Champaign County, Illinois — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → illinois. This page covers how Champaign County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

• County seat: Urbana, IL
• Population: ~209,689 (2020 Census)
• FIPS: 17019
• Recording unit: county
• Parent legal framework: illinois
• Judicial circuit: Sixth Judicial Circuit of Illinois (Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt counties)

C1. Local Tax Sale

• Conducts own sale? Yes — the Champaign County Treasurer/Collector conducts the annual tax sale in-person. No third-party online auction platform is used for the tax lien sale. (Source: champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/Taxes.php, retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Platform: In-person, at the Shields-Carter Meeting Room, Scott M. Bennett Administrative Center, 102 E. Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801. No online bidding for the tax lien certificate sale (contrast: sheriff foreclosure sales use an online platform — see C5).

• Calendar: Annual, late October. For tax year 2026 (payable 2026): sale date is October 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM. Taxes delinquent after 4:30 PM on October 29 are offered at the October 30 sale. (Source: champaignil.devnetwedge.com, retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • First installment due: June 3, 2026
  • Second installment due: September 3, 2026
  • After September 30, 2026: in-person payment only (cash, cashier’s check, money order)
  • Final pre-sale deadline: October 29, 2026 at 4:30 PM

• Registration deadline: No later than 10 business days prior to the sale (i.e., by October 16, 2026 for the October 30 sale). Buyers must complete and return the Tax Sale Buyer Packet to the Treasurer’s office. Contact: treasurer@champaigncountyil.gov or 217-384-3743. (Source: champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/Taxes.php, retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Registration deposit: $500.00 deposit required at registration. (Source: hometaxsale.com/auction/il/champaign citing county, needs_verification against buyer packet)

• Bidder requirements: Complete the Tax Sale Buyer Packet (Certificate of Registration); arrange own County Clerk posting for subsequently paid taxes; be present during sub-tax processing.

• Fees added per parcel purchased at sale (in addition to the delinquent tax amount):

  • $20.00 Indemnity Fee (per 35 ILCS 200/21-295; counties under 3 million population)
  • $10.00 Tax Sale Automation Fee
  • $60.00 Interest Fee
  • $4.00 County Clerk Fee (Source: champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/Taxes.php, retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Delinquent list location: Published in local newspapers as required by law approximately 10 business days before the sale (by ~October 17). Also searchable via the Champaign County Clerk’s Delinquent Property Tax Search at champaigncountyclerk.com/property-taxes/delinquent-property-tax-search. Delinquent notices are sent by certified mail in October. (Source: champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/TreasurerFAQ.php and search result, retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Bidding method: Bid-down-the-penalty per Illinois statute (35 ILCS 200/21-215; max 9% penalty per period per retrieved statute — see illinois needs_verification re: 9% vs. 18%).

• Subsequent taxes (“subs”): Buyers may pay subsequently-accruing delinquent taxes beginning mid-September; exact start dates available from Treasurer’s office. Sub payments must be submitted in black ink (typed or handwritten), arranged by permanent parcel number, with checks made to Champaign County Collector. Buyer responsible for posting with County Clerk. (Source: champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/Taxes.php, retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Tax sale list / book: Available from Treasurer’s office for $100.00 (per fee schedule). (Source: champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/Fee_Schedule.php, retrieved 2026-06-02)

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

• Where to redeem: With the Champaign County Clerk, Property Taxes Division, Scott M. Bennett Administrative Center, 102 E. Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801. (Note: the Clerk’s main mailing/record address is 1776 E. Washington St., Urbana, IL 61802; the Scott M. Bennett Center at 102 E. Main is the primary service location.)

• How to initiate: Call County Clerk Property Taxes Division at 217-384-3722 approximately two weeks after the tax sale to obtain the redemption amount. Appointments required for in-person redemption.

• Payment forms accepted: Certified or cashier’s check, money order, or cash only. Personal and business checks are not accepted.

• Partial payments: Not accepted. Payment must be in full.

• Local fees: The statutory fee schedule applies — per-period penalty multipliers per 35 ILCS 200/21-355, plus County Clerk fee (already added at sale), plus any sub-tax interest charges.

• Redemption period (per state law, confirmed locally by Clerk’s website):

  • Residential 1–6 units: 2½ years minimum from date of sale
  • All other properties (commercial, vacant, etc.): 2 years minimum from date of sale
  • Maximum extension (at tax buyer’s election): 3 years from date of sale (Source: champaigncountyclerk.com/property-taxes/tax-redemption search result excerpt, retrieved 2026-06-02 — note the clerk’s page states “2½ years” for residential 1–6 units and “2 years” for other; the state page illinois states 2.5 yr general / 1 yr for vacant-commercial; the difference likely reflects how the categories are described locally vs. statutorily — see needs_verification)

• Take notice: Within four months of the sale, the County Clerk provides the owner a Take Notice stating the owed amount and when it increases. This is consistent with 35 ILCS 200/22-10 requirement that take-notice be served not less than 3 nor more than 6 months before redemption expires.

