Bill Text: IL HB4537 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Enrolled


Bill Title: Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a county, as trustee, may elect to acquire or sell tax delinquent property. Provides that, when the county, as trustee, files a petition for one or more delinquent tax liens or certificates, the county may request that the court issue a tax deed to the county without holding a judicial tax deed auction. Provides that the Order for Issuance of Tax Deed shall also include an order for the county to offer each parcel acquired by the county in this manner for sale at a public tax deed auction. Contains provisions concerning the public tax deed auction. Provides for the creation of a surplus equity fund and the imposition of a surplus equity fee. Provides that the owner of property who sustains loss or damage by reason of the issuance of a deed at a tax deed auction shall have the right to recover surplus equity that was lost in the property through an award of indemnity. Contains other provisions. Amends the Mobile Home Local Services Tax Enforcement Act. Contains provisions concerning notice if a distressed property is at risk of loss for the non-payment of real estate taxes. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4)

Status: (Passed) 2026-07-10 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0553 [HB4537 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB4537-Enrolled.html

 


 
HB4537 EnrolledLRB104 18570 RTM 32013 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing
5Sections 21-90, 21-110, 21-115, 21-150, 21-160, 21-190,
621-205, 21-215, 21-225, 21-305, 21-310, 21-350, 22-5, 22-10,
722-40, and 22-65 and by adding Sections 1-21, 1-147, 1-148,
821-191, 21-192, 21-296, 21-301, 21-302, and 22-42 as follows:
 
9    (35 ILCS 200/1-21 new)
10    Sec. 1-21. Interested party. "Interested party" means any
11party having an interest in the property as revealed by a title
12examination of public records. "Interested party" does not
13include the holder of the benefit or burden of any easement
14whose interest is properly recorded, which interest shall
15remain unaffected by property tax enforcement proceedings.
 
16    (35 ILCS 200/1-147 new)
17    Sec. 1-147. Tax deed auction. "Tax deed auction" means the
18transfer of property by an auction conducted in accordance
19with Sections 21-90, 22-10, 22-40, or 22-42 of this Code.
 
20    (35 ILCS 200/1-148 new)
21    Sec. 1-148. Tax sale. "Tax sale" means the transfer of a

 

 

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1property tax lien or tax certificate in accordance with
2Sections 21-90, 21-145, 21-205, 21-225, 21-250, or 21-260 of
3this Code.
 
4    (35 ILCS 200/21-90)
5    Sec. 21-90. Purchase and sale by county; distribution of
6proceeds.
7    (a) When any property is offered at a tax for sale under
8any of the provisions of this Code, the county board of the
9county in which the property is located, in its discretion,
10may bid, or, in the case of forfeited property, may apply to
11purchase it or otherwise acquire the tax lien or certificate
12in the name of the county as trustee for all taxing districts
13having an interest in the property's taxes or special
14assessments for the nonpayment of which the property is sold.
15The presiding officer of the county board, with the advice and
16consent of the board, may appoint on its behalf some officer,
17person, or entity to attend such sales, bid on tax liens or
18certificates, and act on behalf of the county when exercising
19its authority under this Section. The county shall apply on
20the bid or purchase the unpaid taxes and special assessments
21due upon the property. No cash need be paid.
22    (b) The county, as trustee for all taxing districts having
23an interest in the property's taxes or special assessments,
24shall be the designated holder of all tax liens or
25certificates that are forfeited to the State or county or

 

 

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1otherwise acquired by the county pursuant to subsection (a) of
2this Section or Sections 21-190 through 21-255 of this Code.
3No cash need be paid for any tax lien or certificate acquired
4by the county pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section or
5Sections 21-190 through 21-255 of this Code the forfeited tax
6lien or certificate.
7    (c) For any tax lien or certificate acquired under
8subsection (a) or (b) of this Section, or for any property
9otherwise purchased or acquired by the county pursuant to
10Sections 21-190 to 21-255 of this Code, the county may take
11steps necessary to acquire or sell title to the property and
12may manage and operate the property, including, but not
13limited to, mowing of grass, removal of nuisance greenery,
14removal of garbage, waste, debris or other materials, or the
15demolition, repair, or remediation of unsafe structures. When
16a county, or other taxing district within the county, is a
17petitioner for a tax deed, no filing fee shall be required.
18When a county or other taxing district within the county is the
19petitioner for a tax deed, one petition may be filed including
20all parcels that are tax delinquent within the county or
21taxing district, and any publication made under Section 22-20
22of this Code may combine all such parcels within a single
23notice. The notice may include the property street address as
24listed on the most recent available tax bills, if available,
25and shall list the Property Index Number of the parcels for
26informational purposes. The county, as tax creditor and as

 

 

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1trustee for other tax creditors, or other taxing district
2within the county, shall not be required to allege and prove
3that all taxes and special assessments which become due and
4payable after the sale or forfeiture to the county have been
5paid nor shall the county be required to pay the subsequently
6accruing taxes or special assessments at any time. The county
7board or its designee may prohibit the county collector from
8including the property in the tax sale of one or more
9subsequent years. The lien of taxes and special assessments
10which become due and payable after a tax sale to a county shall
11merge in the fee title of the county, or other taxing district
12within the county, on the issuance of a deed.
13    The county may sell any property acquired with authority
14provided in this Section, or assign any tax certificate to any
15party, including, but not limited to, taxing districts,
16municipalities, land banks created pursuant to Illinois law,
17or non-profit developers focused on constructing affordable
18housing.
19    The assigned tax certificate shall be void with no further
20rights given to the assignee, including no right to refund or
21reimbursement, if a tax deed resulting from a tax deed auction    
22has not been recorded within 4 years after the date of the
23assignment unless a court extends the assignment period as
24provided in this Section. Upon a motion by the assignee, a
25court may toll the 4-year deadline for a specified period of
26time if the court finds the assignee is prevented from

 

 

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1obtaining or recording a deed by injunction or order of any
2court, by the refusal or inability of any court to act upon the
3application for a tax deed, by a municipality's refusal to
4issue necessary transfer stamps or approvals for recording, or
5by the refusal of the clerk to execute the deed. If an assigned
6tax certificate is void under this Section, it shall be
7forfeited to the county and held as a valid certificate of sale
8in the county's name pursuant to this Section 21-90. The
9proceeds of any sale or assignment under this Section, less
10all costs of the county incurred in the acquisition,
11operation, maintenance, and sale of the property or assignment
12of the tax certificate, including all costs associated with
13county staff and overhead used to perform the duties of the
14trustee set forth in this Section, and less any surplus
15payments to previous owners, shall be distributed to the
16taxing districts in proportion to their respective interests
17therein.
18    Under Sections 21-110, 21-115, 21-120, and 21-190, a
19county may bid or purchase only in the absence of other
20bidders.
21    (d) The county, as trustee, may elect to acquire or sell
22tax delinquent property under either the provisions of this
23Section or under Sections 22-40 and 22-42 of this Code. For any
24tax lien or certificate acquired by a county under this Code,
25the county may take steps necessary to acquire title to the
26property, including a final overbid at the close of any public

 

 

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1tax deed auction or judicial sale conveying title to property
2intended to be developed by a unit of local government.
3    (e) When the county, as trustee, files a petition for one
4or more delinquent tax liens or certificates, the county may
5request, pursuant to Section 22-40, that the court issue a tax
6deed to the county, as trustee, without holding a judicial tax
7deed auction. If the county requests a tax deed without a tax
8deed auction pursuant to Section 22-40 and 22-42 of this Code,
9the Order for Issuance of Tax Deed shall identify the total
10amount of delinquent taxes and penalties, municipal
11advancements identified in Section 22-35, pro rata county
12costs incurred pursuant to subsections (a) through (c) of this
13Section, and other posted costs for each parcel conveyed. This
14judgment amount shall be considered the debt owed to the
15county, as trustee. The Order for Issuance of Tax Deed shall
16also include an order for the county to offer each parcel
17acquired by the county in this manner for sale at a public tax
18deed auction, as set forth in subsection (f) of this Section,
19within 120 days of recording the tax deed. The purpose of the
20public tax deed auction as set forth in subsection (f) of this
21Section is to determine whether and to what extent there are
22surplus funds owed by the county, as trustee, to the former
23owner that exceed the judgment amount indicated in the Order
24for Issuance of Tax Deed. If no party bids more than this
25amount at the public tax deed auction described in subsection
26(f), then the purchase price will be recorded as the amount of

 

 

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1the debt owed to the county, as trustee, as reflected in the
2Order for Issuance of Tax Deed, and there are no surplus funds
3owed to the previous owner.
4    (f) County tax deed auctions. Tax deed auctions held by
5the county pursuant to this Section shall conform with the
6following requirements.
7        (1) Notice. The county or its agent shall give notice
8    of the tax deed auction with the following information:
9            (A) the Property Identification Number and
10        property address listed on the latest tax bill;
11            (B) the time and place of the auction;
12            (C) the terms of the auction; and
13            (D) the total amount of delinquent taxes and
14        penalties, municipal advancements identified in
15        Section 22-35, pro rata county costs incurred pursuant
16        to subsections (a) through (c) of Section 21-90, and
17        other posted costs.
18        In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the
19    notice of tax deed auction shall be in clear and concise
20    language, together with a notice in Spanish, Polish, and
21    Mandarin Chinese, stating that the notice of tax deed
22    auction affects important legal rights and should be
23    translated immediately. In counties with fewer than
24    3,000,000 inhabitants, the notice of tax deed auction may
25    include a notice in one or more foreign languages, stating
26    that the notice of tax deed auction affects important

 

 

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1    legal rights and should be translated immediately. In all
2    counties, the notice of tax deed auction shall be mailed,
3    to the address at which service of process was made, via
4    first class mail to all interested parties and via first
5    class mail and certified mail to the owner of the property
6    at the time the petition was filed. If service of process
7    was made in any manner other than personal service,
8    substitute service, corporate service, or government
9    service, notice shall be mailed via first class mail to
10    all addresses included in the notice served pursuant to
11    Section 22-25. The notice shall include a sworn
12    certificate of service signed by the party sending the
13    notice attesting to the fact that the notice of tax deed
14    auction was placed in the mail at least 30 calendar days
15    prior to the date of the auction. At least 30 days prior to
16    the date of the auction, the county or its agent must post
17    on its website a list of all properties that are to be
18    offered for sale at the tax deed auction and the other
19    information contained in the notice of tax deed auction.
20    The person conducting the auction shall engage in
21    reasonable activities to promote and market the sale to
22    encourage and facilitate bidding, including listing the
23    property on the county's or its agent's website, other
24    real estate websites, and conducting email campaigns.
25        (2) Minimum bid. In counties with 3,000,000 or more
26    inhabitants, the county shall establish minimum bids at

 

 

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1    any tax deed auction held pursuant to this Section. The
2    minimum bid shall equal the total amount of delinquent
3    taxes and penalties, municipal advancements identified in
4    Section 22-35, pro rata county costs incurred pursuant to
5    subsections (a) through (c) of Section 21-90, and other
6    posted costs for the auctioned parcel as identified in the
7    Order for Issuance of Tax Deed. In counties with less than
8    3,000,000 inhabitants, the county may establish minimum
9    bids at any tax deed auction held pursuant to this
10    Section. The minimum bid may equal the total amount of
11    delinquent taxes and penalties, municipal advancements
12    identified in Section 22-35, pro rata county costs
13    incurred pursuant to subsections (a) through (c) of
14    Section 21-90, and other posted costs, for the auctioned
15    parcel, as identified in the Order for Issuance of Tax
16    Deed. As used in this Section, "pro rata county costs" may
17    include costs incurred by the county in filing one
18    petition for more than one delinquent tax lien or
19    certificate, and all costs related to the filing of the
20    one petition and obtaining tax deeds for the liens and
21    certificates identified in the one petition, reasonably
22    apportioned and included in the total costs for each
23    individual tax deed issued pursuant to the petition.
24        (3) Adjournment. If a tax deed auction is postponed,
25    adjourned, or re-scheduled to occur less than 60 days
26    after the last scheduled auction, the county shall

 

 

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1    announce the date, time and place upon which the adjourned
2    tax deed auction shall be held at the time, date, and
3    location in the notice. At a minimum, this announcement
4    shall be posted on the website of the county, as trustee,
5    or the county treasurer in the same location where the
6    county posted the list of all properties that are to be
7    sold at the auction as required in paragraph (1) of
8    subsection (f) of Section 21-90. The county is not
9    required to send additional notice of any postponed tax
10    deed auction as provided in paragraph (1) of subsection
11    (f) of Section 21-90. Notwithstanding any language to the
12    contrary, for tax deed auctions that are conducted more
13    than 60 days after the date in the required notice, the
14    county shall send notice of the adjourned tax deed auction
15    in accordance with paragraph (1) of subsection (f) of
16    Section 21-90.
17        (4) Payment for winning bid. The county shall
18    participate in a public tax deed auction in the same
19    manner as any other bidder. No matter the terms of the tax
20    deed auction prescribed by the county, if the county is
21    the winning bidder, then the county is required to pay the
22    full amount of any county bid that exceeds the debt owed to
23    the county, as identified in subsection (e) of Section
24    21-90 prior to the deposit of surplus funds with the
25    treasurer of the county as set forth in paragraph (6) of
26    this Section.

