Owners of homes and other real property who have not paid property taxes for tax year 2010 (originally payable in 2011) should pay immediately to avoid having their taxes offered for auction at the Annual Tax Sale which begins August 3, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.

Pappas said owners with unpaid bills for tax year 2010 should go to her office's website, cookcountytreasurer.com, and pay electronically by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 27. Payment also can be made at Chase banks with a certified check, cashier's check or money order by August 1.

The Tax Sale is a four-day auction at which tax buyers bid on unpaid taxes, this year for 2010 bills (mailed in 2011). If the owner does not redeem, the tax buyer can ask a court for title to the property. Owners redeeming taxes from buyers face penalties and interest costs.

Currently, the taxes for some 59,000 properties are delinquent. To alert owners, earlier last month the Treasurer's Office published delinquency lists in newspapers and sent notices by certified mail to the owners.

Pappas noted that owners should make sure they pay any delinquent tax bill first, before paying the newly issued Second Installment bill. "Unsure owners should go to cookcountytreasurer.com and check their payment status," Pappas said.

If they find a delinquency, they can stay on the website and pay electronically, Pappas said.