• Contact:

  • Office: Champaign County Clerk, Property Taxes Division
  • Phone: 217-384-3722
  • Email: proptax@champaigncountyil.gov
  • URL: champaigncountyclerk.com/property-taxes/tax-redemption

• Deviations from state default: None identified. The local process tracks Illinois statutory defaults closely. See C5 for the notable indemnity fund history.

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

Tax Sale (lien-certificate) — Indemnity Fund (no traditional surplus pool):

Illinois does not generate a traditional “surplus” on the tax-lien side because the tax buyer pays only the delinquent taxes and, on non-redemption, receives a deed to the entire parcel. The former owner’s remedy is the Indemnity Fund (35 ILCS 200/21-305).

• Local quirk — Indemnity Fund abolished then reinstated: Champaign County abolished its Tax Indemnity Fund via County Ordinance No. 314 (1988) — “An Ordinance Abolishing the Tax Indemnity Fund and Transferring the Fund Balance.” In November 2022 the County Board reinstated the fund (appropriating ~$602,780) to meet legal obligations following renewed scrutiny of tax deed practices. This was presented, passed, and approved at the November 17, 2022 County Board meeting. (Source: champaigncountyil.gov County Board agenda search results, retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Claim filing venue: Petition in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Champaign County (101 E. Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801), naming the County Treasurer (as trustee of the fund) as defendant. Per 35 ILCS 200/21-305.

• Claim form: No dedicated county-issued form identified; filing is by circuit court petition. Contact Circuit Clerk at 217-384-3725 for filing procedures.

• Local deadline notes: 10 years after the tax deed is issued (per 35 ILCS 200/21-305). Locally note the 1988–2022 gap in the fund — claims for deeds issued during the gap period (1988–2022) may face a depleted-fund argument; needs_verification.

• Unclaimed list published: No dedicated local unclaimed-indemnity list identified. (needs_verification)

• Recovery cap: Up to $99,000 for owner-occupied residential (≤4 units) if no fault/negligence; fair cash value minus liens for other property. (35 ILCS 200/21-305)

Mortgage Foreclosure Surplus:

Where a judicial foreclosure sale yields proceeds exceeding total liens/costs, the surplus is held by the Circuit Court (Sixth Judicial Circuit, 101 E. Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801) pending a court order for distribution. A claimant files a motion in the original foreclosure case. Unclaimed surplus ultimately forfeits to the State. (735 ILCS 5/15-1512; confirmed by Illinois Legal Aid Online, retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Contact for mortgage surplus: Champaign County Circuit Clerk, 101 E. Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801; phone 217-384-3725.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Champaign County’s annual tax lien sale is in person at the Shields-Carter Meeting Room, 102 E. Main Street, Urbana (October 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM; pre-sale taxes delinquent after 4:30 PM October 29). Registration requires a completed Tax Sale Buyer Packet submitted at least 10 business days before the sale (by October 16, 2026) to the Treasurer’s office (217-384-3743; treasurer@champaigncountyil.gov), with a $500 deposit. Per-parcel fees at purchase:$20 Indemnity Fee + $10 Tax Sale Automation Fee +$60 Interest Fee + $4 County Clerk Fee. Bidding is bid-down-the-penalty (max 9% per period). Mortgage foreclosure sheriff’s sales are separately conducted online via SalesWeb (salesweb.civilview.com/Sales/SalesSearch?countyId=42) with 24-hour payment due. Residential foreclosures require a mandatory mediation pre-conference through the Dispute Resolution Institute.

▸ For Former Owners — Illinois does not generate a traditional surplus on the tax-lien side; if a former owner loses property to a tax deed and believes the value exceeded the tax debt, the remedy is the Indemnity Fund (35 ILCS 200/21-305). File a petition in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Champaign County (101 E. Main St., Urbana; Circuit Clerk: 217-384-3725), naming the County Treasurer as defendant, within 10 years of the tax deed’s issuance. Note that Champaign County abolished its Indemnity Fund in 1988 and reinstated it in November 2022 with a ~$602,780 appropriation; whether that fund covers deeds issued during the 1988–2022 gap is unresolved. For mortgage foreclosure surplus, contact the Circuit Clerk (217-384-3725) and file a motion in the original foreclosure case.

