Amount Deposited for Redemption $. ...........................
Name of Petitioner. ..........................................
Tax Year Included in Judgment. ...............................
Date of Sale. ................................................
Expiration Date of the Period of Redemption. .................
To the county clerk of ........ County:
    This redemption is made under protest for the following reasons: (here set forth and specify the grounds relied upon for the objection)
Name of party redeeming. .....................................
Address. .....................................................
    Any grounds for the objection not specified at the time of the redemption under protest shall not be considered by the court. The specified grounds for the objections shall be limited to those defenses as would provide sufficient basis to deny entry of an order for issuance of a tax deed. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to authorize or revive any objection to the tax sale or underlying taxes which was estopped by entry of the order for sale as set forth in Section 22-75.
    The person protesting shall present to the county clerk 3 copies of the written protest signed by himself or herself. The clerk shall write or stamp the date of receipt upon the copies and sign them. He or she shall retain one of the copies, another he or she shall deliver to the person making the redemption, who shall file the copy with the clerk of the court in which the tax deed petition is pending, and the third he or she shall forward to the petitioner named therein.
    The county clerk shall enter the redemption as provided in Section 21-230 and shall note the redemption under protest. The redemption money so deposited shall not be distributed to the holder of the certificate of purchase but shall be retained by the county clerk pending disposition of the petition filed under Section 22-30.
    Redemption under protest constitutes the appearance of the person protesting in the proceedings under Sections 22-30 through 22-55 and that person shall present a defense to the petition for tax deed at the time which the court directs. Failure to appear and defend shall constitute a waiver of the protest and the court shall order the redemption money distributed to the holder of the certificate of purchase upon surrender of that certificate and shall dismiss the proceedings.
    When the party redeeming appears and presents a defense, the court shall hear and determine the matter. If the defense is not sustained, the court shall order the protest stricken and direct the county clerk to distribute the redemption money upon surrender of the certificate of purchase and shall order the party redeeming to pay the petitioner reasonable expenses, actually incurred, including the cost of withheld redemption money, together with a reasonable attorneys fee. Upon a finding sustaining the protest in whole or in part, the court may declare the sale to be a sale in error under Section 21-310 or Section 22-45, and shall direct the county clerk to return all or part of the redemption money or deposit to the party redeeming.
(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

