The Annual Delinquent Tax Sale occurs near the end of Monroe County's fiscal year which is November 30.  According to Illinois State Law, all taxes must be collected and distributed to the taxing bodies within the county by the end of its fiscal year.  If taxes are delinquent, the Treasurer/Collector must "sell" the taxes, not the property, in order to collect and distribute the amount due the taxing bodies.

 At the time of the sale, tax buyers will have the opportunity to bid on the rate of interest to pay the taxes on each parcel that is delinquent. At this time a lien will be placed upon the property, much like a mortgage. This lien must be paid back to the tax buyer at whatever rate of interest the tax buyer “won” in their winning bid. Should the property’s taxes become delinquent in the subsequent year, the original tax buyer has the right to purchase that amount at 12% interest.

To redeem the taxes, a property owner must pay the total amount of taxes due, including subsequent year's taxes if delinquent, interest and penalties to the Monroe County Treasurer/Collector.