Each year thousands of Cook County property owners pay their real estate property taxes late or neglect to pay them at all. Any unpaid balance due may then be subject to sale to a third party.
If your unpaid taxes have been sold (at an annual tax sale, scavenger sale or over the counter), the Clerk's office can provide you with an Estimate of the Cost of Redemption, detailing the amount necessary to redeem (pay) your taxes and remove the threat of losing your property.
The Clerk's office also provides calculations of delinquent taxes owed from prior years when those taxes have not been sold and are either "open" (pending action or review) or "forfeited" (previously offered for sale but not sold).
In addition, the office provides proofs of payment, called Certificates of Payment or Certificates of Deposit for Redemption, which document the payment or deposit of redemption funds.
- What should I do if my taxes have been sold?
- How to order an Estimate of the Cost of Redemption
- How to order a calculation of taxes that have been forfeited or are open
- How to make a redemption payment
- How to order proofs of payment (ordering a Certificate of Payment or Certificate of Deposit for Redemption)
- How can I check on the status of my current year's property taxes?
- How to obtain an Annual Tax Deed or Scavenger Deed?