 

 

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1        (5) Marketability of title. Failure to hold a public
2    tax deed auction of the parcels received within the
3    180-day period shall not affect the validity of the
4    recorded deed, the Order for Issuance of Tax Deed, or
5    otherwise affect the marketability of title, but the
6    county is prohibited from transferring those parcels or
7    assigning the recorded deed without holding a public tax
8    deed auction pursuant to subsection (f) of Section 21-90
9    or a judicial tax deed auction pursuant to Section 22-40.
10        (6) Disbursement of surplus funds. To the extent that
11    the winning bid at the tax deed auction exceeds the amount
12    of the tax deed judgment as defined in subsection (e) of
13    Section 21-90, the county trustee shall, within 30 days of
14    the auction sale, deposit the surplus funds with the
15    treasurer of the county in which the subject property
16    lies. Within 60 days of the tax deed auction at which the
17    property was purchased, the county, as trustee, shall send
18    a notice to interested parties in the underlying case,
19    stating that the previous owner is entitled to a
20    distribution of surplus proceeds and may file a claim
21    pursuant to subsection (i) of Section 22-42. In counties
22    with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the notice shall be in
23    clear and concise language, together with a notice in
24    Spanish, Polish, and Mandarin Chinese, stating that the
25    notice affects important legal rights and should be
26    translated immediately. In counties with fewer than

 

 

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1    3,000,000 inhabitants, the notice may include a notice in
2    one or more foreign languages, stating that the notice
3    affects important legal rights and should be translated
4    immediately.    
5(Source: P.A. 102-363, eff. 1-1-22; 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
6    (35 ILCS 200/21-110)
7    Sec. 21-110. Published notice of annual application for
8judgment and sale; delinquent taxes. At any time after all
9taxes have become delinquent in any year, the Collector shall
10publish an advertisement, giving notice of the intended
11application for judgment and tax sale of the delinquent
12properties. The advertisement may include the property street    
13address on file with the county collector, if available, and
14shall include the PIN number of each delinquent property. If
15the county has provided notice to the Collector of its intent
16to acquire property offered at an annual tax sale in the manner
17described in subsection (b) of Section 21-190, the
18advertisement shall indicate which properties the county
19intends to acquire next to the PIN number and address, if any,
20listed in the advertisement. If the county has indicated its
21intent or is required to acquire all properties offered at
22such a tax sale in accordance with subsection (b) or (c) of
23Section 21-190, a sentence indicating such shall precede the
24list of PIN numbers and addresses in the advertisement in
25clear, bolded language. Except as provided below, the

 

 

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1advertisement shall be in a newspaper published in the
2township or road district in which the properties are located.
3If there is no newspaper published in the township or road
4district, then the notice shall be published in some newspaper
5in the same county as the township or road district, to be
6selected by the county collector. When the property is in a
7city with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants, the advertisement
8may be in any newspaper published in the same county. When the
9property is in an incorporated town which has superseded a
10civil township, the advertisement shall be in a newspaper
11published in the incorporated town or if there is no such
12newspaper, then in a newspaper published in the county.
13    The provisions of this Section relating to the time when
14the Collector shall advertise intended application for
15judgment for sale are subject to modification by the governing
16authority of a county in accordance with the provisions of
17subsection (c) of Section 21-40.
18(Source: P.A. 97-557, eff. 7-1-12.)
 
19    (35 ILCS 200/21-115)
20    Sec. 21-115. Times of publication of notice. The
21advertisement shall be published once at least 10 days before
22the day on which judgment is to be applied for, and shall
23contain a list of the delinquent properties upon which the
24taxes or any part thereof remain due and unpaid, the names of
25owners, if known, the total amount due, and the year or years

 

 

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1for which they are due, and whether the county intends to
2purchase the property in accordance with subsections (b) or
3(c) of Section 21-190 if a judgment is entered against the
4property. In counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants,
5advertisement shall include notice of the registration
6requirement for persons bidding at the sale. Properties upon
7which taxes have been paid in full under protest shall not be
8included in the list.
9    The collector shall give notice that he or she will apply
10to the circuit court on a specified day for judgment against
11the properties for the taxes, and costs, and for an order for a
12tax sale of to sell the properties for the satisfaction of the
13amount due.
14    The collector shall also give notice of a date within the
15next 5 business days after the date of application on which all
16the properties for the tax sale of which an order is made will
17either be sold to the county in accordance with subsections
18(b) or (c) of Section 21-190 or be exposed to public tax sale
19at a location within the county designated by the county
20collector, for the amount of taxes, and cost due. The
21advertisement published according to the provisions of this
22Section shall be deemed to be sufficient notice of the
23intended application for judgment and of a tax sale the sale of
24properties under the order of the court. A county with fewer
25than 3,000,000 inhabitants may, by joint agreement, combine
26its tax sale with the tax sale of one or more other contiguous

 

 

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1counties; such a joint tax sale shall be held at a location in
2one of the participating counties. Notwithstanding the
3provisions of this Section and Section 21-110, in the 10 years
4following the completion of a general reassessment of property
5in any county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, made under
6an order of the Department, the publication shall be made not
7sooner than 10 days nor more than 90 days after the date when
8all unpaid taxes on property have become delinquent.
9(Source: P.A. 101-379, eff. 1-1-20.)
 
10    (35 ILCS 200/21-150)
11    Sec. 21-150. Time of applying for judgment. Except as
12otherwise provided in this Section or by ordinance or
13resolution enacted under subsection (c) of Section 21-40, in
14any county with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, all
15applications for judgment and order of sale for taxes and
16special assessments on delinquent properties shall be made
17within 90 days after the second installment due date. In Cook
18County, all applications for judgment and order of sale for
19taxes and special assessments on delinquent properties shall
20be made (i) by July 1, 2011 for tax year 2009, (ii) by July 1,
212012 for tax year 2010, (iii) by July 1, 2013 for tax year
222011, (iv) by July 1, 2014 for tax year 2012, (v) by July 1,
232015 for tax year 2013, (vi) by May 1, 2016 for tax year 2014,
24(vii) by March 1, 2017 for tax year 2015, (viii) by April 1 of
25the next calendar year after the second installment due date

 

 

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1for tax year 2016 and 2017, and (ix) within 365 days of the
2second installment due date for each tax year thereafter.
3    Notwithstanding these dates, in Cook County, the
4application for judgment and order of sale for the 2018 annual
5tax sale that would normally be held in calendar year 2020
6shall not be filed earlier than the first day of the first
7month during which there is no longer a statewide COVID-19
8public health emergency, as evidenced by an effective disaster
9declaration of the Governor covering all counties in the
10State, except that in no event may this application for
11judgment and order of sale be filed later than October 1, 2021.
12When a tax sale is delayed because of a statewide COVID-19
13public health emergency, no subsequent annual tax sale may
14begin earlier than 180 days after the last day of the prior
15delayed tax sale, and no scavenger tax sale may begin earlier
16than 90 days after the last day of the prior delayed tax sale.
17In those counties which have adopted an ordinance under
18Section 21-40, the application for judgment and order of sale
19for delinquent taxes shall be made in December.
20    Notwithstanding these dates, in Cook County, the
21application for judgment and order of sale for the 2023 annual
22tax sale that would normally be held in calendar year 2025
23shall be filed on or before December 1, 2026. Notwithstanding
24Sections 9-260, 18-250, 20-100, 21-15, 21-25, and 21-45, in
25Cook County, interest shall not accrue between September 2,
262025 and January 1, 2027 on delinquent warrant year 2023 tax

 

 

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1balances.
2    Notwithstanding these dates, in Cook County, the
3application for judgment and order of sale for the 2024 annual
4tax sale that would normally be held in calendar year 2026
5shall be filed on or before April 1, 2027.    
6    In the 10 years next following the completion of a general
7reassessment of property in any county with 3,000,000 or more
8inhabitants, made under an order of the Department,
9applications for judgment and order of sale shall be made as
10soon as may be and on the day specified in the advertisement
11required by Section 21-110 and 21-115. If for any cause the
12court is not held on the day specified, the cause shall stand
13continued, and it shall be unnecessary to re-advertise the
14list or notice.
15    Within 30 days after the day specified for the application
16for judgment the court shall hear and determine the matter. If
17judgment is rendered, the sale shall begin on the date within 5
18business days specified in the notice as provided in Section
1921-115. If the collector is prevented from advertising and
20obtaining judgment within the time periods specified by this
21Section, the collector may obtain judgment at any time
22thereafter; but if the failure arises by the county
23collector's not complying with any of the requirements of this
24Code, he or she shall be held on his or her official bond for
25the full amount of all taxes and special assessments charged
26against him or her. Any failure on the part of the county

 

 

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1collector shall not be allowed as a valid objection to the
2collection of any tax or assessment, or to entry of a judgment
3against any delinquent properties included in the application
4of the county collector.
5    As used in this Section, "warrant year" means the year
6preceding the calendar year in which the taxes first became
7due and payable.
8(Source: P.A. 104-6, eff. 6-16-25; 104-460, eff. 2-27-26.)
 
9    (35 ILCS 200/21-160)
10    Sec. 21-160. Annual tax judgment, sale, redemption, and
11forfeiture record. The collector shall transcribe into a
12record prepared for that purpose, and known as the annual tax
13judgment, tax sale, redemption and forfeiture record, the list
14of delinquent properties. On or before the day on which
15application for judgment is to be made, the record shall be
16made out in numerical order and contain all the information
17necessary to be recorded.
18    The record shall set forth the name of the owner, if known;
19the description of the property; the year or years for which
20the tax or, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants,
21the tax or special assessments is due; the valuation on which
22the tax is extended; the amount of the consolidated and other
23taxes or in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the
24consolidated and other taxes and special assessments; the
25costs; and the total amount of charges against the property.

 

 

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1    The final record shall also be ruled in columns, to show in
2counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants the withdrawal of
3any special assessments from collection and in all counties to
4show the amount paid before entry of judgment; the amount of
5judgment and a column for remarks; the amount paid before sale
6and after entry of judgment; the amount of the sale; amount of
7interest or penalty; amount of cost; amount forfeited to the
8State; date of sale; acres or part sold; name of purchaser;
9amount of sale and penalty; taxes of succeeding years;
10interest and when paid, interest and cost; total amount of
11redemption; date of redemption; when deed executed; by whom
12redeemed; and a column for remarks or receipt of redemption
13money.
14    The final record shall be kept in the office of the county
15clerk.
16(Source: P.A. 95-269, eff. 8-17-07.)
 
