Does Poweshiek County, Iowa sell tax liens or tax deeds?

Poweshiek County follows Iowa's tax lien state system.

When is the Poweshiek County tax certificate sale?

The Treasurer's tax sale page states that unpaid taxes are offered at a Public Tax Sale "which is held annually on the third Monday in June." Notice to owners goes out earlier: the Treasurer's property tax page states that "a notice of the annual tax sale shall be mailed not later than May 1 to the person in whose name the parcel subject to sale is taxed," and that "delinquent taxes as of May 1 are assessed a publication fee and must be advertised for sale at the annual tax sale in June.". 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 Poweshiek 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.

Partially verified

Poweshiek County, IA tax sales

How tax lien certificate sales work in Poweshiek County, seat of Montezuma: 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 Poweshiek County sells delinquent taxes

Tax certificate sale (lien)

Run by: Poweshiek County Treasurer's Office
Frequency: annual
Typical timing: The Treasurer's tax sale page states that unpaid taxes are offered at a Public Tax Sale "which is held annually on the third Monday in June." Notice to owners goes out earlier: the Treasurer's property tax page states that "a notice of the annual tax sale shall be mailed not later than May 1 to the person in whose name the parcel subject to sale is taxed," and that "delinquent taxes as of May 1 are assessed a publication fee and must be advertised for sale at the annual tax sale in June."
Next expected: on the third Monday in June, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
Sale list: Treasurer tax sale page (parcel list runs in the county newspaper)

Registration and deposit

Poweshiek County publishes no online bidder registration form and no auction platform sign-up. The county's official treasurer profile directs bidders to the office: "For information on the Annual Tax Sale, contact the county treasurer's office directly at (641) 623-5128." Call the Property Tax Division at that number ahead of the June sale to confirm the registration process, any registration fee or deposit, the cutoff date, and whether the sale is conducted in the office or online. Redemption payments are separate and cannot be made through the county's online payment site.

Poweshiek County does not post a parcel list online. The Treasurer's tax sale page states: "We publish all qualifying, outstanding unpaid parcels in the county's official publication the first full week in June," so the sale list appears in the county's official newspaper roughly one to two weeks before the third-Monday-in-June sale. No auction platform is confirmed for this county, so verify the sale format with the office before planning to bid. The Treasurer's page also sets out the local mechanics: the winning bidder pays only the outstanding taxes, the purchase does not clear other liens or transfer ownership, interest accrues at 2 percent per month, subsequent taxes may be paid once delinquent 45 days after the delinquency date and are added to the redemption amount, and the certificate holder may file a 90-day affidavit after one year and nine months. A certificate not carried to deed within three years is cancelled. Parcels advertised twice and left unsold for want of bidders go to the Public Bidder Sale, where the county itself is required to take the delinquency, after which the Treasurer may sue at law to collect.

Source: Tax Sale, Poweshiek County Treasurer's Office· Verified Jul 29, 2026

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.

Source: Iowa Code 448.1 - Return of certificate of purchase, execution of deed, feesIowa Code 448.1· Verified Jul 29, 2026

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)

Poweshiek County Treasurer's Office

(641) 623-5128

Poweshiek County Treasurer's Office, 302 E. Main Street, PO Box 700, Montezuma, IA 50171-0700

Official website

Notes for Poweshiek County

Poweshiek County confirms the statutory timing on its own site: the annual tax sale runs on the third Monday in June at the Treasurer's office in Montezuma.
No online auction platform is confirmed for this county. The Treasurer's own pages name none, and the county's official treasurer profile tells bidders to call (641) 623-5128 for annual tax sale information. Confirm the sale format and registration steps by phone before the June sale.
There is no downloadable delinquent list. The Treasurer publishes the qualifying unpaid parcels in the county's official newspaper during the first full week in June, so plan diligence around a list that lands only days before the sale.
The Treasurer is Jennifer Anderson, who took office July 1, 2025. Property tax questions route to the Property Tax Division at (641) 623-5128; the courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Redemption payments cannot be made through the county's online tax payment site and must be made to the Treasurer in guaranteed funds with the signed Application and Affidavit for Redemption.

Iowa statewide rules

Max interest rate: 24% per year, fixed by statute (not bid down)
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.
Governing statute: Iowa Code Chapter 446

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.

See the full Iowarules and every county →

Frequently asked questions

Does Poweshiek County, Iowa sell tax liens or tax deeds?: Poweshiek County follows Iowa's tax lien state system.
When is the Poweshiek County tax certificate sale?: The Treasurer's tax sale page states that unpaid taxes are offered at a Public Tax Sale "which is held annually on the third Monday in June." Notice to owners goes out earlier: the Treasurer's property tax page states that "a notice of the annual tax sale shall be mailed not later than May 1 to the person in whose name the parcel subject to sale is taxed," and that "delinquent taxes as of May 1 are assessed a publication fee and must be advertised for sale at the annual tax sale in June.". 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 Poweshiek 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.