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Terminology

Assessment book; book or list.
When used in reference to an assessment book, all mechanically, electronically, or otherwise produced record making material. The substantive information required to be placed in and kept as a public record in an assessment book by this Code may be transferred from one media to another within this definition, but the substantive information shall not be changed in the process and the record made shall reflect and make available exactly the same substantive assessment information as assessment books would contain and reflect had any other method been used. (35 ILCS 200/1‑5)

Assessor; assessors.
County, township, multi‑township or deputy assessors, all of whom evaluate and appraise property. (35 ILCS 200/1‑10)

Chief county assessment officer.
The supervisor of assessments or the county assessor in each county. (35 ILCS 200/1‑15)

Collector; collectors.
County, township, and deputy collectors. (35 ILCS 200/1‑20) Also known as the county treasurer.

Collector’s tax book; Collector’s warrant book.
When used in reference to a collector’s tax book, all mechanically, electronically, or otherwise produced record making material. The substantive information required to be placed in and kept as a public record in a tax collector’s book by this Code may be transferred from one media to another within this definition, but the substantive information shall not be changed in the process and the record made shall reflect and make available exactly the same substantive tax information as tax collector’s books would contain and reflect had any other method been used. (35 ILCS 200/1‑25)

County Board
The elected governing body of a county. (35 ILCS 200/1‑35)

Legal Description; Proper Description; Description
The describing of property (a) by reference to government surveys or by metes and bounds; (b) when subdivided into lots and blocks, by reference to duly recorded plats, or (c) by reference to an index number established in accordance with Section 9‑45. (35 ILCS 200/1‑80)

Mortgage lender.
Any institution, association, partnership, corporation, or person that is engaged in this State in the business of making loans of moneys, or that regularly makes loans of moneys in this State, or that services loans, including the collections of loans directly secured by mortgages, trust deeds in the nature of mortgages or other instruments in the nature of mortgages, which constitute a lien upon property in this State. (35 ILCS 200/1‑90)

Mortgagor.
An owner of property situated in any county of this State who creates a lien against the property in favor of a mortgage lender by executing a mortgage, trust deed in the nature of a mortgage or other instrument in the nature of a mortgage covering the property. (35 ILCS 200/1‑95)

Property Index Number; PIN; Parcel Number.
A number used to identify a parcel of property for assessment and taxation purposes. The index number shall constitute a sufficient description of the property to which it has been assigned, wherever a description is required by this Code. (35 ILCS 200/1‑120)

Property; real property; real estate; land; tract; lot.
The land itself, with all things contained therein, and also all buildings, structures and improvements, and other permanent fixtures thereon, including all oil, gas, coal and other minerals in the land and the right to remove oil, gas and other minerals, excluding coal, from the land, and all rights and privileges belonging or pertaining thereto, except where otherwise specified by this Code. Included therein is any vehicle or similar portable structure used or so constructed as to permit its use as a dwelling place, if the structure is resting in whole on a permanent foundation. (35 ILCS 200/1‑130)

Tax; Taxes.
Any tax, special assessments or costs, interest or penalty imposed upon property. (35 ILCS 200/1‑145)

Taxing District.
Any unit of local government, school district or community college district with the power to levy taxes. (35 ILCS 200/1‑150)



Recent Tax Lien Articles


I’m a serious tax buyer…

If you’ve ever sent a letter that starts like this i can guarantee you are one of the many who have become prey for the hundreds of people out there promising to make you rich buying tax liens.  Most books or seminars only give broad definitions of how tax liens work and then supply a form letter so that you may send it to the county treasurer to obtain the exact details of how the tax sale procedures work in that county.  Save your money!!!  If you are really interested in purchasing tax liens read the Illinois Property Tax Code and hire a qualified real estate attorney to explain it to you.  For those of you who purchased the book and haven’t gotten around to mailing the letters I’ll save you the trouble and give you the answers now.

Illinois Internet Tax Sales - Do they exist???

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