17    (35 ILCS 200/21-190)
18    Sec. 21-190. Entry of judgment for tax sale.     
19    (a) If judgment is rendered against any property for any
20tax or, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, for
21any tax or special assessment, the county collector shall,
22after publishing a notice for sale in compliance with the
23requirements of Sections 21-110, and 21-115, or 21-120,
24proceed to conduct a tax sale offer the property for sale    
25pursuant to the judgment. However, in the case of an appeal

 

 

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1from the judgment, if the party, when filing notice of appeal
2deposits with the county collector the amount of the judgment
3and costs, the collector shall not conduct a tax sale sell the
4property until the appeal is disposed of.
5    (b) In counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, a
6county board may, in its discretion, submit to the collector a
7list of any properties for which an application for judgment
8has been made pursuant to Section 21-150 of this Code. The
9county's submission of this list shall be considered its offer
10to purchase the property or properties included on this list
11at the tax sale, pursuant to the county's authority in
12subsection (a) of Section 21-90, so long as a judgment and
13order for tax sale is entered for the property in accordance
14with Sections 21-175 and 21-180 of this Code. Such list shall
15be submitted to the county collector at least 10 days prior to
16the publication of any notice for tax sale required in
17subsection (a) of this Section and in compliance with Sections
1821-110, 21-115, and 21-120 of this Code.
19    (c) In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, for
20the seventh tax sale conducted after the effective date of
21this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly and for all
22subsequent tax sales, the county shall exercise its authority
23under subsection (a) of Section 21-90 of this Code and offer to
24purchase or otherwise acquire for the total tax amount due all
25properties offered at a tax sale conducted pursuant to a
26judgment and order for tax sale issued in accordance with

 

 

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1Sections 21-175 and 21-180 of this Code. For the first 6 tax
2sales conducted after the effective date of this amendatory
3Act of the 104th General Assembly, except as provided in
4Section 21-191, the county shall not exercise its authority
5under subsection (a) of Section 21-90 and offer to purchase or
6otherwise acquire for the total tax amount due all properties
7offered at a tax sale.    
8(Source: P.A. 79-451; 88-455.)
 
9    (35 ILCS 200/21-191 new)
10    Sec. 21-191. Pilot program for acquisition of tax
11certificates in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants.
12    (a) In a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the
13county board may elect, by ordinance or resolution, to
14participate in a pilot program under this Section.    
15    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of Section 21-190, a
16county that elects to participate in the pilot program may
17acquire, as trustee under Section 21-90, tax certificates for
18up to 100 properties offered at an annual tax sale. Those
19properties must meet the following conditions in the tax year
20for which that sale's judgment and order of sale was rendered:    
21        (1) the property received a homestead exemption; and    
22        (2) the total tax amount billed on the property was
23    among the 100 lowest total tax amounts billed prior to
24    adjustment by homestead exemptions.    
25    (c) Not less than 30 days prior to the annual tax sale, the

 

 

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1county shall publish on its website and deliver to the county
2clerk and county treasurer a list of the properties proposed
3for acquisition under this Section. The list shall identify
4each parcel by Permanent Index Number and commonly known
5property address, if available, and shall state that the
6parcel is proposed for acquisition under this Section.    
7    (d) This Section applies to the first 6 tax sales to occur
8in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants on or after the
9effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General
10Assembly.    
 
11    (35 ILCS 200/21-192 new)
12    Sec. 21-192. Pilot program report.
13    (a) A county that participates in the pilot program under
14Section 21-191 shall submit an annual report to the General
15Assembly and the Department of Revenue no later than the third
16Wednesday of February of each year in which there is
17information to report under subsection (b) from the
18immediately preceding calendar year.    
19    (b) Each report shall include, at a minimum:    
20        (1) the number of tax certificates acquired under the
21    pilot program;
22        (2) the number of tax certificates offered to the
23    private market at each annual tax sale covered by the
24    pilot program;
25        (3) the number of pilot tax certificates acquired that

 

 

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1    were redeemed;
2        (4) the number of pilot tax certificates for which tax
3    deeds were issued;
4        (5) the number of pilot tax certificates offered at
5    tax deed auction;
6        (6) the amount of surplus proceeds returned to owners
7    or other lawful claimants as result of pilot tax
8    certificates for which tax deeds were issued;
9        (7) the amount remitted to taxing districts as a
10    result of redemption payments on pilot tax certificates;
11        (8) the amount remitted to taxing districts as a
12    result of tax deed auctions of pilot tax certificates;
13        (9) the administrative costs associated with the pilot
14    program; and
15        (10) any additional information the county elects to
16    provide.    
17    (c) If, in any calendar year, there is no change in the
18information described in subsection (b), then the report for
19that calendar year shall indicate that there is no change.
20Once all of the issues described in subsection (b) have been
21resolved with respect to each pilot tax certificate, the
22county shall submit a final report to the General Assembly and
23the Department of Revenue summarizing the information
24described in subsection (b).    
 
25    (35 ILCS 200/21-205)

 

 

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1    Sec. 21-205. Tax sale procedures.     
2    (a) The collector, in person or by deputy, shall attend,
3on the day and in the place specified in the notice for the tax
4sale sale of property for taxes, and shall, between 9:00 a.m.
5and 4:00 p.m., or later at the collector's discretion, proceed
6to offer for sale, separately and in consecutive order, all
7property in the list on which the taxes, special assessments,
8interest or costs have not been paid. However, in any county
9with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the offer for sale shall
10be made between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The collector's office
11shall be kept open during all hours in which the sale is in
12progress. The tax sale shall be continued from day to day,
13until all property in the delinquent list has been offered for
14sale. However, any city, village or incorporated town
15interested in the collection of any tax or special assessment,
16may, in default of bidders, withdraw from collection the
17special assessment levied against any property by the
18corporate authorities of the city, village or incorporated
19town. In case of a withdrawal, there shall be no sale of that
20property on account of the delinquent special assessment
21thereon.
22    (b) Until January 1, 2013, in every tax sale of property
23pursuant to the provisions of this Code, the collector may
24employ any automated means that the collector deems
25appropriate. Beginning on January 1, 2013, either (i) the
26collector shall employ an automated bidding system that is

 

 

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1programmed to accept the lowest redemption price bid by an
2eligible tax purchaser, subject to the penalty percentage
3limitation set forth in Section 21-215, or (ii) all tax sales
4shall be digitally recorded with video and audio. All bidders
5are required to personally attend the tax sale and, if
6automated means are used, all hardware and software used with
7respect to those automated means must be certified by the
8Department and re-certified by the Department every 5 years.
9If the tax sales are digitally recorded and no automated
10bidding system is used, then the recordings shall be
11maintained by the collector for a period of at least 3 years
12from the date of the tax sale. The changes made by this
13amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly are declarative of
14existing law.
15    (b-5) For any annual tax sale conducted on or after the
16effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
17Assembly, each county collector in a county with 275,000 or
18more inhabitants shall adopt a single bidder rule sufficient
19to prohibit a tax purchaser from registering more than one
20related bidding entity at the tax sale. The corporate
21authorities in any county with less than 275,000 inhabitants
22may, by ordinance, allow the county collector of that county
23to adopt such a single bidder rule. In any county that has
24adopted a single bidder rule under this subsection (b-5), the
25county treasurer shall include a representation and warranty
26form in each registration package attesting to compliance with

 

 

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1the single bidder rule, except that the county may, by
2ordinance, opt out of this representation and warranty form
3requirement. A single bidder rule under this subsection may be
4in the following form:
5        (1) A registered tax buying entity (principal) may
6    only have one registered buyer at the tax sale and may not
7    have a related bidding entity directly or indirectly
8    register as a buyer or participate in the tax sale. A
9    registered tax buying entity may not engage in any
10    multiple bidding strategy for the purpose of having more
11    than one related bidding entity submit bids at the tax
12    sale.
13        (2) A related bidding entity is defined as any
14    individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
15    limited liability company, business organization, or other
16    entity that has a shareholder, partner, principal,
17    officer, general partner, or other person or entity having
18    (i) an ownership interest in a bidding entity in common
19    with any other registered participant in the tax sale or
20    (ii) a common guarantor in connection with a source of
21    financing with any other registered participant in the tax
22    sale. The determination of whether registered entities are
23    related so as to prohibit those entities from submitting
24    duplicate bids in violation of the single bidder rule is
25    at the sole and exclusive discretion of the county
26    treasurer or his or her designated representatives.

 

 

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1    (c) County collectors may, when applicable, eject tax
2bidders who disrupt the tax sale or use illegal bid practices.
3    (d) Any property to be acquired by a county in the manner
4described in subsections (b) or (c) of Section 21-190 shall
5not be offered for sale in the manner detailed in subsections
6(a) through (c) of this Section. Instead, all such property
7shall be sold to the county for the total amount due on the day
8of the scheduled tax sale in whatever manner is deemed most
9expedient and efficient by the collector's office. For any
10properties acquired by the county as described in subsections
11(b) or (c) of Section 21-190 that are subsequently sold at a
12tax deed auction in accordance with this Code, any amounts
13generated in cash from such tax deed auction shall be
14distributed to taxing districts in the manner described in
15subsection (c) of Section 21-90 and subsection (3) of Section
1622-42.    
17(Source: P.A. 102-519, eff. 8-20-21.)
 
18    (35 ILCS 200/21-215)
19    Sec. 21-215. Penalty bids.     
20    (a) Subject to subsection (b) of this Section, the The    
21person at the sale offering to pay the amount due on each
22property for the least penalty percentage shall be the
23purchaser of that property. No bid shall be accepted for a
24penalty exceeding 9% of the amount of the tax or special
25assessment on property.

 

 

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1    (b) If the county offers to purchase property for the
2amount due in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of
3Section 21-190, the county shall be the purchaser of the
4property notwithstanding any other offer. Subject to a payment
5plan implemented by the county clerk in accordance with
6subsection (d) of Section 21-385, the penalty bid for any
7property purchased by a county in this manner shall be 0.75%
8per month.    
9(Source: P.A. 102-363, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
10    (35 ILCS 200/21-225)
11    Sec. 21-225. Forfeited tax liens and certificates. Every
12tax lien or certificate for property offered at public tax    
13sale, and not sold for want of bidders, unless it is released
14from tax sale by the withdrawal from collection of a special
15assessment levied thereon, shall be forfeited to the county,
16as trustee for the taxing districts, and managed pursuant to
17Section 21-90. Tax certificates are also forfeited to the
18county in those circumstances described in subsection (d) of
19Section 21-310 and subsection (f) of Section 22-40 of this
20Code.
21(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
22    (35 ILCS 200/21-296 new)
23    Sec. 21-296. Creation of surplus equity fund.
24    (a) In counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, each

 

 

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1person purchasing any property at a sale under this Code shall
2pay to the county collector, prior to the issuance of any
3certificate of purchase, a nonrefundable surplus equity fee
4set by the county collector of not more than $20 for each item
5purchased. A like sum shall be paid for each year that all or a
6portion of subsequent taxes are paid by the tax purchaser and
7posted to the tax judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture
8record where the underlying certificate of purchase is
9recorded.    
10    (a-5) In counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, each
11person purchasing property at a sale under this Code shall pay
12to the county collector a nonrefundable surplus equity fee of
135% of the total taxes, interest, and penalties for each
14certificate purchased, with a maximum fee cap of $1,000, plus
15an additional sum equal to 5% of the taxes, interest, and
16penalties paid under Section 21-240. In these counties, the
17certificate holder shall also pay to the county collector a
18fee of $80 for each year that all or a portion of subsequent
19taxes are paid by the tax purchaser and posted to the tax
20judgment, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record.    
21    (b) The amount paid prior to the issuance of the
22certificate of purchase under subsection (a) or (a-5) shall be
23included in the purchase price of the property in the
24certificate of purchase, and all amounts paid under this
25Section shall be included in the amount required to redeem
26under Section 21-355, except for the nonrefundable fee for

 

 

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1each item purchased at the tax sale as provided in this
2Section. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of
3Section 21-301, all money received under subsection (a) or
4(a-5) shall be paid by the collector to the county treasurer of
5the county in which the land is situated for the purpose of a
6surplus equity fund. The county treasurer, as trustee of that
7fund, shall invest all of that fund, principal and income, in
8his or her hands from time to time, if not immediately required
9for payments of surplus equity under Section 21-302, in
10investments permitted by the Public Funds Investment Act.    
 
11    (35 ILCS 200/21-301 new)
12    Sec. 21-301. Amount to be retained in surplus equity fund.
13    (a) The county board in each county shall determine the
14amount of the fund to be maintained in that county until all
15potential claims under Section 21-302 have been paid. Any
16moneys accumulated by the County Treasurer in excess of the
17amount so established, as trustee of the fund, shall be paid by
18him or her to the general fund of the County once all potential
19claims under Section 21-302 have been paid.    
20    (b) In counties in which a Tort Liability Fund is
21established, all sums of money received under subsection (a)
22of Section 21-296 may be deposited into the general fund of the
23county for general county governmental purposes, if the county
24board provides by ordinance that the surplus equity required
25by this Section shall be provided by the Tort Liability Fund.    
 

