Arizona vs Indiana
Same underlying data as the individual state pages, side by side. Statutory rates and redemption windows only — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.
| | Arizona | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Sale type | Tax lien certificate | Tax lien certificate |
| Rate / penalty | Up to 16%, bid down | Up to 15% of the minimum bid; 5%/yr on overbid |
| Redemption | 3+ years | 1 year (120 days on county-held certificates) |
Both states run the same kind of sale — tax lien certificate — so the real difference between them comes down to rate and redemption, not the underlying mechanism.
Redemption windows differ: Arizona gives owners 3+ years, Indiana gives 1 year (120 days on county-held certificates) — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Arizona tax lien certificates carry a maximum of 16% simple interest (A.R.S. § 42-18053), auctioned by bid-down like Florida (§ 42-18114). The holder cannot sue to foreclose until three years after the sale and must do so within ten (§ 42-18201), and the owner can redeem until the treasurer's deed is delivered (§ 42-18152).
Full Arizona page →Indiana sells tax sale certificates to the highest bidder above a minimum bid made up of the taxes, penalties and costs (IC 6-1.1-24-5). The owner has one year to redeem and pays 110% of the minimum bid within six months or 115% after that, plus 5% a year on any amount bid above the minimum (IC 6-1.1-25-2). Certificates on parcels nobody bought can be resold by the county at a later certificate sale, with a 120-day redemption period and a 10% return on the certificate price (IC 6-1.1-24-6.1, IC 6-1.1-25-4). Vacant or abandoned parcels certified for sale carry no redemption at all.
Full Indiana page →Property & tax market
| | Arizona | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $394,500 | $218,200 |
| Median property tax / year | $1,879 | $1,614 |
| Tax / home value | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| Tax / household income | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| Homes owned outright | 38.2% | 36.4% |
| “Other vacant” homes | 2.2% | 4.3% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1976 |
A typical home in Arizona pays 1.2× the property tax of one in Indiana ($1,879 against $1,614 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Arizona lien ties up about 1.2× the money of an Indiana one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.2× the dollars.
Homes owned outright — where no lender has a reason to pay the delinquent bill for the owner — are 38.2% of owner-occupied homes in Arizona and 36.4% in Indiana. The Census “other vacant” share (foreclosures, homes in legal limbo or needing repairs, abandoned homes) is 2.2% against 4.3%: Indiana has more of the empty properties that tend to go unredeemed — and to need work if the deed ends up yours.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25077, B25103, B25081, B25002, B25004, B25035, B19013). Medians of what owners report paying, not statutory rates. County-level figures are on each state page.
Quick answers
Is Arizona or Indiana a tax lien state?+
Arizona is a tax lien certificate state. Indiana is a tax lien certificate state.
Which has the higher rate, Arizona or Indiana?+
Arizona: Up to 16%, bid down. Indiana: Up to 15% of the minimum bid; 5%/yr on overbid. Compare the actual statutory ceiling, not just the headline number — most "up to" rates get bid down at auction.
Which redeems faster, Arizona or Indiana?+
Redemption windows differ: Arizona gives owners 3+ years, Indiana gives 1 year (120 days on county-held certificates) — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Are property taxes higher in Arizona or Indiana?+
The median homeowner pays $1,879 a year in Arizona and $1,614 in Indiana (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). A typical home in Arizona pays 1.2× the property tax of one in Indiana ($1,879 against $1,614 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Arizona lien ties up about 1.2× the money of an Indiana one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.2× the dollars.
Want to line up more than two states, or swap in different ones? Use the interactive comparison tool — up to four states at once.
See where these two rank against all 50 states: full rankings.
This page is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates and redemption periods are set by state statute and can change by county or legislative session — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.