Maryland vs Illinois
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.
| | Maryland | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Sale type | Tax lien certificate | Tax lien certificate |
| Rate / penalty | 6% default, set by each county (20% in Montgomery and Prince George's); price bidding, not rate | Up to 9% per 6-month period, bid down |
| Redemption | Until a court forecloses (suit allowed after 6 months, 9 if owner-occupied) | 2.5–3 years (1 year for vacant/commercial) |
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: Maryland gives owners Until a court forecloses (suit allowed after 6 months, 9 if owner-occupied), Illinois gives 2.5–3 years (1 year for vacant/commercial) — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Maryland bidders compete on price, not rate: each county fixes the redemption rate before the sale (6% by default under § 14-820, 20% in Montgomery and Prince George's) and owner-occupied homes are capped at 10%. The owner can redeem until a court forecloses, and you can't sue until 6 months after the sale (9 for owner-occupied).
Full Maryland page →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 →Property & tax market
| | Maryland | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $419,900 | $263,300 |
| Median property tax / year | $4,093 | $5,298 |
| Tax / home value | 1.0% | 2.0% |
| Tax / household income | 3.9% | 6.4% |
| Homes owned outright | 29.0% | 39.2% |
| “Other vacant” homes | 3.0% | 3.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1971 |
A typical home in Illinois pays 1.3× the property tax of one in Maryland ($5,298 against $4,093 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Illinois lien ties up about 1.3× the money of a Maryland one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.3× the dollars.
Homes owned outright — where no lender has a reason to pay the delinquent bill for the owner — are 29.0% of owner-occupied homes in Maryland and 39.2% in Illinois. The Census “other vacant” share (foreclosures, homes in legal limbo or needing repairs, abandoned homes) is 3.0% against 3.9%: Illinois 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 Maryland or Illinois a tax lien state?+
Maryland is a tax lien certificate state. Illinois is a tax lien certificate state.
Which has the higher rate, Maryland or Illinois?+
Maryland: 6% default, set by each county (20% in Montgomery and Prince George's); price bidding, not rate. Illinois: Up to 9% per 6-month period, bid down. Compare the actual statutory ceiling, not just the headline number — most "up to" rates get bid down at auction.
Which redeems faster, Maryland or Illinois?+
Redemption windows differ: Maryland gives owners Until a court forecloses (suit allowed after 6 months, 9 if owner-occupied), Illinois gives 2.5–3 years (1 year for vacant/commercial) — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Are property taxes higher in Maryland or Illinois?+
The median homeowner pays $4,093 a year in Maryland and $5,298 in Illinois (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). A typical home in Illinois pays 1.3× the property tax of one in Maryland ($5,298 against $4,093 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Illinois lien ties up about 1.3× the money of a Maryland one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.3× 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.