Butler County, IA tax sales
How tax lien certificate sales work in Butler County, seat of Allison: sale calendar, auction platform, over-the-counter lists, and the offices that run each sale.
Verified Jul 29, 2026 against official county and state sources.
New here? Read how Iowa tax sales work, the difference between a lien and a deed, and redemption periods.
How Butler County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
- Run by
- Butler County Treasurer's Office
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- Third Monday in June. The Butler County Treasurer portal's Important Dates page states: "Third Monday in June annual tax sale of outstanding property taxes, manufactured homes, mobile homes, weed assessments, special assessments, rates or charges, and drainage taxes." The county's Property Tax Information page adds that "Publication of delinquent taxes are printed the first week in June in one of the four county newspapers."
- Next expected
- on the third Monday in June, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
Registration and deposit
Butler County does not publish bidder registration instructions or a registration packet online. Contact the Treasurer's tax department at 319-346-6626 or [email protected] ahead of the June sale to confirm forms, deadlines, deposit requirements, and whether bidding is in person at the courthouse or online. The Iowa county treasurer portal carries a statewide "Register and Bid for Tax Sales" link to the Iowa Tax Auction program operated by SRI, where bidders create a free account and then register separately for each county auction and wait for seller approval. That link appears on every Iowa county's portal page, so it does not confirm how Butler runs its own sale.
The Butler County Treasurer conducts the annual tax sale, which sells tax lien certificates on delinquent parcels under Iowa Code Chapter 446. Timing comes from the Important Dates page served in Butler's county portal context, which sets the sale on the third Monday in June. The county's Property Tax Information page says delinquent taxes are published in one of four county newspapers during the first week of June and tells taxpayers to call the office to learn which paper carries the notice, so the sale list is not posted on a county web page. No online auction platform is confirmed for this county, and the county website has no dedicated tax sale page. Verify the sale format, start time, registration packet, and deposit rules directly with the Treasurer's tax department at 319-346-6626 before committing funds.
From lien to deed
- Run by
- County Treasurer
- Frequency
- none
- Typical timing
- Iowa holds no tax deed auction. The treasurer makes out a treasurer's deed to the certificate holder immediately after 90 days have expired from completed service of the notice of expiration of the right of redemption, once the holder returns the certificate and pays the deed and recording fees.
There is nothing for an investor to bid on at the deed stage in Iowa. The only auction is the June certificate sale. The certificate holder must return the certificate of purchase and remit the deed and recording fees within 90 calendar days after the redemption period expires, or the treasurer cancels the certificate.
Over-the-counter (leftover) purchases
Two routes reach parcels after the June sale. Parcels that remain unsold for want of bidders are carried to adjourned sales, which the treasurer sets at intervals of not more than two months until the next annual sale. Separately, certificates struck to the county at the public bidder sale may be assigned by the county for the total amount due on the date of assignment, or for a compromised amount, under a written agreement filed with the treasurer and a 10 dollar assignment transaction fee. Ask the county treasurer which county-held certificates are available for assignment.
New to this path? Read how over-the-counter certificates work.
County offices
Tax Collector (runs the certificate sale)
Notes for Butler County
- No dedicated tax sale page exists on the Butler County website. The Treasurer section covers only the office overview, motor vehicle services, and property tax information, so sale specifics must come from the office directly.
- The mailing address varies by official source. The county Treasurer page lists 428 6th St., PO Box 325, Allison, IA 50602, which is also the courthouse's general address, while the Treasurer's own portal page lists PO Box 327 for the Treasurer's Office. Confirm the box number before mailing registration or redemption funds.
- The delinquent list is published in one of four county newspapers rather than posted online. Call 319-346-6626 to find out which paper carries the current year's notice.
- Treasurer of record is Roxie Nicolaus, who took office in March 2021 according to the Treasurer's portal page.
- Use the tax department line, 319-346-6626, for sale questions. The motor vehicle line, 319-346-6569, and the driver license line, 319-346-6553, do not handle tax sale matters. Office window hours are 7:30am to 4:30pm.
- Certificate holders may pay subsequent delinquent taxes through the Treasurer's online portal after registering for that service, per the portal's subsequent tax registration page.
Iowa statewide rules
- Minimum return
- No statutory minimum return; what you earn is set by the share of ownership taken at the sale
- Redemption
- A parcel may be redeemed at any time before the right of redemption expires. After one year and nine months from the date of sale, the certificate holder may serve a notice of expiration of the right of redemption on the person in possession, the person in whose name the parcel is taxed, and every mortgagee, contract vendor, recorded lessor, and other party of record. The right of redemption then ends 90 days after that service is complete, which means the affidavit of service has been filed with the county treasurer. Three shortened tracks exist: nine months from a public bidder sale under section 446.18, and three months from an abandoned-property or public nuisance sale under section 446.19A or 446.19B. After the treasurer delivers the deed, redemption is possible only through an equitable action in district court, and only by a person who could have redeemed during the 90-day window.
- Surplus proceeds
- No surplus arises. The deed conveys the parcel to the certificate holder rather than selling it to the highest bidder, so there are no excess proceeds to distribute. Where the winning bid was less than 100 percent, the deed conveys only that undivided percentage interest in the parcel.
A tax deed does not convey marketable title. Most buyers file a quiet title action before they can resell or insure the property. See the due diligence guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Butler County, Iowa sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Butler County follows Iowa's tax lien state system.
When is the Butler County tax certificate sale?
- Third Monday in June. The Butler County Treasurer portal's Important Dates page states: "Third Monday in June annual tax sale of outstanding property taxes, manufactured homes, mobile homes, weed assessments, special assessments, rates or charges, and drainage taxes." The county's Property Tax Information page adds that "Publication of delinquent taxes are printed the first week in June in one of the four county newspapers.". Registration and bidding happen on the county's online platform. Always confirm the exact date with the Tax Collector before the sale.
How often does Butler County hold tax deed sales?
- none. Each sale is scheduled and advertised in advance, so check the county's tax deed calendar for the next posted date.
Tax Sale Atlas publishes educational information about public tax sale processes. This is not legal, financial, or investment advice. Rules, dates, and fees change; confirm with the county office before you bid.
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