C4. Offices & Contacts

Treasurer email: treasurer@champaigncountyil.gov
Clerk property tax email: proptax@champaigncountyil.gov
Treasurer office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM CT
Payments after September 30: In-person only (cash, cashier’s check, money order); checks payable to Champaign County Collector; mail to P.O. Box 4306, Springfield, IL 62708-4306 before that date.

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• Indemnity fund gap (1988–2022): Champaign County operated without an active tax indemnity fund for 34 years (Ordinance No. 314, 1988). The fund was reinstated November 2022 with a ~$602,780 appropriation. The legal exposure for former owners who lost property via tax deed during the 1988–2022 window — and whether the reinstated fund covers those claims — is a material open question flagged in needs_verification.

• Sheriff foreclosure sales — online platform: Unlike the tax lien sale (which is in-person), mortgage foreclosure sheriff’s sales are conducted online via SalesWeb (civilview.com) at salesweb.civilview.com/Sales/SalesSearch?countyId=42. Bidding runs for approximately 48 hours. Payment (certified/cashier’s check, full amount) is due within 24 hours of auction close. (Source: salesweb.civilview.com, retrieved 2026-06-02; also corroborated by roup.com listing.)

• Foreclosure mediation program (residential): All residential mortgage foreclosure cases in Champaign County require a mandatory mediation pre-conference before the matter proceeds. The program administrator is Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc. (dri-inc.org). Initial intake conferences are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Self-Help Center, first floor, Champaign County Courthouse, 101 E. Main St., Urbana. As of January 1, 2022, the filing fee is $100 per residential foreclosure case (in addition to all other court fees). (Source: champaigncountyil.gov/CircuitCourt/ForeclosureMediation.php, retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Delinquent list publication: Published in local newspapers approximately 10 business days before the October 30 sale (by ~October 17); The News-Gazette has historically carried this notice.

• Sub-tax payment process: Buyers must physically arrange their own County Clerk posting for subsequently-paid taxes; the Treasurer’s office does not handle this step. Sub-tax payment windows open mid-September.

• No scavenger sale identified separately: Illinois statute provides for a scavenger sale on parcels delinquent 3+ years. Champaign County’s practice for these parcels has not been separately confirmed; parcels forfeited to the State may also arise. (needs_verification)

• Tyler v. Hennepin / Bell v. Pappas context: As noted in illinois, the county’s historical model (buyer gets entire parcel for unpaid taxes, former owner receives only indemnity fund claim) is the model challenged in Bell v. Pappas and Tyler. The 2022 indemnity fund reinstatement pre-dated those rulings and was not framed as a constitutional reform; it remains to be seen how HB4537 (pending governor’s signature, May 2026) will alter Champaign County’s specific procedures.

C6. Records Access

• Parcel / property tax search portal: Champaign County Property Tax Inquiry — search by parcel number, address, owner name, or sale information.

• Delinquent parcel search: champaigncountyclerk.com/property-taxes/delinquent-property-tax-search

• Recorder / deed search: champaigncountyclerk.com/recorder-deeds/search-records (via Tapestry, Laredo, or Monarch platforms managed by Fidlar)

• GIS / interactive map: Champaign County GIS Consortium Interactive Map — query, mark-up, print; parcel identification, tax/assessment info, current and historic aerial photography.

• Tax payment portal: champaigncountyiltax.us — online payment for real estate and mobile home taxes.

• Historical tax lookup: champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/taxlookup_history.php (note: returned 404 on 2026-06-02 check; listed here as needs_verification).

• Sheriff sale listings: SalesWeb — Champaign County — active and closed mortgage foreclosure sale listings.

C7. Meta

sources:

• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/Taxes.php”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/treasurer.php”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/Fee_Schedule.php”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://champaignil.devnetwedge.com/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/headermenu/departments.php”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/headermenu/generalinfo.php”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/TreasurerFAQ.php”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/CircuitCourt/ForeclosureMediation.php”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_county_clerk, url: “https://champaigncountyclerk.com/property-taxes/tax-redemption”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”, note: “HTTP 403 on direct fetch; data extracted via search snippet”}
• {type: official_county_clerk, url: “https://champaigncountyclerk.com/property-taxes/property-tax-101”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”, note: “HTTP 403 on direct fetch; data extracted via search snippet”}
• {type: official_county_clerk, url: “https://champaigncountyclerk.com/recorder-deeds/search-records”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”, note: “HTTP 403 on direct fetch; URL confirmed via search”}
• {type: official_county_board, url: “https://www.champaigncountyil.gov/CountyBoard/CB/2022/221117_Meeting/221117AgendaFull.pdf”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”, note: “PDF too large to extract; indemnity fund reinstatement confirmed via search snippet”}
• {type: official_court, url: “https://salesweb.civilview.com/Sales/SalesSearch?countyId=42”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_court, url: “https://www.sixthcircuitcourt.com/courthouse-champaign.php”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: official_gis, url: “https://www.ccgisc.org/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”}
• {type: state_statute, url: “https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=003502000K21-305”, retrieved: “2026-06-01”, note: “Indemnity fund; verified on parent illinois.md”}
• {type: state_statute, url: “https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=003502000K21-295”, retrieved: “2026-06-01”, note: “$20 indemnity fee for <3M counties; verified on parent illinois.md”}

needs_verification:

