- Does Ohio sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Both, which makes it a hybrid state. County treasurers may sell tax certificates, either at a public auction or by negotiated sale, and unredeemed certificates lead to a court-ordered auction of the property itself. Counties that do not sell certificates foreclose directly, and parcels nobody bids on are forfeited and later offered by the county auditor. Not every Ohio county runs a certificate sale, so check the county treasurer page before planning around one.
- What interest rate do Ohio tax certificates pay?
- At a public auction, bidding opens at 18 percent per year simple interest and steps down in quarter-percent increments to 0 percent, with the lowest rate winning. The redemption price is the purchase price plus the greater of the interest accrued at the bid rate or a flat 6 percent of the purchase price, so 6 percent is the effective minimum return on an auction certificate. Two exceptions: a certificate bid at 0 percent returns only the purchase price plus the treasurer's fee, and a certificate bought in a negotiated sale carries a rate the treasurer sets by agreement, capped at 18 percent, with no 6 percent floor.
- How long is the redemption period in Ohio?
- There is no fixed redemption period and no redemption after the sale. The owner can redeem at any time until the certificate holder pays to start foreclosure, and after that until the entry of confirmation of sale or the end of the 28-day alternative redemption period that follows an adjudication of foreclosure. What an investor waits on is the foreclosure clock: a certificate holder cannot file a request for foreclosure until one year after the certificate sale date.
- How long does an Ohio tax certificate last?
- The county treasurer sets the certificate period when the certificates are offered, at not less than three years and not more than six years from the sale date. A negotiated certificate is also capped at six years. Miss the deadline for filing a request for foreclosure or a notice of intent to foreclose and the lien is canceled and the certificate is voided, so read the period printed on the certificate rather than assuming a single statewide number.
- What deposit is required to bid at an Ohio tax foreclosure sale?
- For residential property the statutory deposit is $2,000 if the appraised value is $10,000 or less, $5,000 up to $200,000, and $10,000 above that. Commercial deposits follow the terms set for the sale. Deposit timing is set by the court or the officer running the sale and printed in the advertisement, and the balance of the purchase price is due within 30 days of confirmation of the sale.
- Can you buy Ohio tax certificates over the counter?
- No. Ohio has no over-the-counter certificate channel. A certificate that goes unsold at auction is not shelved for walk-in purchase: the treasurer may move it into a negotiated sale or strike the parcel from the certificate list. Only the existing certificate holder has a standing purchase right, an exclusive 30-day window after each settlement to buy a subsequent certificate on the same parcel at a fixed 18 percent. The nearest equivalent for buyers is the county auditor's forfeited land list, which is offered at least annually and where a tract that draws no qualifying bid may then be sold for the best price obtainable.
- Who runs Ohio tax foreclosure auctions?
- The county sheriff, or a private selling officer the court has authorized on the judgment creditor's motion. Residential judicial sales are conducted on the statewide official public sheriff sale web site, which uses a county subdomain of sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov, and online auctions stay open for bidding at least seven days. Forfeited parcels are a separate track and are sold by the county auditor.
Verified Aug 6, 2026 against Ohio statutes.
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.