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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 200/21-250

    (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.)