Marion County, IA tax sales
How tax lien certificate sales work in Marion County, seat of Knoxville: 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 Marion County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
- Run by
- Marion County Treasurer
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- Third Monday in June. The Treasurer's tax sale page states: "The Annual Tax Sale is held online on the third Monday of June. This year it will be June 15, 2026." A county news post repeats the date: "The annual tax sale will be held on Monday, June 15, 2026."
- Next expected
- on the third Monday in June, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
Registration and deposit
Registration is online only. The Treasurer states unpaid taxes are offered "online at www.iowataxauction.com" and instructs bidders to "Register online at www.iowataxauction.com. No mailed or emailed registrations will be accepted." For the 2026 sale the registration window runs Monday, May 18, 2026 through Thursday, June 11, 2026, and "All steps in the registration process must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on June 11, 2026." Bidders must complete the online W-9 form and pay a non-refundable $40.00 registration fee by ACH debit. Platform support is listed as (800) 800-9588 or [email protected].
The sale is conducted entirely online through iowataxauction.com, the Zeus Auction Program operated by SRI, which describes itself as a local government vendor providing tax sale services to counties in Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana and Michigan since 1989. The Treasurer publishes qualifying outstanding parcels in the county's official newspaper, the Marion County Express, "one time during the last week in May each year," and tells investors they "may also view an updated listing at www.iowataxauction.com by registering to bid." On the county's tax sale page the Treasurer notes the winning bidder "pays the outstanding taxes only," that "two percent (2%) interest per month for up to three (3) years accrues on the outstanding tax sale amount," and that if a certificate is not redeemed within one year and nine months the investor may file a 90-day affidavit with the Treasurer's office to acquire a tax sale deed. The county page does not state the bidding method, so confirm the bid procedure with the Treasurer or in the platform's auction rules before the sale.
Register on SRI / ZEUSFrom 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)
Marion County Courthouse, 214 E Main St, Second Floor, Knoxville, IA 50138
Official websiteNotes for Marion County
- Marion County's certificate sale is fully online at iowataxauction.com. The Treasurer's page describes no in-person courthouse bidding option.
- Registration closes several days before the sale. For 2026 the Treasurer set an 11:59 p.m. June 11 cutoff for a June 15 sale, so late registration is not possible.
- The $40.00 registration fee is non-refundable and must be paid by ACH debit through the auction platform.
- The statutory parcel list is published in print in the Marion County Express during the last week of May. The county does not post a downloadable delinquent list, so the working list for investors is the one inside the auction platform after registration.
- The Treasurer lists [email protected] as the tax department email and office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- The county's legal notices page carries individual tax sale redemption notices rather than the annual sale list.
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 Marion County, Iowa sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Marion County follows Iowa's tax lien state system.
When is the Marion County tax certificate sale?
- Third Monday in June. The Treasurer's tax sale page states: "The Annual Tax Sale is held online on the third Monday of June. This year it will be June 15, 2026." A county news post repeats the date: "The annual tax sale will be held on Monday, June 15, 2026.". 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 Marion 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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