Visit www.cookcountytreasurer.com About Unpaid 2005 Taxes

The unpaid taxes on some 16,000 parcels of property were bought by tax buyers during the Annual Tax Sale and owners have two years to redeem the delinquencies, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.

To determine if a delinquency was purchased, a taxpayer can visit Pappas' website at www.cookcountytreasurer.com and enter the Property Index Number of the home, business or land and receive instructions on how to redeem to avoid possible loss of the property.

The Annual Tax Sale covered unpaid taxes from tax year 2005, the bills for which were issued in 2006. From June 5 to June 26, some 37,500 PINs were offered at auction and more than 16,000 were purchased. Tax buyers paid the delinquencies, and property owners must redeem to them - pay back with interest and penalties.

The Treasurer's website will tell owners whether their delinquencies were sold at the Tax Sale and how to contact the Cook County Clerk's Office about redemption.

Owners are to receive notices from the tax buyers and the Clerk's Office. If an owner does not redeem in two years, the tax buyer can ask a judge for the deed to the property.

Pappas said her office recovered about $52 million in unpaid taxes, penalties and other fees during the Tax Sale on just over 16,000 PINs purchased.