Indiana Tax Deed & Tax Lien Sales 2026

How tax sales work in Indiana

Indiana counties sell tax lien certificates at an annual treasurer’s sale, typically held between August and October. Bidding is by premium: the minimum bid covers the delinquent taxes, penalties and costs, and the highest bid wins. The buyer pays the full amount and receives a tax sale certificate. The portion above the minimum, the overbid, is held by the county as surplus. Parcels that do not sell are certified to the county commissioners, who may hold a second sale of certificates, often in late winter or spring, at a reduced minimum and with a shorter redemption period. Most counties contract the auction to one of two service companies that run the sale online, and a few still hold sales in person.

Redemption and interest

For a treasurer’s sale certificate the owner has one year to redeem. The redemption amount includes the minimum bid plus 10 percent if redeemed within six months or 15 percent if redeemed in the second six months, plus 5 percent per year on the overbid, plus taxes the buyer paid after the sale with interest. Commissioners’ sale certificates carry a 120-day redemption. If no redemption occurs, the buyer must have given the statutory notices, one within nine months of the sale and one after the period ends, and then petition the court for a tax deed. The court’s order directs the auditor to issue the deed; the surplus from the overbid goes to the former owner, not the buyer.

When and where sales happen

Treasurer’s sales occur once a year per county, with lists published and posted online several weeks before. Commissioners’ certificate sales follow in the months after. Online sales usually run over a day with batch closings; buyers must register and often prepay or post a deposit.

What to check before you bid

Look at the assessed value against the minimum bid and decide how much premium you can afford at 5 percent. Check the county for unsafe building orders, demolition liens and sewer liens; some survive. Confirm the parcel’s use, since vacant lots in older cities may be worth less than the taxes. Verify that the county has not flagged the parcel for a municipal or land bank acquisition. Plan for the two notice mailings and the petition cost.

How AuctionScouts helps here

AuctionScouts imports treasurer’s and commissioners’ sale lists from Indiana counties, scores each parcel from 0 to 100, and flags recorded liens that may survive. The calendar tracks each county’s sale date and the redemption deadlines that follow.