35 ILCS 200/21-385

    (35 ILCS 200/21-385)
    Sec. 21-385. Extension of period of redemption.
    (a) For any tax certificates held by a county pursuant to Section 21-90, the redemption period for each tax certificate shall be extended by operation of law until the date established by the county as the redemption deadline in a petition for tax deed filed under Section 22-30. The redemption deadline established in the petition shall be identified in the notices provided under Sections 22-10 through 22-25 of this Code. After a redemption deadline is established in the petition for tax deed, the county may further extend the redemption deadline by filing with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located a written notice to that effect describing the property, identifying the certificate number, and specifying the extended period of redemption. Notwithstanding any expiration of a prior redemption period, all tax certificates forfeited to the county and held pursuant to Section 21-90 shall remain enforceable by the county or its assignee, and redemption shall be extended by operation of law until the date established by the county as the redemption deadline in a petition for tax deed filed under Section 22-30.
    (b) Within 60 days of the date of assignment, assignees of forfeited certificates under Section 21-90 or Section 21-145 of this Code must file with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located a written notice describing the property, stating the date of the assignment, identifying the certificate number and specifying a deadline for redemption that is not later than 3 years from the date of assignment. Upon receiving the notice, the county clerk shall stamp the date of receipt upon the notice. If the notice is submitted as an electronic record, the county clerk shall acknowledge receipt of the record and shall provide confirmation in the same manner to the certificate holder. The confirmation from the county clerk shall include the date of receipt and shall serve as proof that the notice was filed with the county clerk. In no event shall a county clerk permit an assignee of forfeited certificates under Section 21-90 or Section 21-145 of this Code to extend the period of redemption beyond 3 years from the date of assignment. If the redemption period expires and no petition for tax deed has been filed under Section 22-30, the assigned tax certificate shall be forfeited to and held by the county pursuant to Section 21-90.
    (c) Except for the county as trustee pursuant to Section 21-90, the purchaser or his or her assignee of property sold for nonpayment of general taxes or special assessments may extend the period of redemption at any time before the expiration of the original period of redemption, or thereafter prior to the expiration of any extended period of redemption, but only for a period that will expire not later than 3 years from the date of sale, by filing with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located a written notice to that effect describing the property, stating the date of the sale and specifying the extended period of redemption. Upon receiving the notice, the county clerk shall stamp the date of receipt upon the notice. If the notice is submitted as an electronic record, the county clerk shall acknowledge receipt of the record and shall provide confirmation in the same manner to the certificate holder. The confirmation from the county clerk shall include the date of receipt and shall serve as proof that the notice was filed with the county clerk. The county clerk shall not be required to extend the period of redemption unless the purchaser or his or her assignee obtains this acknowledgement of delivery. If prior to the expiration of the period of redemption or extended period of redemption a petition for tax deed has been filed under Section 22-30, upon application of the petitioner, the court shall allow the purchaser or his or her assignee to extend the period of redemption after expiration of the original period or any extended period of redemption, provided that any extension allowed will expire not later than 3 years from the date of sale. If the period of redemption is extended, the purchaser or his or her assignee must give the notices provided for in Section 22-10 at the specified times prior to the expiration of the extended period of redemption by causing a sheriff (or if he or she is disqualified, a coroner) of the county in which the property, or any part thereof, is located to serve the notices as provided in Sections 22-15 and 22-20. The notices may also be served as provided in Sections 22-15 and 22-20 by a special process server appointed by the court under Section 22-15 and as provided in Sections 22-15 and 22-20.
    The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly apply to matters concerning tax certificates issued on or after January 1, 2024.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-390

    (35 ILCS 200/21-390)
    Sec. 21-390. Effect of receipt of redemption money, forfeiture, withdrawal or return of certificate. The receipt of the redemption money on any property by any purchaser or assignee, on account of any forfeiture or withdrawal, or the return of the certificate of purchase, withdrawal or forfeiture for cancellation, shall operate as a release of the claim to the property under, or by virtue of, the purchase, withdrawal or forfeiture. However, when a certificate of purchase has been recorded in the office of the county recorder by any city, incorporated town or village with 1,000,000 or more inhabitants in which the property is situated, the recording of a certificate by the County Clerk, reciting the cancellation of the certificate of purchase on the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record, shall operate as a release of the lien of the city, incorporated town, or village under the certificate of purchase.
(Source: P.A. 83-358; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-395

    (35 ILCS 200/21-395)
    Sec. 21-395. County clerk to pay successor redemption money collected. At the expiration of his or her term of office, the county clerk shall pay over to the successor in office all moneys in his or her hands received for redemption from sale for taxes on property.
(Source: Laws 1939, p. 886; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-397

    (35 ILCS 200/21-397)
    Sec. 21-397. Notice of order setting aside redemption. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, if an order is entered setting aside a redemption made within the time allowed by law after a petition for tax deed has been filed, the holder of the certificate of purchase shall mail a copy of the order within 7 days of entry of the order by registered or certified mail to the county clerk, to the person who made the redemption, and to all parties entitled to notice of the petition under Section 22-10, 22-15, or 22-25. The order shall provide that any person who was entitled to redeem may pay to the county clerk within 30 days after the entry of the order the amount necessary to redeem the property from the sale as of the last day of the period of redemption. The county clerk shall make an entry in the annual tax judgment, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record reflecting the entry of the order and shall immediately upon request provide an estimate of the amount required to effect a redemption as of the last date of the period of redemption. If the amount is paid within 30 days after entry of the order, then the court shall enter an order declaring the taxes to be paid as if the property had been redeemed within the time required by law and dismissing the petition for tax deed. A tax deed shall not be issued within the 30-day period. Upon surrender of the certificate of purchase, the county clerk shall distribute the funds deposited as if a timely redemption had been made. This Section applies to all redemptions that occur after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 91-564, eff. 8-14-99.)