 

 

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1    (35 ILCS 200/21-302 new)
2    Sec. 21-302. Payments of surplus equity.
3    (a) A previous owner of property sold under any provision
4of this Code who sustains loss or damage by reason of the
5issuance of a tax deed shall have the right to recover surplus
6equity that was lost in the property through an award from a
7surplus equity fund as follows:
8        (1) For tax deeds recorded in the 2 years prior to the
9    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General
10    Assembly, the claim for an equity award under this Section
11    shall be filed not later than 2 years after the effective
12    date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.
13        (2) For outstanding tax certificates issued prior to
14    the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th
15    General Assembly that result in recorded deeds after the
16    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General
17    Assembly, the claim for an equity award shall be filed not
18    later than 2 years from the date of deed recording.
19        (3) The equity award shall be limited to the value of
20    the property as of the date the tax deed was issued less
21    any mortgages or liens on the property.
22        (4) In determining the fair cash value of property
23    less any mortgages or liens on the property, the value
24    shall be reduced by the amount of all taxes paid by the tax
25    purchaser or his or her assignee before the issuance of

 

 

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1    the tax deed, or if the tax certificate was acquired
2    pursuant to Section 21-90, the value shall be reduced by
3    the amount of all taxes included in the certificate, plus
4    the amount of subsequent, forfeited, or sold taxes
5    excluded from payment or redemption under subsection (a)
6    of Section 22-40 when the county or its agent, as trustee
7    pursuant to Section 21-90, is the tax deed petitioner. The
8    fair cash value shall also be reduced by the amount of any
9    taxes that were merged into the tax deed pursuant to
10    subsection (b) of Section 22-40. The value shall also be
11    reduced by any amount received by the petitioner as a
12    result of an auction held under Section 22-40 or 21-90.
13    The court, in its discretion, may order the joinder of the
14    mortgagee or lienholder as an additional party to the
15    surplus equity action.
16    (b) The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall
17apply to proceedings under the petition, except that neither
18the petitioner nor the county treasurer shall be entitled to
19trial by jury on the issues presented in the petition.    
20    Any person claiming surplus equity under this Section
21shall petition the court that ordered the tax deed to issue,
22shall name the county treasurer, as trustee of the surplus
23equity fund, as defendant to the petition, and shall ask that
24judgment be entered against the county treasurer, as trustee,
25in the amount of the surplus equity sought.    
26    The county treasurer, as trustee of the surplus equity

 

 

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1fund, shall be so subrogated to all parties in whose favor
2judgment may be rendered against him or her, and by third party
3complaint may bring in as a defendant any person, other than
4the tax deed grantee and its successors in title, not a party
5to the action who is or may be liable to him or her, as
6subrogee, for all or part of the petitioner's claim against
7him or her.    
8    (c) Any contract involving the proceeds of a judgment for
9surplus equity under this Section, between the tax deed
10grantee or its successors in title and the surplus equity
11petitioner or his or her successors, shall be in writing. In
12any action brought under Section 21-302, the collector shall
13be entitled to discovery regarding, but not limited to, the
14following:    
15        (1) the identity of all persons beneficially
16    interested in the contract, directly or indirectly,
17    including at least the following information: the names
18    and addresses of any natural persons; the place of
19    incorporation of any corporation and the names and
20    addresses of its shareholders, unless it is publicly held;
21    the names and addresses of all general and limited
22    partners of any partnership; the names and addresses of
23    all persons having an ownership interest in any entity
24    doing business under an assumed name and the county in
25    which the assumed business name is registered; and the
26    nature and extent of the interest in the contract of each

 

 

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1    person identified;    
2        (2) the time period during which the contract was
3    negotiated and agreed upon, from the date of the first
4    direct or indirect contact between any of the contracting
5    parties to the date of its execution;    
6        (3) the name and address of each natural person who
7    took part in negotiating the contract and the identity and
8    relationship of the party that the person represented in
9    the negotiations; and    
10        (4) the existence of an agreement for payment of
11    attorney's fees by or on behalf of each party.
12    Any information disclosed during discovery may be subject
13to protective order as deemed appropriate by the court. The
14terms of the contract shall not be used as evidence of value.    
15    (d) No previous owner shall be entitled to an award of
16surplus equity pursuant to this Section who was awarded a
17refund of surplus equity on the same property from an auction
18held under Section 22-40 or 21-90 or who previously petitioned
19successfully for indemnity from the indemnity fund on the same
20property under Section 21-305. Any amount awarded under this
21Section shall be subject to an offset in an amount equal to the
22amount recovered in any similar filing or cause of action
23against the county.    
24    (e) If the surplus equity fund does not have sufficient
25funds to cover any surplus equity award ordered pursuant to
26Section 21-302, the county shall fund the balance necessary to

 

 

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1satisfy the unpaid surplus equity award pursuant to Section
221-302 within 12 months after the date of the court order
3awarding surplus equity.    
 
4    (35 ILCS 200/21-305)
5    Sec. 21-305. Payments from Indemnity Fund.
6    (a) Any owner of property sold under any provision of this
7Code who sustains loss or damage by reason of the issuance of a
8tax deed under Section 21-445 or 22-40 and who is barred or is
9in any way precluded from bringing an action for the recovery
10of the property shall have the right to indemnity for the loss
11or damage sustained, limited as follows:    
12        (1) An owner who resided on property that contained 4
13    or less dwelling units on the last day of the period of
14    redemption and who is equitably entitled to compensation
15    for the loss or damage sustained has the right to
16    indemnity. An equitable indemnity award shall be limited
17    to the fair cash value of the property as of the date the
18    tax deed was issued less any mortgages or liens on the
19    property, and the award will not exceed $99,000. The Court
20    shall liberally construe this equitable entitlement
21    standard to provide compensation wherever, in the
22    discretion of the Court, the equities warrant the action.    
23        An owner of a property that contained 4 or less
24    dwelling units who requests an award in excess of $99,000
25    must prove that the loss of his or her property was not

 

 

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1    attributable to his or her own fault or negligence before
2    an award in excess of $99,000 will be granted.    
3        (2) An owner who sustains the loss or damage of any
4    property occasioned by reason of the issuance of a tax
5    deed, without fault or negligence of his or her own, has
6    the right to indemnity limited to the fair cash value of
7    the property less any mortgages or liens on the property.
8    In determining the existence of fault or negligence, the
9    court shall consider whether the owner exercised ordinary
10    reasonable diligence under all of the relevant
11    circumstances.    
12        (3) In determining the fair cash value of property
13    less any mortgages or liens on the property, the fair cash
14    value shall be reduced by the principal amount of all
15    taxes paid by the tax purchaser or his or her assignee
16    before the issuance of the tax deed, or if the tax
17    certificate was acquired pursuant to Section 21-90, the
18    fair cash value shall be reduced by the principal amount
19    of all taxes for the tax years included in the
20    certificate, plus the principal amount of subsequent,
21    forfeited, or sold taxes excluded from the payment or
22    redemption requirement of Section 22-40(a) when the county
23    or its agent is the tax deed petitioner.    
24        (4) If an award made under paragraph (1) or (2) is
25    subject to a reduction by the amount of an outstanding
26    mortgage or lien on the property, other than the principal

 

 

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1    amount of all taxes paid by the tax purchaser or his or her
2    assignee before the issuance of the tax deed and the
3    petitioner would be personally liable to the mortgagee or
4    lienholder for all or part of that reduction amount, the
5    court shall order an additional indemnity award to be paid
6    directly to the mortgagee or lienholder sufficient to
7    discharge the petitioner's personal liability. The court,
8    in its discretion, may order the joinder of the mortgagee
9    or lienholder as an additional party to the indemnity
10    action.
11    (b) Indemnity fund; subrogation.    
12        (1) Any person claiming indemnity hereunder shall
13    petition the Court which ordered the tax deed to issue,
14    shall name the County Treasurer, as Trustee of the
15    indemnity fund, as defendant to the petition, and shall
16    ask that judgment be entered against the County Treasurer,
17    as Trustee, in the amount of the indemnity sought. The
18    provisions of the Civil Practice Law shall apply to
19    proceedings under the petition, except that neither the
20    petitioner nor County Treasurer shall be entitled to trial
21    by jury on the issues presented in the petition. The Court
22    shall liberally construe this Section to provide
23    compensation wherever in the discretion of the Court the
24    equities warrant such action.    
25        (2) The County Treasurer, as Trustee of the indemnity
26    fund, shall be subrogated to all parties in whose favor

 

 

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1    judgment may be rendered against him or her, and by third
2    party complaint may bring in as a defendant any person,
3    other than the tax deed grantee and its successors in
4    title, not a party to the action who is or may be liable to
5    him or her, as subrogee, for all or part of the
6    petitioner's claim against him or her.
7    (c) Any contract involving the proceeds of a judgment for
8indemnity under this Section, between the tax deed grantee or
9its successors in title and the indemnity petitioner or his or
10her successors, shall be in writing. In any action brought
11under Section 21-305, the Collector shall be entitled to
12discovery regarding, but not limited to, the following:    
13        (1) the identity of all persons beneficially
14    interested in the contract, directly or indirectly,
15    including at least the following information: the names
16    and addresses of any natural persons; the place of
17    incorporation of any corporation and the names and
18    addresses of its shareholders unless it is publicly held;
19    the names and addresses of all general and limited
20    partners of any partnership; the names and addresses of
21    all persons having an ownership interest in any entity
22    doing business under an assumed name, and the county in
23    which the assumed business name is registered; and the
24    nature and extent of the interest in the contract of each
25    person identified;    
26        (2) the time period during which the contract was

 

 

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1    negotiated and agreed upon, from the date of the first
2    direct or indirect contact between any of the contracting
3    parties to the date of its execution;    
4        (3) the name and address of each natural person who
5    took part in negotiating the contract, and the identity
6    and relationship of the party that the person represented
7    in the negotiations; and    
8        (4) the existence of an agreement for payment of
9    attorney's fees by or on behalf of each party.
10    Any information disclosed during discovery may be subject
11to protective order as deemed appropriate by the court. The
12terms of the contract shall not be used as evidence of value.
13    (d) A petition of indemnity under this Section must be
14filed within 10 years after the date the tax deed was issued.
15    (e) No previous owner shall be entitled to an award of
16indemnity pursuant to this Section 21-305 who was awarded a
17refund of surplus equity from an auction held under Section
1822-40 or 21-90 or who was previously awarded a refund from the
19surplus equity fund under Section 21-302.    
20(Source: P.A. 97-557, eff. 7-1-12.)
 
21    (35 ILCS 200/21-310)
22    Sec. 21-310. Sales in error.
23    (a) When, upon application of the county collector, the
24owner of the certificate of purchase, the holder of a 5% lien
25issued pursuant to Section 21-240, or a municipality which

 

 

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1owns or has owned the property ordered sold, it appears to the
2satisfaction of the court which ordered the property sold that
3any of the following subsections are applicable, the court
4shall declare the sale to be a sale in error:
5        (1) the property was not subject to taxation, or all
6    or any part of the lien of taxes sold has become null and
7    void pursuant to Section 21-95 or unenforceable pursuant
8    to subsection (c) of Section 18-250 or subsection (b) of
9    Section 22-40;
10        (2) the taxes or special assessments had been paid
11    prior to the sale of the property;
12        (3) there is a double assessment;
13        (4) the description is void for uncertainty;
14        (5) the assessor, chief county assessment officer,
15    board of review, board of appeals, or other county
16    official has made an error material to the tax certificate
17    at issue (other than an error of judgment as to the value
18    of any property), provided, however, that a sale in error
19    may not be declared upon application of the owner of the
20    certificate of purchase under this paragraph (5) if the
21    county collector provided notice in accordance with
22    Section 21-118 that the same property received a previous
23    sale in error on the same facts;
24        (5.5) the owner of the homestead property had tendered
25    timely and full payment to the county collector that the
26    owner reasonably believed was due and owing on the

 

 

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1    homestead property, and the county collector did not apply
2    the payment to the homestead property; provided that this
3    provision applies only to homeowners, not their agents or
4    third-party payors;
5        (6) a voluntary or involuntary petition was filed by
6    or against the legal or beneficial owner of the property
7    requesting relief under the provisions of 11 U.S.C.
8    Chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13, and the bankruptcy case was open
9    on the date the collector's application for judgment was
10    filed pursuant to Section 21-150 or 21-155 or the date of
11    the tax sale;
12        (7) the property is owned by the United States, the
13    State of Illinois, a municipality, or a taxing district;
14    or
15        (8) the owner of the property is a reservist or
16    guardsperson who is granted an extension of his or her due
17    date under Sections 21-15, 21-20, and 21-25 of this Act.
18    (b) When, upon application of the owner of the certificate
19of purchase only, it appears to the satisfaction of the court
20which ordered the property sold that any of the following
21subsections are applicable, the court shall declare the sale
22to be a sale in error:
23        (1) A voluntary or involuntary petition under the
24    provisions of 11 U.S.C. Chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13 has been
25    filed subsequent to the tax sale and prior to the issuance
26    of the tax deed, and the bankruptcy case was open on the

