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States › Ohio Quick › Tax Sale Summary

There are 88 Counties in Ohio. It became the 17th state on March 1, 1803. The state motto is "With God, all things are possible".

Currently, Ohio offers tax lien certificates and tax deeds. For tax lien certificates, investors get 18% per annum and a one year right of redemption.

Summary: Generally, the court may order each parcel delinquent in property tax to be sold, without appraisal, for not less than either of the following: (1) The fair market value of the parcel, as determined by the county auditor, plus the costs incurred in the foreclosure proceeding;(2) The total amount of the finding entered by the court, including all taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest (Sec. 5721.19). Every tract of land and town lot, that has been advertised and offered for sale on two separate occasions, not less than two weeks apart, and not sold for want of bidders, shall be forfeited to the state. (Sec. 5723.01) The county auditor shall maintain a list of forfeited lands and shall offer such lands for sale annually, or more frequently if the auditor determines that more frequent sales are necessary. (Sec. 5723.04).

Counties having a population of at least 200,000, may collect delinquent taxes by selling tax lien certificates at public auction (Sec. 5721.31). Upon the sale and delivery of a tax certificate, such tax certificate vests in the certificate holder the first lien previously held by the state and its taxing districts under section 5721.10 of the Revised Code for the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, and penalty charged against a certificate parcel, superior to all other liens and encumbrances upon the parcel described in the tax certificate, in the amount of the certificate redemption price, except liens for delinquent taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, charges, and costs that attached to the certificate parcel prior to the attachment of the lien being conveyed by the sale of such tax certificate. (Sec. 5721.35). A county treasurer may, in the treasurer's discretion, negotiate the sale of any number of tax certificates with one or more persons, (Sec. 5721.33). Counties eligible to sell certificates include Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lake, Loraine, Lucas, Mahoning, Montgomery, Stark, Summit, and Trumbull counties.

Law: Ohio Revised Code, Title 57, Chapter 5721, "Delinquent Lands," and Chapter 5723, "Forfeited Lands."

Contact: In all proceedings relating to delinquent and forfeited lands and the certification and sale thereof, the county auditor shall act as the agent of the state (Sec. 5721.09). The county treasurer shall compile a separate list, the list of parcels selected for tax certificate sales (Sec. 5721.31).

Interest Rate: Not applicable for deed sales because there is no right to redeem after the sale of foreclosed property (Sec. 5721.25). For sales of tax certificates, the maximum interest rate is 18% per annum simple interest (Sec. 5721.32).

Auction Type: Tax Deed Sale (Sec. 5721.19) or certificate (Sec. 5721.31), depending on the county population and discretion.

Bidding Procedure: All tax Foreclosed property is sold to the highest bidder at public auction, subject to the minimum bid requirements (Sec. 5721.19). The county treasurer, designee, or agent shall award the tax certificate to the person bidding the lowest certificate rate of interest. (Sec. 5721.32). Bids are placed in even increments of one-fourth of one per cent to the rate of zero per cent.

Costs: Costs included in the minimum bid amount for sales of foreclosed property include amount of the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest, and the costs incurred in the foreclosure proceeding instituted against it, which are due and unpaid (Sec. 5721.19). The treasurer shall set the fee at a reasonable amount that covers the treasurer's costs of administering the sale of the tax certificate (Sec. 5721.32).

Redemption Period: There is no right to redeem foreclosed property that is sold at a tax sale (Sec. 5721.25). At any time prior to payment to the county treasurer by the certificate holder to initiate foreclosure proceedings under division (B) of section 5721.37 of the Revised Code, the owner of record of the certificate parcel, or any other person entitled to redeem that parcel, may redeem the parcel by paying to the county treasurer an amount equal to the total of the certificate redemption prices of all tax certificates respecting that parcel plus the sum of taxes, assessments, penalties, charges, and interest charged against the parcel that have become due and payable since the date the last certificate was sold (Sec. 5721.38). At any time after one year from the date shown on the tax certificate as the date the tax certificate was sold, and not later than three years after that date, the certificate holder may file with the county treasurer a request for foreclosure on a form prescribed by the tax commissioner and provided by the county treasurer (Sec. 5721.37).

Deed assigned at Foreclosure to: Tax sale purchaser (Sec. 5721.19) or certificate holder (Sec. 5721.37), as applicable.

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Counties:

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