35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 8

 
    (35 ILCS 200/Art. 21 Div. 8 heading)
Division 8. Other procedures

35 ILCS 200/21-400

    (35 ILCS 200/21-400)
    Sec. 21-400. Special assessments withdrawn.
    In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the county clerk, upon request of the city comptroller or other municipal officer authorized by the city council or board of trustees of any city, village or incorporated town to make such request, shall issue to the city, village or incorporated town, a certificate of withdrawal countersigned by the county collector for each property withdrawn for non-payment of any special assessment. The certificate of withdrawal shall describe the property withdrawn, the date of the withdrawal or forfeiture, and the amount of the special assessment, interest and costs.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-405

    (35 ILCS 200/21-405)
    Sec. 21-405. Special assessments withdrawn or forfeited.
    When property has been forfeited for delinquent general taxes or special assessments, a person desiring to purchase the property shall make application to the county clerk. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of $10 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5 in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants for each item on which application is made. The county clerk shall promptly send notice by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the party in whose name the general taxes were last assessed or paid. The notice shall adequately describe the property, shall state the name and address of the party in whose name the general taxes were last assessed or paid, shall recite that application has been made to purchase the property for forfeited taxes or special assessments and that the property will be sold unless redemption is made within 30 days of the mailing of notice. For 30 days after the mailing, the property may be redeemed under Section 21-370.
    If redemption is not made, the county clerk shall receive from the purchaser the amount due on forfeited special assessments, together with the interest, costs and penalties thereon fixed by law, and shall issue an order to the county collector directing him or her to receive from the purchaser the amount of the forfeited general taxes, together with the costs, interest, fees and forfeiture interest provided in Section 21-370. In the order, the county clerk shall recite the amounts received by him or her on account of forfeited special assessments and shall direct the county collector to issue a receipt in the form of a certificate of purchase. Upon presentation of the order of the county clerk, the county collector shall receive the amount due on account of forfeited general taxes, and shall issue a receipt therefor in the form of a certificate of purchase.
    The certificate of purchase shall set forth a description of the property, and the amount paid by the purchaser on account of general taxes and special assessments, and shall be countersigned by the county clerk. When so countersigned, the certificate of purchase shall be evidence of the sale of the property and of the receipt by the county collector of the amounts ordered to be received by him or her by the county clerk on account of general taxes, and evidence of receipt by the county clerk of the amount received by him or her on account of forfeited special assessments. A certificate of purchase shall not be valid until it is countersigned by the county clerk. Upon countersigning the certificate, the county clerk shall make a proper entry of the sale of the property on the appropriate books, and charge the amount of the sale money of forfeited general taxes to the collector.
    Property purchased under this Section shall be subject to redemption, notice, etc., the same as if sold under Section 21-110 through 21-120. Any special assessment which has been withdrawn from collection by the municipality levying it shall not be subject to sale, but the purchaser, prior to the entry of any order for the issuance of a tax deed based on a sale under this Section, shall pay to the officer entitled to receive the amount due on all the withdrawn special assessments. The purchaser may file his or her receipts with the county clerk and have them posted on the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record at the same rate of penalty and in the same manner as in the case of payment of taxes and special assessments accruing after the sale, as provided in Section 21-355.
    This Section does not apply to any application or forfeiture that occurs on or after January 1, 2024.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-410