 

 

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1    date the petition for a sale in error was filed.
2        (2) The improvements upon the property sold have been
3    substantially destroyed subsequent to the tax sale and
4    prior to the issuance of the tax deed; however, if the
5    court declares a sale in error under this paragraph (2),
6    the court may order the holder of the certificate of
7    purchase to assign the certificate to the county collector
8    if requested by the county collector. The county collector
9    may, upon request of the county, as trustee, or upon
10    request of a taxing district having an interest in the
11    taxes sold, further assign any certificate of purchase
12    received pursuant to this paragraph (2) to the county
13    acting as trustee for taxing districts pursuant to Section
14    21-90 of this Code or to the taxing district having an
15    interest in the taxes sold.
16        (3) There is an interest held by the United States in
17    the property sold which could not be extinguished by the
18    tax deed.
19        (4) The real property contains a hazardous substance,
20    hazardous waste, or underground storage tank that would
21    require cleanup or other removal under any federal, State,
22    or local law, ordinance, or regulation, only if the tax
23    purchaser purchased the property without actual knowledge
24    of the hazardous substance, hazardous waste, or
25    underground storage tank. The presence of a grease trap on
26    the property is not grounds for a sale in error under this

 

 

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1    paragraph (4). This paragraph (4) applies only if the
2    owner of the certificate of purchase has made application
3    for a sale in error at any time before the issuance of a
4    tax deed. If the court declares a sale in error under this
5    paragraph (4), the court may order the holder of the
6    certificate of purchase to assign the certificate to the
7    county collector if requested by the county collector. The
8    county collector may, upon request of the county, as
9    trustee, or upon request of a taxing district having an
10    interest in the taxes sold, further assign any certificate
11    of purchase received pursuant to this paragraph (4) to the
12    county acting as trustee for taxing districts pursuant to
13    Section 21-90 of this Code or to the taxing district
14    having an interest in the taxes sold.
15        (5) The certificate of purchase was issued prior to
16    the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th
17    General Assembly, the certificate's redemption period has
18    expired, and the certificate has not been deeded,
19    redeemed, vacated, or voided under Section 22-85.    
20    Whenever a court declares a sale in error under this
21subsection (b), the State's attorney shall promptly notify the
22county collector in writing.
23    (c) When the county collector discovers, prior to the
24expiration of the period of redemption, that a tax sale should
25not have occurred for one or more of the reasons set forth in
26subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5.5), (a)(6),

 

 

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1(a)(7), or (a)(8) of this Section, the county collector shall
2notify the last known owner of the tax certificate by
3certified and regular mail, or other means reasonably
4calculated to provide actual notice, that the county collector
5intends to declare an administrative sale in error and of the
6reasons therefor, including documentation sufficient to
7establish the reason why the sale should not have occurred.
8The owner of the certificate of purchase may object in writing
9within 28 days after the date of the mailing by the county
10collector. If an objection is filed, the county collector
11shall not administratively declare a sale in error, but may
12apply to the circuit court for a sale in error as provided in
13subsection (a) of this Section. Thirty days following the
14receipt of notice by the last known owner of the certificate of
15purchase, or within a reasonable time thereafter, the county
16collector shall make a written declaration, based upon clear
17and convincing evidence, that the taxes were sold in error and
18shall deliver a copy thereof to the county clerk within 30 days
19after the date the declaration is made for entry in the tax
20judgment, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record pursuant to
21subsection (d) of this Section. The county collector shall
22promptly notify the last known owner of the certificate of
23purchase of the declaration by regular mail and shall, except
24if the certificate was issued pursuant to a no-cash bid,
25promptly pay the amount of the tax sale, together with
26interest and costs as provided in Section 21-315, upon

 

 

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1surrender of the original certificate of purchase.
2    (c-5) When the holder of the certificate of purchase is
3the county as trustee for taxing districts, upon request of or
4consent by the county as trustee, or its agent, if the county
5collector agrees, prior to the issuance of a tax deed, that a
6tax sale should not have occurred for one or more of the
7reasons set forth in subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3),
8(a)(4), (a)(5.5), (a)(6), (a)(7), (a)(8), or (b)(1) of this
9Section, or, with the consent of the chief county assessment
10officer, subdivision (a)(5), the county collector may declare
11an administrative sale in error. Such declaration shall be a
12written declaration, based on clear and convincing evidence,
13that the taxes were sold in error and the county collector
14shall deliver a copy thereto to the county clerk within 30 days
15after the date the declaration is made for entry in the tax
16judgment, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record.    
17    (d) If a sale is declared to be a sale in error for any
18reason set forth in Section 22-35, Section 22-50, or
19subdivision (a)(5), (b)(2), or (b)(4) of this Section, the tax
20certificate shall be forfeited to the county as trustee
21pursuant to Section 21-90 of this Code, unless the county
22collector informs the county and the county clerk in writing
23that the tax certificate shall not be forfeited to the county
24as trustee. The county clerk shall make entry in the tax
25judgment, sale, redemption and forfeiture record, that the
26property was erroneously sold and that the tax certificate is

 

 

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1forfeited to the county pursuant to Section 21-90, and the
2county collector shall, on demand of the owner of the
3certificate of purchase, refund the amount paid, except for
4the nonrefundable $80 fee paid, pursuant to Section 21-295,
5for each item purchased at the tax sale, pay any interest and
6costs as may be ordered under Sections 21-315 through 21-335,
7and cancel the certificate so far as it relates to the
8property. The county collector shall deduct from the accounts
9of the appropriate taxing bodies their pro rata amounts paid.
10    (e) Whenever the collector declares an administrative sale
11in error under this Section, the collector must send a copy of
12the declaration of the administrative sale in error, and
13documentation sufficient to establish the reason why the sale
14should not have occurred, to the government entity responsible
15for maintaining assessment books and property record cards for
16the subject property. That entity must review the
17documentation sent by the collector, make a determination as
18to whether an update to the assessment books or property
19record cards is necessary to prevent a recurrence of the sale
20in error, and update the assessment books or property record
21cards as appropriate.
22    (f) Whenever a court declares a sale in error under this
23Section, the State's attorney must send a copy of the
24application and order declaring the sale in error to the
25county collector, the county clerk, and the government entity
26responsible for maintaining the assessment books and property

 

 

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1record cards for the subject property. The collector, the
2county clerk, and the other government entity must each review
3the application and order sent by the State's attorney and
4make a determination as to whether an update to its respective
5records is necessary to prevent a recurrence of the sale in
6error, and update its records as appropriate.
7    The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of
8the 103rd General Assembly apply to matters concerning tax
9certificates issued on or after the effective date of this
10amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
11(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
12    (35 ILCS 200/21-350)
13    Sec. 21-350. Period of redemption. Property sold at a tax
14sale under this Code may be redeemed at any time before the
15expiration of 3 2.5 years from the date of sale, except that:
16        (a) If on the date of sale the property is vacant
17    non-farm property or property containing an improvement
18    consisting of a structure or structures with 7 or more
19    residential units or that is commercial or industrial
20    property, it may be redeemed at any time before the
21    expiration of 1 year from the date of the tax sale.
22        (b) (Blank).
23        (c) (Blank). If the period of redemption has been
24    extended by the certificate holder as provided in Section
25    21-385 or Section 22-5, the property may be redeemed on or

 

 

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1    before the extended redemption date. The changes made to
2    this Section by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
3    Assembly apply to matters concerning tax certificates
4    issued on or after January 1, 2024.    
5    The changes made to this Section by Public Act 103-555
6apply to matters concerning tax certificates issued on or
7after January 1, 2024. The changes made to this Section by this
8amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly apply to matters
9concerning tax certificates issued on or after the effective
10date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.    
11(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
12    (35 ILCS 200/22-5)
13    Sec. 22-5. Notice of sale and redemption rights. In order
14to be entitled to an order for a judicial tax deed auction and    
15a tax deed, within 4 months and 15 days after any tax sale held
16under this Code, the purchaser or his or her assignee, and the
17county for all tax liens or certificates it acquires pursuant
18to Section 21-90 of this Code forfeited certificates from the
19annual sale, shall deliver to the county clerk a notice to be
20given to the party in whose name the taxes are last assessed as
21shown by the most recent tax collector's warrant books, in at
22least 10 point type in the following form completely filled
23in:
24
TAKE NOTICE
25    County of ...........................................

 

 

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1    Date Premises Sold or Forfeited .....................
2    Certificate No. .....................................
3    Sold for General Taxes of (year) ....................
4    Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality)
5    and special assessment number .......................
6    Warrant No. ............... Inst. No. .................
7
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD AT A TAX SALE FOR
8
DELINQUENT TAXES
9Property Address (as identified on the most recent tax bill,
10if available) ....
11Legal Description or Property Index No. ..........
12..........
13..............................
14    This notice is to advise you that if you do not redeem by
15paying your tax debt before the deadline, a petition may be
16filed in court that for a tax deed which will transfer title
17and the right to possession of the above-referenced property
18("Property"). If you are a homeowner, this may eventually
19result in eviction from your home if redemption is not made on
20or before the redemption deadline.
21Your right to redeem will expire on ..........    
22    To request determine the redemption deadline and the total
23amount you must pay to redeem the sold taxes, you must
24immediately contact the County Clerk at the address, phone
25number, or email address below. Check with the County Clerk
26for the exact amount you owe before redeeming. Payment must be

 

 

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1made by certified check, cashier's check, money order, or in
2cash to the County Clerk.
3
YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO
4
PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY AND ADDITIONAL COSTS     
5    The longer you wait, the more expensive it will be to
6redeem and prevent the loss of your property. Interest will
7continue to accrue on the total amount owed until the property
8is redeemed, and you may owe additional attorney or filing
9fees if the certificate holder chooses to pursue an order for a
10tax deed auction to compel the sale or transfer of the deed to
11the property.    
12    Property sold under the Property Tax Code may be redeemed
13by any owner or person holding an interest in the Property at
14any time before the following deadlines (based on property
15classification as of the Date of Sale):    
16    You must redeem your taxes within one year of the Date of
17Sale for the following classifications:    
18        (1) vacant non-farm property;
19        (2) property containing an improvement consisting of a
20    structure or structures with 7 or more residential units;
21    and
22        (3) commercial or industrial property.    
23    You must redeem your taxes within 2 1/2 years of the Date
24of Sale for the following classifications:    
25        (1) all residential property with less than 6 units;
26    and

 

 

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1        (2) all other property not covered by the 1-year
2    redemption period outlined above.    
3    Redemption deadlines may have been extended by the
4certificate holder or pursuant to Illinois law.    
5    To confirm the amount you will need to redeem redemption
6deadline, you must contact the County Clerk at the address,
7telephone number, or email address below. Redemption can be
8made at any time on or before .... by applying to the County
9Clerk of .... County, Illinois at the Office of the County
10Clerk in ...., Illinois. The address, telephone number, and
11email address for the County Clerk is as follows:
12ADDRESS:............................
13TELEPHONE AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS:..........................
14    For further information about the redemption deadline,
15redemption amount, or payment process, please contact the
16County Clerk.
17    Contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
18Development (HUD) to find local housing counselors in your
19area.    
 
