Under Illinois law, the Treasurer's Office is required to conduct a Scavenger Sale every two years. The 2019 Scavenger Sale, at which property taxes on properties with three or more delinquent tax years are subject to sale, has been scheduled to commence on July 11, 2019. Delinquent and forfeited taxes for Tax Years 1998 through 2017 will be eligible for sale at the scavenger sale.

If your taxes are scheduled to be sold at the 2019 Scavenger Sale, you are advised to contact the Cook County Clerk's Office as soon as possible to obtain tax bills for these prior years’ taxes. The Clerk’s Office can assist you with respect to property taxes that were sold, forfeited (offered at a tax sale but not purchased), or open prior years' taxes (not offered at a tax sale but have a tax balance due). You may contact the County Clerk's Office via:

• Phone: (312) 603-5656
• Location: Cook County Clerk (Real Estate and Tax Services), 118 North Clark Street, Room 434, Chicago, Illinois 60602
• Website: www.cookcountyclerk.com

If your property has three or more delinquent or forfeited tax years, it is imperative that you pay these taxes prior to the 2019 Scavenger Sale. Payment may be made by mail or in person at:

Cook County Treasurer’s Office
118 N. Clark St., Rm. 112
Chicago, IL 60602

Please be advised that an open-item or forfeiture bill must accompany your payment. Cash payments may not be made by mail.

If delinquent taxes remain unpaid and are sold at tax sale, the tax purchaser will hold a lien on the property. Depending on when the taxes are redeemed from tax sale (i.e., paid), removing such a lien may significantly increase the amount due. Failure to redeem following a sale may ultimately lead to a loss of ownership of the property.

The 2019 Scavenger Sale will be conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each scheduled day. Seat selection is first-come, first-served. At the discretion of the Treasurer's Office, these hours may be extended or shortened to accommodate the sale schedule. The sale is expected to be completed on July 24, 2019.

The sale will be conducted in the Lower Level Conference Room B at 69 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602.

A list of tax-delinquent properties will be published in community newspapers by township on June 12 and 13, 2019. Lists of these properties will be available for inspection at the Cook County Treasurer's Office in the County Building at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 112, Chicago, Illinois, beginning June 14, 2019. Lists of properties will also be available for inspection in the Cook County Clerk's Office, 118 N. Clark Street, Room 434, Chicago, Illinois.

The Delinquent Tax List will be available for purchase starting June 14, 2019, in paper form or CD, for $250. Payment must be made in Room 112 of the Treasurer’s Office. The Purchaser will be provided with a receipt, and then must bring the receipt to the Tax Sale Department, Room 112, to receive a copy of the list.

Registration for the sale will begin at 9:00 a.m. on June 14, 2019, and will end at 4:00 p.m. on July 1, 2019. There is a non-refundable $100 registration fee required for each buyer to participate in the Scavenger Sale. Payment must be made in Room 112 of the Treasurer’s Office. There, you will receive a receipt that must be presented when submitting registration forms to the Tax Sale Department in Room 112 of the Treasurer’s Office. The fee is strictly for registration and will not be applied to any successful bids.

All payments for anything connected with the 2019 Scavenger Sale must be made using certified or cashier’s check, money order, or cash. No business, personal checks, or credit cards will be accepted. Checks must be in the exact amount of the payment due. No change will be made on a non-cash transaction. During the sale, each buy sheet must be paid with a separate cashier’s or certified check or money order in the exact amount required for that buy sheet.

Properties, on which delinquent tax liens will be sold, are sold AS IS. The delinquent taxes on the parcels offered for sale are described solely by their Property Index Number (“PIN”), and NOT the common street address. The Treasurer’s Office does not assume any responsibility, implied or otherwise, as to the accuracy of street addresses and/or property classifications, or to the legal status or condition of the properties. It is the responsibility of each buyer to research the property location, classification, nature, and condition of any property or improvements prior to the sale. All sales are final.

   Click here to download a copy of the 2019 Scavenger Sale Registration Packet.