Sac County, IA tax sales
How tax lien certificate sales work in Sac County, seat of Sac City: 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 Sac County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
- Run by
- Sac County Treasurer
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- The Treasurer's office states that "The Annual Tax Sale takes place in June of each year." The county page does not post a specific calendar date or start time, so confirm the current year's date with the Treasurer before registering. Iowa's statutory default sale date is the third Monday in June.
- Next expected
- on the third Monday in June, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
Registration and deposit
The Treasurer's property tax page carries a Tax Sale Registration section reading "If you would like to register to bid at the Sac County Tax Sale, please use the link below," and the link goes to Iowa Tax Auction. Create an account on that platform, then apply to the Sac County auction; approval is granted per auction because each county conducts its own sale. Auctions that require a W-9 collect a tax identification or Social Security number. The Zeus platform itself charges no registration fee, but the county may set its own bidder fee and deposit, so confirm both with the Treasurer at 712-662-7411.
Sac County does not post the delinquent parcel list as a downloadable file. The Treasurer states that "Delinquent taxes on a parcel subject to sale will be advertised in June in the Sac Sun," that "Copies of the list are available at the Sac County Treasurer's Office," and that "a printout of those parcels may also be purchased." The publication fee is added May 1 even though advertising does not begin until June 1, and a notice of the annual tax sale is mailed no later than May 1 to the person in whose name the parcel is taxed. The office also warns that "The investor is responsible for all research on parcels available for auction." On redemptions, the county page states the rate of interest required by Iowa law is 2 percent per month, redemption payments must be made in guaranteed funds, and delinquent parcels accrue a 1.5 percent monthly interest penalty. Call 712-662-7411 for tax sale redemption fund questions.
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)
Notes for Sac County
- Sac County confirms a June annual tax sale and routes bidder registration to Iowa Tax Auction, but the county page publishes no specific sale date, start time, deposit, or bidder fee. Call the Treasurer at 712-662-7411 to confirm those details before the sale.
- The parcel list is a newspaper publication rather than a web page. Plan on the Sac Sun advertisement in June, a copy from the Treasurer's office, or a purchased printout.
- Motor vehicle and driver's license services share the same Treasurer's office, so ask for the property tax side when calling about the tax sale. The Sac City courthouse office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm for property tax.
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 Sac County, Iowa sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Sac County follows Iowa's tax lien state system.
When is the Sac County tax certificate sale?
- The Treasurer's office states that "The Annual Tax Sale takes place in June of each year." The county page does not post a specific calendar date or start time, so confirm the current year's date with the Treasurer before registering. Iowa's statutory default sale date is the third Monday 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 Sac 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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