 
20    In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the
21redemption notice shall contain a provision in Spanish,
22Polish, and Mandarin Chinese, stating that the redemption
23notice affects important legal rights and should be translated
24immediately. In counties with fewer than 3,000,000

 

 

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1inhabitants, the redemption notice may include a notice in one
2or more foreign languages stating that the redemption notice
3affects important legal rights and should be translated
4immediately.        
5    Within 10 days after receipt of said notice, the county
6clerk shall mail to the addresses supplied by the purchaser or
7assignee, by registered or certified mail, copies of said
8notice to the party in whose name the taxes are last assessed
9as shown by the most recent tax collector's warrant books.
10With the exception of a county or taxing district acquiring
11certificates pursuant to Section 21-90 and 21-260, all
12purchasers or assignees shall pay to the clerk postage plus
13the sum of $10. The clerk shall write or stamp the date of
14receiving the notices upon the copies of the notices, and
15retain one copy.
16    All With the exception of forfeited tax liens or
17certificates held by the county pursuant to Section 21-90, all    
18redemption periods shall begin on the date of the tax sale. For
19forfeited tax liens or certificates held by the county
20pursuant to Section 21-90, the county may cure any defect in a
21notice, or failure to send a notice as required by this
22Section, by delivering to the county clerk a notice to be given
23to the party in whose name the taxes are last assessed as shown
24by the most recent tax collector's warrant books. The
25redemption period begins on the date the county delivered the
26corrected notice to the clerk, if such extension is otherwise

 

 

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1permitted by law.
2    The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of
3the 97th General Assembly apply only to tax sales that occur on
4or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th
5General Assembly.
6    The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of
7the 103rd General Assembly apply to matters concerning tax
8certificates issued on or after the effective date of this
9amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
10(Source: P.A. 102-815, eff. 5-13-22; 103-555, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
11    (35 ILCS 200/22-10)
12    Sec. 22-10. Notice of expiration of period of redemption.
13A purchaser or assignee shall not be entitled to request an
14order for a judicial tax deed auction and a tax deed to the
15property sold at an annual tax sale unless, not less than 3
16months nor more than 6 months prior to the expiration of the
17period of redemption, he or she gives notice of the sale and
18the date of expiration of the period of redemption to the
19owners, occupants, the municipality in which the subject
20property lies or county if the property lies outside municipal
21corporate boundaries, and interested parties interested in the
22property, including any mortgagee of record, as provided
23below. For counties or taxing districts holding certificates
24pursuant to Section 21-90, the date of expiration of the
25period of redemption shall be designated by the county or

 

 

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1taxing district in its petition for tax deed and identified in
2the notice below, which shall be filed with the county clerk.
3    The Notice to be given to the parties shall be in at least
410-point type in the following form completely filled in:
5TAX DEED NO. .................... FILED ....................
6
TAKE NOTICE
7    County of ...........................................
8    Date Premises Sold or Forfeited .....................
9    Certificate No. .....................................
10    Sold or Forfeited for General Taxes of (year) .......
11    Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality)
12    and special assessment number .......................
13    Warrant No. ................ Inst. No. .................
14
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD AT A TAX SALE FOR
15
DELINQUENT TAXES
16Property Address (as identified on the most recent tax bill,
17if available) ....
18Legal Description or Property Index No. ..........
19..........
20..............................
21    This notice is to advise you that the above property has
22been sold for delinquent taxes at a tax sale and that the
23period of redemption from the sale will expire on ......
24......
25    Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe
26before redeeming.

 

 

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1    This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been
2filed in the Circuit Court seeking an order for judicial tax
3deed auction and for a tax deed which will transfer title and
4the right to possession of this property if redemption is not
5made on or before .......................................
6    If you are a homeowner, this may eventually result in
7eviction from your home. This matter is set for hearing in the
8Circuit Court of this county in ...., Illinois on .....
9    You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem
10will already have expired at that time.
11    You may respond to the petition or go to the hearing to
12speak to the court. But if you do not pay the overdue taxes by
13the hearing and if the court determines that all the rules were
14followed, you will lose your right to pay and keep the
15property. The property will then be offered at a public
16auction. If you are the owner, you may get any extra money left
17after the taxes and fees are paid. If there is extra money, you
18will get a notice telling you how to claim it.    
19
YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY
20
TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY AND ADDITIONAL COSTS     
21    Redemption can be made at any time on or before .... by
22applying to the County Clerk of ...., County, Illinois at the
23Office of the County Clerk in ...., Illinois.
24    For further information contact the County Clerk
25ADDRESS:....................
26TELEPHONE AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS:..................
 

 

 

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1
..........................
2
Purchaser or Assignee.
3
Dated (insert date).
4    Contact the United States Department of Housing and Urban
5Development (HUD) to find local housing counselors.    
 
6    In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the notice
7shall contain a provision in the Spanish, Polish, and Mandarin
8Chinese, stating that the notice affects important legal
9rights and should be translated immediately. Parcels that are
10either contiguous or have common ownership may be combined in
11a single notice prepared pursuant to Sections 22-10 and 22-25.    
12In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the notice
13shall also state the address, room number, and time at which
14the matter is set for hearing. In counties with fewer than
153,000,000 inhabitants, the notice may include a notice in one
16or more foreign languages, stating that the notice affects
17important legal rights and should be translated immediately.    
18    The changes to this Section made by Public Act 97-557
19apply only to matters in which a petition for tax deed is filed
20on or after July 1, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act
2197-557).
22    The changes to this Section made by Public Act 102-1003
23apply to matters in which a petition for tax deed is filed on
24or after May 27, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act

 

 

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1102-1003). Failure of any party or any public official to
2comply with the changes made to this Section by Public Act
3102-528 does not invalidate any tax deed issued prior to May
427, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1003).
5    The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of
6the 103rd General Assembly apply to matters concerning tax
7certificates issued on or after the effective date of this
8amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
9(Source: P.A. 102-528, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
10102-1003, eff. 5-27-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-555, eff.
111-1-24.)
 
12    (35 ILCS 200/22-40)
13    Sec. 22-40. Issuance of order authorizing judicial tax
14deed auction, confirmation and order for tax deed; possession.
15    (a) To obtain an order authorizing a judicial tax deed
16auction and for issuance of tax deed, the petitioner must
17provide sufficient evidence that:
18        (1) the redemption period has expired and the property
19    has not been redeemed;
20        (2) all taxes and special assessments which became due
21    and payable subsequent to the sale have been paid, unless
22    the county or its agent, as trustee pursuant to Section
23    21-90, is the petitioner;
24        (3) all forfeitures and sales which occur subsequent
25    to the sale are paid or redeemed, unless the county or its

 

 

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1    agent, as trustee pursuant to Section 21-90, is the
2    petitioner;
3        (4) the notices required by law have been given, and
4    all advancements of public funds under the police power
5    made by a county, city, village, or town under Section
6    22-35 have been paid; and
7        (5) the petitioner has complied with all the
8    provisions of law entitling him or her to a deed.
9    Upon receipt of sufficient evidence of the requirements
10under this subsection (a), the court shall find that the
11petitioner complied with those requirements and shall enter an
12order authorizing a judicial tax deed auction or an order
13authorizing the issuance of a tax deed to a county trustee
14pursuant to Section 21-90, subject to the requirements of this
15Section, or subject to the requirements in Section 21-90    
16directing the county clerk, on the production of the tax
17certificate and a certified copy of the order, to issue to the
18purchaser or its assignee a tax deed. The court shall insist on
19strict compliance with Sections Section 22-10 through 22-25.
20Prior to the entry of an order under this Section directing the
21issuance of a tax deed, the petitioner shall furnish the court
22with a report of proceedings of the evidence received on the
23application for tax deed. The petitioner shall also furnish to
24the court a statement of redemption from the county clerk
25showing the total taxes, penalties, and costs that were
26required to be paid to redeem the tax sale as specified in the

 

 

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1notice required under Section 22-10. The petitioner for tax
2deed must file a statement of, if applicable, (i) all taxes it
3has paid or redeemed for the property, (ii) the costs paid for
4court reporter and transcript services in counties of
53,000,000 or more inhabitants, or in counties with less than
63,000,000 inhabitants, a submission of a report of proceedings
7to the court, (iii) the fees paid to the clerk for the estimate
8of redemption, (iv) all payments made for municipal
9advancements required by Section 22-35, and (v) costs incurred
10pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 21-90. The total of the
11amount shown on the statement of redemption plus items (i)
12through (v) above, or portion thereof, plus a fee not to exceed
1350% of the then-allowable foreclosure attorney fees for
14Illinois as published by Fannie Mae, plus the cost of
15publication of the judicial tax deed auction shall be
16identified as the tax deed judgment amount. The tax deed
17judgment amount shall accrue interest at 0.75% per month, or
18portion thereof, from the date of the judgment until the date
19of judicial tax deed auction. If the judicial tax deed auction
20is not concluded within 120 days after the date of the
21judgment, the judgment shall accrue interest after the 120-day
22period only if any delay in concluding the auction is the
23result of legal action taken by the owner or other interested
24party before issuance of the tax deed. The order for judicial
25tax deed auction shall include such terms and conditions of
26the auction as specified by the court and the report of

 

 

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1proceedings shall be filed and made a part of the court record.
2    (b) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this Section,
3if taxes for years prior to the year or years sold are or
4become delinquent subsequent to the date of sale, the court
5shall find that the lien of those delinquent taxes has been or
6will be merged into the tax deed grantee's title if the court
7determines that the tax deed grantee or any prior holder of the
8certificate of purchase, or any person or entity under common
9ownership or control with any such grantee or prior holder of
10the certificate of purchase, was at no time the holder of any
11certificate of purchase for the years sought to be merged. If
12delinquent taxes are merged into the tax deed pursuant to this
13subsection, the court shall enter an order declaring which
14specific taxes have been or will be merged into the tax deed
15title and directing the county treasurer and county clerk to
16reflect that declaration in the warrant and judgment records;
17provided, that no such order shall be effective until a tax
18deed has been issued and timely recorded. Nothing contained in
19this Section shall relieve any owner liable for delinquent
20property taxes under this Code from the payment of the taxes
21that have been merged into the title upon issuance of the tax
22deed.
23    (c) The county clerk is entitled to a fee of $10 in
24counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5 in counties
25with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants for the issuance of the
26tax deed, with the exception of deeds issued to the county

 

 

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1pursuant to its authority under Section 21-90. The clerk may
2not include in a tax deed more than one property as listed,
3assessed and sold in one description, except in cases where
4several properties are owned by one person. The fee paid to the
5county clerk for the issuance of the tax deed shall be
6accompanied by a $1,000 surplus equity fund fee in counties of
73,000,000 or more inhabitants and a $500 surplus equity fund
8fee in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, with the
9exception of deeds issued to the county pursuant to its
10authority under Section 21-90. All fees received under this
11subsection shall be paid by the county clerk to the county
12treasurer of the county in which the land is situated for the
13purpose of funding the county's surplus equity fund
14established under Section 21-296. The surplus equity fund fee
15shall not be imposed once all claims on the county's surplus
16equity fund have been paid, as determined by the county
17treasurer as trustee of the fund.    
18    Upon application, the court shall enter an order to place
19the tax deed grantee or the grantee's successor in interest in
20possession of the property and may enter orders and grant
21relief as may be necessary or desirable to maintain the
22grantee or the grantee's successor in interest in possession.
23    (d) The court shall retain jurisdiction to enter orders
24pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this Section. Public
25Act 92-223 and Public Act 95-477 shall be construed as being
26declarative of existing law and not as a new enactment.