• $500 registration deposit: Confirmed via secondary source (hometaxsale.com); not independently verified from a retrieved official county page (buyer packet PDF was binary; champaigncountyclerk.com pages returned 403). Verify against official Tax Sale Buyer Packet at champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/PDFS/TaxSaleBuyerpackage.pdf.
• Redemption period for “other property” (2 years vs. 1 year): The Clerk’s site excerpt states “2 years” for commercial/vacant; the current 35 ILCS 200/21-350 as retrieved states “1 year” for vacant non-farm/commercial/7+ units. These may be describing overlapping but distinct categories. Confirm current statutory text against certified ILGA source.
• Circuit Court Clerk’s name: Not confirmed from an official retrieved page.
• Indemnity claims for the 1988–2022 gap period: Whether the 2022 reinstated fund covers claims arising from tax deeds issued during the 34-year gap is unresolved. Legal exposure for former owners who lost property during that window needs attorney/court confirmation.
• Scavenger sale procedure: Illinois statute (35 ILCS 200/21-260) authorizes a scavenger sale for parcels delinquent 3+ years. Champaign County’s local practice for scavenger sales (separate from the annual October sale) has not been confirmed from an official county source.
• Historical tax lookup URL (champaigncountyil.gov/treasurer/taxlookup_history.php) returned 404; the correct current URL for historical tax data is unconfirmed.
• Delinquent list online URL: The search portal at champaigncountyclerk.com/property-taxes/delinquent-property-tax-search returned 403; actual URL accessibility for the public-facing search is unconfirmed as of 2026-06-02.
• Indemnity fund claim form / specific circuit court filing instructions: No dedicated county form identified; petition process in circuit court per 35 ILCS 200/21-305 but no local form number or instruction sheet retrieved.

cross_links: illinois, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, tyler-v-hennepin-county, bell-v-pappas-2025, due-process-notice, sheriff-sale, treasurer-sale, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, heirs-property, third-party-recovery-rules

changelog:

• 2026-06-02 — Initial autoresearch population from champaigncountyil.gov (Treasurer, FAQ, fee schedule, departments, circuit court), champaignil.devnetwedge.com, champaigncountyclerk.com (search snippets), sixthcircuitcourt.com, ccgisc.org, salesweb.civilview.com, and county board agenda search results; illinois.md parent page.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Champaign County’s annual tax lien sale is in person at the Shields-Carter Meeting Room, 102 E. Main Street, Urbana (October 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM; pre-sale taxes delinquent after 4:30 PM October 29). Registration requires a completed Tax Sale Buyer Packet submitted at least 10 business days before the sale (by October 16, 2026) to the Treasurer’s office (217-384-3743; treasurer@champaigncountyil.gov), with a $500 deposit. Per-parcel fees at purchase:$20 Indemnity Fee + $10 Tax Sale Automation Fee +$60 Interest Fee + $4 County Clerk Fee. Bidding is bid-down-the-penalty (max 9% per period). Mortgage foreclosure sheriff’s sales are separately conducted online via SalesWeb (salesweb.civilview.com/Sales/SalesSearch?countyId=42) with 24-hour payment due. Residential foreclosures require a mandatory mediation pre-conference through the Dispute Resolution Institute.

▸ For Former Owners — Illinois does not generate a traditional surplus on the tax-lien side; if a former owner loses property to a tax deed and believes the value exceeded the tax debt, the remedy is the Indemnity Fund (35 ILCS 200/21-305). File a petition in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Champaign County (101 E. Main St., Urbana; Circuit Clerk: 217-384-3725), naming the County Treasurer as defendant, within 10 years of the tax deed’s issuance. Note that Champaign County abolished its Indemnity Fund in 1988 and reinstated it in November 2022 with a ~$602,780 appropriation; whether that fund covers deeds issued during the 1988–2022 gap is unresolved. For mortgage foreclosure surplus, contact the Circuit Clerk (217-384-3725) and file a motion in the original foreclosure case.

Disclaimer: This page is legal information, not legal advice. Tax-foreclosure law changes frequently — Champaign County’s indemnity fund has already been abolished and reinstated once, and Illinois’s tax-sale system is in active constitutional reform (see illinois). Verify every fact against the cited primary sources and consult a licensed Illinois attorney before acting. Last verified: 2026-06-02.