Illinois vs Ohio
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.
| | Illinois | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Sale type | Tax lien certificate | Tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure |
| Rate / penalty | Up to 9% per 6-month period, bid down | Up to 18%, bid down or negotiated |
| Redemption | 2.5–3 years (1 year for vacant/commercial) | 1+ year |
These aren't the same kind of sale: Illinois runs a tax lien certificate, while Ohio runs a tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure. That changes what you actually hold after the sale — a claim against the debt in one case, the property itself (or a right to it) in the other.
Redemption windows differ: Illinois gives owners 2.5–3 years (1 year for vacant/commercial), Ohio gives 1+ year — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Illinois sells delinquent taxes at an annual county tax sale where bidders compete on the penalty they will accept, capped at 9% since 2022 (35 ILCS 200/21-215); the redeeming owner pays that penalty once for each six-month period that has begun, up to six (§ 21-355). Most property can be redeemed for 2½ years (one year for vacant non-farm, commercial, industrial and 7+-unit property), and three years on certificates sold on or after July 10, 2026, when HB 4537 (P.A. 104-553) replaced the direct tax deed with a court-ordered auction that returns any surplus to the former owner and let counties acquire the liens themselves (§§ 21-190, 21-350, 22-40, 22-42).
Full Illinois page →Ohio county treasurers may sell tax certificates (R.C. 5721.31): at auction the rate is bid down from 18% in quarter-point steps and the owner pays at least 6% of the price on redemption (R.C. 5721.32, 5721.30(E)), or the whole list goes to one buyer in a negotiated sale (R.C. 5721.33). The holder can file for foreclosure after one year (R.C. 5721.37) and the owner can redeem until the sale is confirmed. Where no certificate is sold, the county forecloses and the sheriff sells the property (R.C. 5721.18–5721.19).
Full Ohio page →Property & tax market
| | Illinois | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,300 | $214,800 |
| Median property tax / year | $5,298 | $2,822 |
| Tax / home value | 2.0% | 1.3% |
| Tax / household income | 6.4% | 4.0% |
| Homes owned outright | 39.2% | 39.4% |
| “Other vacant” homes | 3.9% | 4.3% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1970 |
A typical home in Illinois pays 1.9× the property tax of one in Ohio ($5,298 against $2,822 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Illinois lien ties up about 1.9× the money of an Ohio one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.9× the dollars.
Homes owned outright — where no lender has a reason to pay the delinquent bill for the owner — are 39.2% of owner-occupied homes in Illinois and 39.4% in Ohio. The Census “other vacant” share (foreclosures, homes in legal limbo or needing repairs, abandoned homes) is 3.9% against 4.3%: about the same, so neither state's lists should carry noticeably more empty properties.
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 Illinois or Ohio a tax lien state?+
Illinois is a tax lien certificate state. Ohio is a tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure state.
Which has the higher rate, Illinois or Ohio?+
Illinois: Up to 9% per 6-month period, bid down. Ohio: Up to 18%, bid down or negotiated. Compare the actual statutory ceiling, not just the headline number — most "up to" rates get bid down at auction.
Which redeems faster, Illinois or Ohio?+
Redemption windows differ: Illinois gives owners 2.5–3 years (1 year for vacant/commercial), Ohio gives 1+ year — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Are property taxes higher in Illinois or Ohio?+
The median homeowner pays $5,298 a year in Illinois and $2,822 in Ohio (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). A typical home in Illinois pays 1.9× the property tax of one in Ohio ($5,298 against $2,822 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Illinois lien ties up about 1.9× the money of an Ohio one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.9× the dollars.
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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.