    (35 ILCS 200/21-410)
    Sec. 21-410. Waste; appointment of receiver. After any sale of property under this Code and until a tax deed has been issued or until redemption has been made, no waste shall be committed on any of the properties involved. The court which ordered the property to be sold may, upon verified petition of the holder of the certificate of purchase, take such action as the court deems necessary and desirable to prevent the commission of waste.
    If the property sold is improved with an abandoned building or structure or if any municipality or other local governmental body has legal action pending because the property violates local building, housing, or fire ordinances, or because the taxes on the property are delinquent for 2 or more years, the court which ordered the property to be sold may, upon verified petition of the holder of the certificate of purchase, enter an order for appointment of a receiver. Notice of the hearing for appointment of the receiver shall be given to the owner or owners of the property and to the person in whose name the taxes were last assessed, by certified or registered mail sent to their last known addresses, at least 5 days prior to the date of the hearing.
    The receiver may take only that action, subject to court approval, as is necessary for the preservation of the property or is necessary to correct conditions at the property that fail to conform to minimum standards of health and safety, as set forth in local ordinances. If a receiver is appointed, all costs and expenses advanced by the receiver shall be repaid as provided for in Section 21-355 before any redemption is considered complete. The receiver shall be discharged upon redemption from the tax sale or upon entry of an order directing issuance of a tax deed. Nothing herein contained is intended to prevent a court from appointing the holder of the certificate of purchase as receiver. The holder of the certificate of purchase shall be made a party to any action or proceeding to demolish or destroy improvements on property where the property has been sold for failure to pay taxes and the period of redemption has not expired.
(Source: P.A. 85-795; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-415

    (35 ILCS 200/21-415)
    Sec. 21-415. Reconveyance. When the grantee of a tax deed issued pursuant to a sale held on or prior to September 1, 1951, or any one claiming thereunder, has not perfected his title in accordance with Section 13-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, it is lawful for the owner of the property or his agent or attorney to pay or tender to the tax title holder the moneys expended by the tax title holder upon the sale with 7% interest per year thereon, together with subsequent taxes and special assessments paid and the statutory fees and costs incurred. When the payment or tender is made the tax title holder shall reconvey the property to the owner thereof. The amount of the tender may be based upon an estimate prepared by the county clerk. However, the county clerk is not required to include any subsequent taxes or special assessments in his certificate of redemption, nor shall the payment thereof be a charge upon the property, unless the purchaser, assignee, or holder of the tax certificate has filed with the county clerk, before redemption, an official, original or duplicate tax collector's receipt for the payment of the subsequent taxes or special assessments, and the tax collector shall execute and furnish such duplicate tax receipts.
    In preparing the estimates, the county clerk shall include, in addition to the amount of moneys herein provided for, the following fees to the tax title holder:
        (a) For preparing the affidavit of compliance with
    
law, $1 in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants and $2 in counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants.
        (b) For service of the notices provided by law, which
    
must be served by holders of certificates of sale, to occupants, owners or parties interested in property sold for taxes, $3 in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants and $5 in counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants for each property listed, assessed and sold in one description.
        (c) The actual cost of recording the tax deed.
    The county clerk may charge $5 for preparing the estimate which shall be prima facie evidence of the amount due the tax title holder.
(Source: P.A. 87-669; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-420

    (35 ILCS 200/21-420)
    Sec. 21-420. Failure to reconvey. Any tax title holder failing or refusing to reconvey the property to the owner on demand after payment or tender or deposit of the amounts due, as provided in Section 21-415, shall be guilty of a petty offense. One-half of the fine shall go to the property owner and one-half to the county.
(Source: P.A. 77-2236; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-425

    (35 ILCS 200/21-425)
    Sec. 21-425. Reconveyance by sheriff. If the grantee of a tax deed, or any one claiming thereunder, fails or refuses to reconvey the property to the owner or owners thereof on demand after payment or tender or deposit of the amount due as provided in Section 21-415, the owner or owners may petition the circuit court in the same proceeding in which the order for issuance of tax deed was entered, asking that the amount of the tender, if not already deposited, may be deposited with the county treasurer and that the sheriff in that county be ordered to reconvey in the name of the holder of the tax title the property to the owner or owners thereof. Notice of the filing of the petition and the date of hearing thereon shall be given as the court may direct. Upon proof that the required amount has been deposited with the county treasurer and that the petitioner has complied with all requirements of law entitling him or her to a reconveyance of the tax title, the court shall enter an order directing the sheriff to reconvey the property in the name of the holder of the tax title to the owner or owners thereof.
    Whenever the tax purchaser makes application to withdraw moneys deposited with the county treasurer he or she shall deliver to the county treasurer a reconveyance of the tax title to the person or persons who made the deposit.
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3718; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-430