 

 

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1    (e) Prior to the issuance of any order for judicial tax
2deed auction under this Section, the petitioner must redeem
3all taxes and special assessments on the property that are
4delinquent after the date of its tax sale subject to a pending
5tax petition filed by a county or its assignee pursuant to
6Section 21-90.
7    (e-5) Following the expiration of the period of
8redemption, the petitioner's payment of (i) any subsequent tax
9and special assessment and (ii) any redemption of any sale of
10subsequent taxes or forfeiture shall be accompanied by a
11surplus equity fund fee of 10% of the principal taxes and
12interest paid by the petitioner under this section. All fees
13received under this subsection shall be paid by the collector
14and county clerk to the county treasurer of the county in which
15the land is situated for the purpose of funding the county's
16surplus equity fund established by Section 21-296. Fees
17incurred under this subsection are not refundable and they
18shall not be posted to the subject tax sale pursuant to Section
1921-355.    
20    (f) If, for any reason, a purchaser fails to obtain an
21order for judicial tax deed auction or for tax deed within the
22required time period and no sale in error was granted or
23redemption paid, then the certificate shall be forfeited to
24the county, as trustee, pursuant to Section 21-90.
25    (g) Except as provided in Section 21-90, upon entry of an
26order requiring a judicial tax deed auction under subsection

 

 

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1(a) of this Section, the property shall be offered for sale by
2public auction within 120 days after date of the order and sold
3to the highest bidder at such an auction in accordance with the
4Section 22-42 and subject to additional requirements set by
5the court's order.    
6    (h) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory
7Act of the 104th General Assembly apply to matters concerning
8tax certificates issued on or after the effective date of this
9amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.     
10(Source: P.A. 103-555, eff. 1-1-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)
 
11    (35 ILCS 200/22-42 new)
12    Sec. 22-42. Judicial tax deed auction and procedures.
13    (a) Notice of tax deed auction. The sheriff, or duly
14appointed private selling officer, shall give notice of the
15auction with the following information:
16        (1) the Property Identification Number and Address
17    listed on the most recent tax bill;
18        (2) the time and place of the auction including:
19    whether the auction will take place online, in person, or
20    both; and the website where the online bidding may take
21    place, if applicable;
22        (3) the terms of the auction; and
23        (4) the amount of the tax deed judgment amount
24    provided in Section 22-40.
25    In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the Notice

 

 

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1of Tax Deed Auction shall be in clear and concise language,
2together with a notice in Spanish, Polish, and Mandarin
3Chinese, stating that the notice affects important legal
4rights and should be translated immediately. In counties with
5fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the Notice of Tax Deed
6Auction shall be in clear and concise language, and may
7include a notice in one or more foreign languages, stating
8that the notice of tax deed auction affects important legal
9rights and should be translated immediately. The Notice of Tax
10Deed Auction shall be mailed via first class mail to all
11interested parties, and via first class mail and certified
12mail to the owner of the property, at the address at which
13service of the Section 22-10 Take Notice was attempted and to
14any parties who have appeared in the proceeding. The notice
15shall include a sworn certificate of service signed by the
16party sending the notice attesting to the fact that the notice
17of auction was placed in the mail at least 10 calendar days
18prior to the date of the auction.
19    The Notice of Tax Deed Auction shall be published at least
203 consecutive calendar weeks (Sunday through Saturday), once
21in each week, the first such notice to be published not more
22than 45 days prior to the auction, the last such notice to be
23published not less than 7 days prior to the auction. If the
24property is located in a municipality in a county with less
25than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the purchaser or his or her
26assignee shall also publish a notice as to the owner or

 

 

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1interested party, in some newspaper published in the
2municipality, and such other publications as may be further
3ordered by the court. If the petitioner cannot identify a
4newspaper published in the municipality, or if the property is
5located in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the
6notice shall be published in a newspaper published within the
7county, and such other publications as may be further ordered
8by the court. If no newspaper is published in the county, then
9the notice shall be published in the newspaper that is
10published nearest the county seat of the county in which the
11property is located and such other publications as may be
12further ordered by the court. The publication shall include
13all information included in the notice sent pursuant to this
14Section.
15    (b) Minimum bid. The selling officer shall start all
16bidding with a minimum bid equal to (1) the tax deed judgment
17amount plus interest at the rate of 0.75% per month, or portion
18thereof, for each month since the date of judgment, except as
19provided in Section 22-40, (2) the cost for the publication of
20the judicial sale required in this Section, and (3) the costs
21of the selling officer. The selling officer shall proceed to a
22public tax deed auction, offer the real estate for sale, and
23sell the real estate to the highest bidder. If no bidder is
24willing to pay the minimum bid, the petitioner shall be the
25winning bidder and entitled to a tax deed, and it shall be
26conclusively presumed that there is no surplus equity in the

 

 

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1property.
2    (c) Credit bid for petitioner. At the auction under this
3Section, the person conducting the auction shall enter a bid
4in favor of the petitioner in the amount of the minimum bid set
5forth above. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to
6prevent the petitioner from bidding at the public auction.
7However, if the petitioner is the winning bidder, the holder
8must pay cash for the difference between the winning bid and
9the minimum bid, plus any applicable costs or fees that may be
10attached to the winning bid.
11    (d) Receipt upon judicial tax deed auction. Upon and at
12the conclusion of the judicial tax deed auction, the person
13conducting the auction shall give to the purchaser a receipt
14of sale. The receipt shall describe the real estate purchased
15and shall show the amount bid, the total amount paid to date,
16and the amount still to be paid therefor. An additional
17receipt shall be given at the time of each subsequent payment.
18Any purchaser who fails to complete the sale for failure to
19make full payment shall forfeit to the county surplus equity
20fund any deposit already made, and the court shall order a new
21auction of the property.
22    (e) Certificate of tax deed auction. Upon payment in full
23of the amount bid, the sheriff or duly appointed selling
24officer conducting the sale shall issue, in duplicate, and
25give to the purchaser a certificate of judicial tax deed
26auction. The certificate of judicial tax deed auction shall be

 

 

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1in a recordable form, describe the real estate purchased,
2indicate the date and place of sale and show the amount paid
3therefor. The certificate of tax deed sale shall further
4indicate that it is subject to confirmation by the court. The
5certificate of sale shall be freely assignable by endorsement
6thereon.
7    (f) Deposit of surplus funds. To the extent that the
8winning bid exceeds the minimum bid, upon the expiration of 30
9days following confirmation of the sale, the selling officer
10shall deposit the surplus funds with the treasurer of the
11county in which the subject property lies and provide the
12treasurer with the parties and mailing addresses to which all
13Take Notices were sent pursuant to Section 22-10. The
14treasurer shall send a notice to all parties sent the Section
1522-10 Take Notice, stating that the owner at the time of the
16sale is entitled to a distribution of surplus proceeds and may
17file a claim to recover the surplus with the treasurer of the
18county.
19    (g) Confirmation of sale; Order for issuance of tax deed.
20        (1) The sheriff or selling officer conducting the sale
21    shall promptly make a report to the court that issued the
22    order authorizing the judicial tax deed auction, which
23    report shall include a copy of all receipts and, if any,
24    certificate of judicial tax deed sale.
25        (2) Upon motion and notice in accordance with court
26    rules applicable to motions generally, which motion shall

 

 

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1    not be made prior to sale, the court shall conduct a
2    hearing to confirm the sale. Unless the court finds that a
3    notice required in this Section was not issued or the sale
4    was not conducted in accordance with the order for
5    judicial tax deed auction, the court shall enter an order
6    (a) confirming the judicial tax deed auction sale, (b)
7    directing the county clerk to issue a tax deed in the name
8    of the holder of the certificate of judicial tax deed
9    auction sale once presented with a certified copy of the
10    confirmation order and original certificate of judicial
11    tax deed auction sale, and (c) directing the selling
12    officer to pay to the holder of the tax certificate the
13    amount of the credit bid upon surrender of the tax
14    certificate, and to pay the selling officer its fees. The
15    order for issuance of tax deed shall contain the name,
16    address, and telephone number of the holder of the
17    certificate of judicial tax deed auction sale for the
18    clerk to confirm the identity of the tax deed grantee.
19        (3) Unless the tax certificate was forfeited to the
20    county in the manner described in Section 21-225 of this
21    Code, if the county is the holder of the tax certificate
22    for property sold at a judicial tax deed auction in
23    accordance with this Section, any proceeds of any such
24    sale shall be distributed to the taxing districts in
25    proportion to their respective interests therein.
26    Notwithstanding the preceding, any distribution to the

 

 

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1    taxing districts shall be reduced by the following: all
2    costs incurred by either the county, the court, or the
3    selling officer associated with the sale of the property.
4    Any surplus amount to be held by the county treasurer and
5    distributed to former owners in accordance with paragraph
6    (5) of this Section shall be excluded from distributions
7    to taxing districts.
8        (4) If any tax deed auction sale fails to comply with
9    the requirements in this Section, any party may, by motion
10    supported by affidavit made prior to confirmation of such
11    sale, request that the court which entered the judgment
12    set aside the judicial tax deed auction sale. Any such
13    party shall guarantee or secure by bond a bid equal to the
14    successful bid at the judicial tax deed auction. No
15    guarantee or bond shall be required if the property is
16    residential and the party seeking to set aside the sale is
17    the owner-occupant of the property at the time the motion
18    is filed. If the court denies confirmation of the judicial
19    tax deed auction sale, it shall order a new judicial tax
20    deed auction. Any subsequent auction is subject to the
21    same notice requirement as the original auction.
22        (5) No sale under this Section shall be held invalid
23    or be set aside because of any immaterial or insignificant
24    defect in the notice thereof or in the publication of the
25    same, or in the proceedings of the officer conducting the
26    sale.

 

 

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1    (h) Notice of surplus proceeds. Within 60 days following
2the deposit of surplus funds with the treasurer of the county,
3the treasurer shall send notice to all parties to which the
4Section 22-10 Take Notice was sent, stating that the owner or
5owners of the property at the time of the sale may submit a
6claim for the surplus funds to the county treasurer or the
7circuit court within 3 years of the date on the notice.
8    (i) Upon receipt of a claim for surplus proceeds, the
9county treasurer, being satisfied of the facts in the case,
10shall distribute the surplus proceeds to the proper claimant.
11When the county treasurer is unable to determine the proper
12claimant, the county treasurer shall file a motion with the
13circuit court hearing the underlying tax case, requesting that
14the court determine whether an interested party is the owner
15of record entitled to a disbursement of surplus proceeds.
16Within 30 days following the filing of the motion, the court
17hearing the underlying tax case shall set a hearing to
18determine whether an interested party is the owner of record
19entitled to a disbursement of surplus proceeds. All interested
20parties in the underlying case shall be notified by the county
21treasurer. Any party claiming to have an ownership interest in
22the parcel at the time of the issuance of tax deed may present
23evidence of ownership and request a disbursement of any or all
24surplus proceeds. The court shall issue an order directing the
25treasurer to disburse a specific amount of surplus proceeds to
26specific parties, with sufficient personally identifiable

 

 

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1information to accurately identify the parties entitled to
2disbursement.
3    (j) Upon filing of a motion by a party claiming to be the
4owner of the property at the time of sale, within 30 days
5following the filing of the motion, the court hearing the
6underlying tax case shall set a hearing to determine whether
7an interested party is the owner entitled to a disbursement of
8surplus proceeds. All interested parties in the underlying
9case shall be notified by the movant. Any party claiming to be
10the owner of the property at the time of sale may present
11evidence of ownership and request a disbursement of any or all
12surplus proceeds. The court shall issue an order directing the
13treasurer to disburse a specific amount of surplus proceeds to
14specific parties, with sufficient personally identifiable
15information to accurately identify the parties entitled to
16disbursement.
17    (k) Surplus funds that have not been claimed within 3
18years following the date on the county treasurer's notice in
19accordance with subsection (h) of Section 22-42 shall be
20disposed of pursuant to the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property
21Act.
22    (l) Interest earned on surplus proceeds while held by the
23county treasurer shall belong to the lawful claimant and shall
24be paid with the principal amount of the surplus proceeds.    
 
25    (35 ILCS 200/22-65)

 

 

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1    Sec. 22-65. Form of deed. A tax deed executed by the county
2clerk under the official seal of the county shall be recorded
3in the same manner as other conveyances of property, and vests
4in the grantee, his or her heirs and assigns, the title of the
5property therein described without further acknowledgment or
6evidence of the conveyance. Tax Deeds issued under this
7Section shall not require a municipal transfer stamp, or be
8subject to any municipal real estate transfer taxes,
9requirements, or certifications prior to recording. The
10conveyance shall be substantially in the following form:
11State of Illinois)
12                 ) ss.
13County of .......)
14    At a tax deed auction public sale of property for the
15nonpayment of taxes, held in the county above stated, on
16(insert date), the following described property was sold:
17(here place description of property conveyed). The property
18not having been redeemed from the sale, and it appearing that
19the holder of the certificate of purchase of the property has
20complied with the laws of the State of Illinois necessary to
21entitle (insert him, her or them) to a deed of the property: I
22...., county clerk of the county of ...., in consideration of
23the property and by virtue of the statutes of the State of
24Illinois in such cases provided, grant and convey to ...., his
25or her heirs and assigns forever, the property described
26above.