    (35 ILCS 200/21-430)
    Sec. 21-430. Partial settlement. In the event an owner or party interested requests to make settlement on a part of the property sold to a municipality, withdrawn from collection or forfeited to the county for the non-payment of special assessments, the municipal officer is hereby authorized to accept the pro rata amount of any or all installments of the special assessment. That amount shall be computed by the board of local improvements, or other board or officer levying the special assessment, together with interest, costs and penalties as provided by law.
    A petition containing the computation shall then be presented by the municipality to the court wherein the original assessment was confirmed. The petition shall bear the same number and title as the original proceeding. At least 10 days before the date set for the hearing of the petition, notices shall be sent by mail, postpaid, to each of the persons who last paid the general taxes on the property originally assessed. The notices shall contain the description of the property as originally assessed, as it is to be divided, and the division of the original assessment, or installments thereof, together with interest, costs and penalties, showing the amount to be charged against each part of the property of land so divided, the date when the petition is to be heard, and the date when objections thereto may be filed.
    An affidavit by one of the members of the board of local improvements, or other board or officer computing the division, attesting to the mailing is prima facie evidence of a compliance with this Section. The court shall proceed to determine a fair and equitable division of the assessment, or any installment thereof, together with all interest, penalties and costs. The court shall order the cancellation of the certificate of sale, withdrawal or forfeiture on any part of the property if settlement is made within 10 days from the date of the court's order.
    The county clerk may note on the certificate the partial cancellation and shall issue a certificate of cancellation on that part of the property and return the certificate to the municipality. Where a certificate of forfeiture or withdrawal has not been issued, the county clerk may accept the Receipt of Deposit for Redemption, issued by the municipal officer, as provided by law, and the clerk shall issue a certificate of cancellation on that part of the property. He or she shall make proper entry on his or her records showing the part of the property on which settlement has been made and the amount due on the balance.
(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)

35 ILCS 200/21-435

    (35 ILCS 200/21-435)
    Sec. 21-435. Duty of county clerk to pay over to municipality. The county clerk shall, within 30 days after they have been collected by him or her, pay over to the office of the municipality entitled to receive them all special assessments, penalties and interest on those special assessments, and statutory costs advanced by the municipality due on account of the redemption or sale of the forfeited property.
(Source: P.A. 76-2254; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-440

    (35 ILCS 200/21-440)
    Sec. 21-440. Action for collection of taxes and special assessments. The county board may, at any time after final judgment and order of sale against delinquent property under Section 21-180, institute a civil action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois in the circuit court for the whole amount due for taxes and special assessments on the delinquent or forfeited property. Any county, city, village, incorporated town, school district or other municipal corporation to which any tax or special assessment is due, may, at any time after final judgment under Section 21-180, institute a civil action in its own name, in the circuit court, for the amount of the tax or special assessment due to it on the delinquent or forfeited property, and prosecute the same to final judgment. On the sale of any property following judgment in the civil action, the county, city, village, incorporated town, school district or other municipal corporation, interested in the collection of the tax, may become purchaser at the sale. If the property so sold is not redeemed the purchaser may acquire, hold, sell or dispose of the title thereto, the same as individuals may do under the laws of this State. In any action for delinquent or forfeited taxes, the fact that property was assessed to a person shall be prima facie evidence that the person was the owner thereof, and was liable for the taxes for the year or years for which the assessment was made. That fact may be proved by the introduction in evidence of the proper assessment book or roll, or other competent proof. Any judgment rendered for delinquent or forfeited general taxes under this Section shall include the costs of the action and reasonable attorney's fees.
(Source: P.A. 86-949; 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/21-445

    (35 ILCS 200/21-445)
    Sec. 21-445. Tax and special assessment foreclosure proceedings. In tax and special assessment foreclosure proceedings, the purchaser or assignee shall file a petition for a deed in the proceeding in which the foreclosure order was entered. Notice of the filing of the petition and of the hearing on the petition shall be given in conformity with rule or practice of court in regard to motions as in other civil actions.
(Source: P.A. 79-1366; 88-455.)