 

 

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1    Dated (insert date).
2
Signature of .................. County Clerk
3
Seal of County of ...., Illinois
4(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
 
5    Section 10. The Mobile Home Local Services Tax Enforcement
6Act is amended by changing Section 255 as follows:
 
7    (35 ILCS 516/255)
8    Sec. 255. Sales in error.
9    (a) When, upon application of the county collector, the
10owner of the certificate of purchase, or a municipality that
11owns or has owned the mobile home ordered sold, it appears to
12the satisfaction of the court that ordered the mobile home
13sold that any of the following subsections are applicable, the
14court shall declare the sale to be a sale in error:
15        (1) the mobile home was not subject to taxation,
16        (1.5) the mobile home has been moved to a different
17    location,
18        (2) the taxes had been paid prior to the sale of the
19    mobile home,
20        (3) there is a double computation of the tax,
21        (4) the description is void for uncertainty,
22        (5) the assessor, chief county assessment officer,
23    board of review, board of appeals, or other county
24    official has made an error (other than an error of

 

 

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1    judgment as to the value of any mobile home),
2        (5.5) the owner of the mobile home had tendered timely
3    and full payment to the county collector that the owner
4    reasonably believed was due and owing on the mobile home,
5    and the county collector did not apply the payment to the
6    mobile home; provided that this provision applies only to
7    mobile home owners, not their agents or third-party
8    payors,
9        (6) prior to the tax sale a voluntary or involuntary
10    petition has been filed by or against the legal or
11    beneficial owner of the mobile home requesting relief
12    under the provisions of 11 U.S.C. Chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13,
13    or
14        (7) the mobile home is owned by the United States, the
15    State of Illinois, a municipality, or a taxing district.
16    (b) When, upon application of the owner of the certificate
17of purchase only, it appears to the satisfaction of the court
18that ordered the mobile home sold that any of the following
19subsections are applicable, the court shall declare the sale
20to be a sale in error:
21        (1) A voluntary or involuntary petition under the
22    provisions of 11 U.S.C. Chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13 has been
23    filed subsequent to the tax sale and prior to the issuance
24    of the tax certificate of title.
25        (2) The mobile home sold has been substantially
26    destroyed or rendered uninhabitable or otherwise unfit for

 

 

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1    occupancy subsequent to the tax sale and prior to the
2    issuance of the tax certificate of title.
3    (c) When the county collector discovers, prior to the
4expiration of the period of redemption, that a tax sale should
5not have occurred for one or more of the reasons set forth in
6subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5.5), (a)(6),
7(a)(7), (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(6), or (a)(7) of this Section, the
8county collector shall notify the last known owner of the
9certificate of purchase by certified and regular mail, or
10other means reasonably calculated to provide actual notice,
11that the county collector intends to declare an administrative
12sale in error and of the reasons therefor, including
13documentation sufficient to establish the reason why the sale
14should not have occurred. The owner of the certificate of
15purchase may object in writing within 28 days after the date of
16the mailing by the county collector. If an objection is filed,
17the county collector shall not administratively declare a sale
18in error, but may apply to the circuit court for a sale in
19error as provided in subsection (a) of this Section. Thirty
20days following the receipt of notice by the last known owner of
21the certificate of purchase, or within a reasonable time
22thereafter, the county collector shall make a written
23declaration, based upon clear and convincing evidence, that
24the taxes were sold in error and shall deliver a copy thereof
25to the county clerk within 30 days after the date the
26declaration is made for entry in the tax judgment, sale,

 

 

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1redemption, and forfeiture record pursuant to subsection (d)
2of this Section. The county collector shall promptly notify
3the last known owner of the certificate of purchase of the
4declaration by regular mail and shall promptly pay the amount
5of the tax sale, together with interest and costs as provided
6in Sections 260 through 280, upon surrender of the original
7certificate of purchase.
8    (d) When the holder of the certificate of purchase is the
9county as trustee for taxing districts, upon request of or
10consent by the county as trustee, or its agent, if the county
11collector agrees, prior to the issuance of a tax certificate
12of sale, that a tax sale should not have occurred for one or
13more of the reasons set forth in subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2),
14(a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5.5), (a)(6), (a)(7), or (b)(1) of this
15Section, or, with the consent of the chief county assessment
16officer, subdivisions (a)(1.5), (a)(5), the county collector
17may declare an administrative sale in error. Such declaration
18shall be a written declaration, based on clear and convincing
19evidence, that the taxes were sold in error and the county
20collector shall deliver a copy thereto to the county clerk
21within 30 days after the date the declaration is made for entry
22in the tax judgment, sale, redemption, and forfeiture record.    
23If a sale is declared to be a sale in error, the county clerk
24shall make entry in the tax judgment, sale, redemption and
25forfeiture record, that the mobile home was erroneously sold,
26and the county collector shall, on demand of the owner of the

 

 

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1certificate of purchase, refund the amount paid, pay any
2interest and costs as may be ordered under Sections 260
3through 280, and cancel the certificate so far as it relates to
4the mobile home. The county collector shall deduct from the
5accounts of the appropriate taxing bodies their pro rata
6amounts paid.
7(Source: P.A. 98-949, eff. 8-15-14.)
 
8    Section 15. The Mortgage Rescue Fraud Act is amended by
9changing Sections 5 and 30 as follows:
 
10    (765 ILCS 940/5)
11    Sec. 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
12    "Distressed property" means residential real property
13consisting of one to 6 family dwelling units that is in
14foreclosure or at risk of loss due to nonpayment of taxes, or
15whose owner is more than 30 days delinquent on any loan that is
16secured by the property.
17    "Distressed property consultant" means any person who,
18directly or indirectly, for compensation from the owner, makes
19any solicitation, representation, or offer to perform or who,
20for compensation from the owner, performs any service that the
21person represents will in any manner do any of the following:
22        (1) stop or postpone the foreclosure sale or stop or
23    postpone the loss of the home due to nonpayment of taxes;
24        (2) obtain any forbearance from any beneficiary or

 

 

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1    mortgagee, or relief with respect to a tax sale of the
2    property;
3        (3) assist the owner to exercise any right of
4    reinstatement or right of redemption;
5        (4) obtain any extension of the period within which
6    the owner may reinstate the owner's rights with respect to
7    the property;
8        (5) obtain any waiver of an acceleration clause
9    contained in any promissory note or contract secured by a
10    mortgage on a distressed property or contained in the
11    mortgage;
12        (6) assist the owner in foreclosure, loan default, or
13    post-tax sale redemption period to obtain a loan or
14    advance of funds;
15        (7) avoid or ameliorate the impairment of the owner's
16    credit resulting from the recording of a notice of default
17    or the conduct of a foreclosure sale or tax sale; or
18        (8) save the owner's residence from foreclosure or
19    save the owner from loss of home due to nonpayment of
20    taxes.
21    A "distressed property consultant" does not include any of
22the following:
23        (1) a person or the person's authorized agent acting
24    under the express authority or written approval of the
25    Department of Housing and Urban Development;
26        (2) a person who holds or is owed an obligation

 

 

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1    secured by a lien on any distressed property, or a person
2    acting under the express authorization or written approval
3    of such person, when the person performs services in
4    connection with the obligation or lien, if the obligation
5    or lien did not arise as the result of or as part of a
6    proposed distressed property conveyance;
7        (3) banks, savings banks, savings and loan
8    associations, credit unions, and insurance companies
9    organized, chartered, or holding a certificate of
10    authority to do business under the laws of this State or
11    any other state or under the laws of the United States;
12        (4) attorneys licensed in Illinois engaged in the
13    practice of law;
14        (5) a Department of Housing and Urban Development
15    approved mortgagee and any subsidiary or affiliate of
16    these persons or entities, and any agent or employee of
17    these persons or entities, while engaged in the business
18    of these persons or entities;
19        (6) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency or organization,
20    doing business for no less than 5 years, that offers
21    counseling or advice to an owner of a distressed property,
22    if they do not contract for services with for-profit
23    lenders or distressed property purchasers, or any person
24    who structures or plans such a transaction;
25        (7) (blank);
26        (8) licensees of the Consumer Installment Loan Act who

 

 

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1    are authorized to make loans secured by real property; or
2        (9) licensees of the Real Estate License Act of 2000
3    when providing licensed activities.
4    "Distressed property purchaser" means any person who
5solicits an owner of distressed property and acquires any
6interest in fee in a distressed property or a beneficial
7interest in a trust holding title to a distressed property
8while allowing the owner to possess, occupy, or retain any
9present or future interest in fee in the property, or any
10person who participates in a joint venture or joint enterprise
11involving a distressed property conveyance. "Distressed
12property purchaser" does not mean any person who acquires
13distressed property at a short sale or any person acting in
14participation with any person who acquires distressed property
15at a short sale, if that person does not promise to convey an
16interest in fee back to the owner or does not give the owner an
17option to purchase the property at a later date.
18    "Distressed property conveyance" means a transaction in
19which an owner of a distressed property transfers an interest
20in fee in the distressed property or in which the holder of all
21or some part of the beneficial interest in a trust holding
22title to a distressed property transfers that interest; the
23acquirer of the property allows the owner of the distressed
24property to occupy the property; and the acquirer of the
25property or a person acting in participation with the acquirer
26of the property conveys or promises to convey an interest in

 

 

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1fee back to the owner or gives the owner an option to purchase
2the property at a later date.
3    "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation,
4limited liability company, association, or other group or
5entity, however organized.
6    "Service" means, without limitation, any of the following:
7        (1) debt, budget, or financial counseling of any type;
8        (2) receiving money for the purpose of distributing it
9    to creditors in payment or partial payment of any
10    obligation secured by a lien on a distressed property;
11        (3) contacting creditors on behalf of an owner of a
12    residence that is distressed property;
13        (4) arranging or attempting to arrange for an
14    extension of the period within which the owner of a
15    distressed property may cure the owner's default and
16    reinstate his or her obligation;
17        (5) arranging or attempting to arrange for any delay
18    or postponement of the time of sale of the distressed
19    property;
20        (6) advising the filing of any document or assisting
21    in any manner in the preparation of any document for
22    filing with any court; or
23        (7) giving any advice, explanation, or instruction to
24    an owner of a distressed property that in any manner
25    relates to the cure of a default or forfeiture or to the
26    postponement or avoidance of sale of the distressed

 

 

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1    property.
2(Source: P.A. 94-822, eff. 1-1-07; 95-691, eff. 6-1-08;
395-1047, eff. 4-6-09.)
 
4    (765 ILCS 940/30)
5    Sec. 30. Distressed property conveyance contract terms.
6Every contract required by Section 25 must contain the entire
7agreement of the parties, be fully assignable, and survive
8delivery of any instrument of conveyance of the distressed
9property. Every lease entered into pursuant to a contract
10required by Section 25 is terminable at will by the distressed
11property owner, without liability. Every contract required by
12Section 25 must include the following terms:
13        (1) the name, business address, and the telephone
14    number of the distressed property purchaser;
15        (2) the address of the distressed property;
16        (3) the total consideration to be given by the
17    distressed property purchaser or tax lien payor in
18    connection with or incident to the sale;
19        (4) a complete description of the terms of payment or
20    other consideration including, but not limited to, any
21    services of any nature that the distressed property
22    purchaser represents he or she will perform for the owner
23    of the distressed property before or after the sale;
24        (5) a complete description of the terms of any related
25    agreement designed to allow the owner of the distressed

 

 

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1    property to remain in the home such as a rental agreement,
2    repurchase agreement, contract for deed, or lease with
3    option to buy;
4        (6) a notice of cancellation as provided in this
5    Section;
6        (7) the following notice in at least 12-point boldface
7    type, if the contract is printed, or in capital letters,
8    if the contract is typed, and completed with the name of
9    the distressed property purchaser, immediately above the
10    statement required by this Section:
11
"NOTICE REQUIRED BY ILLINOIS LAW
12        Until your right to cancel this contract has ended,
13    ..................(Name) or anyone working for
14    ...................(Name) CANNOT ask you to sign or have
15    you sign any deed or any other document. You are urged to
16    have this contract reviewed by an attorney of your choice
17    within 5 business days of signing it."; and    
18        (8) if title to the distressed property will be
19    transferred in the conveyance transaction, the following
20    notice in at least 14-point boldface type if the contract
21    is printed, or in capital letters if the contract is
22    typed, and completed with the name of the distressed
23    property purchaser, immediately above the statement
24    required by this Section:
25
"NOTICE REQUIRED BY ILLINOIS LAW
26        As part of this transaction, you are giving up title

 

 

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1    to your home."; and .
2        (9) if a distressed property is at risk of loss for the
3    non-payment of real estate taxes, a statement that the
4    property owner may have the right to obtain money for any
5    equity lost if a tax deed is issued, either through the
6    right to indemnity or public auction, that the property
7    owner will lose the right to claim the surplus equity if
8    the property owner sells the property, and that the
9    property owner should consult an attorney to discuss the
10    property owner's options before selling the property.    
11(Source: P.A. 94-822, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
12    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
13becoming law.
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