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Tax Sale Atlas

Portage County, OH tax sales

Portage County, Ohio sells both tax lien certificates and tax deeds. The County Treasurer runs the certificate sale on County office (18% maximum, bid down), and the County Sheriff holds the tax deed sale on parcels whose certificates go unredeemed, from the county seat in Ravenna, under R.C. Chapter 5721.

New to tax sales? Read how Ohio tax sales work or look terms up in the glossary.

Next sale
Scheduled Mondays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, roughly twice a month.
Format
In person
County office
(330) 297-3586 general; (330) 297-2243 Delinquent Tax Division; fax (330) 297-3393
Every displayed fact carries a source badge. Verified Aug 7, 2026 against official county and state pages.How we verify
On this page

How Portage County sells delinquent taxes

Tax certificate sale (lien)

In person
Run by
Portage County Treasurer's Office, Delinquent Tax Division
Frequency
annual
Typical timing
Twice a year, in May and in October.
Registration
There is no public bidder registration and no bidding portal.
Sale list
Tax Lien Sale (Portage County Treasurer)
When it runs
Twice a year, in May and in October. The Treasurer's published Delinquency Processing Policy states: "In May, the Treasurer's Office will hold a tax lien sale for properties with certified delinquent taxes that have not made payment in full or established payment plan." After a second notice sent by certified mail in September, the policy continues: "A tax lien sale will follow this letter in October." The same policy limits the pool: certified delinquent taxes "will generally be offered for tax lien sale on properties where the delinquency period exceeds two years." No bidder calendar is published because the sale is not competitive.
Registration and deposit

There is no public bidder registration and no bidding portal. The Delinquency Processing Policy says the Treasurer "will offer certified tax delinquencies for sale to a contracted third-party collection entity as permitted by law, who will then file tax liens for recovery of the outstanding debt," citing Ohio Revised Code 5721.30 through 5721.43. The Tax Lien Sale page names the current contracted buyer as FIG Taxes. Investors who want exposure to Portage County certificates should contact the Portage County Treasurer, Delinquent Tax Division, P.O. Box 1217, Ravenna, OH 44266, at 330-297-2243 to ask about participation, rather than look for an auction site.

Sale format and venue
Portage County sells tax lien certificates privately, not at a competitive auction, so retail investors cannot bid. The Treasurer's Tax Lien Sale page says Ohio law allows the Treasurer to collect delinquent property taxes "by selling tax lien certificates in exchange for payment of the entire delinquency," that liens "are offered to our contractual buyer for purchase," and that the county "currently contracts with FIG Taxes" as its exclusive buyer of tax liens. If that buyer declines a lien, "the Portage County Treasurer retains the right to seek another buyer for the lien." Liens sold earlier to the prior purchaser, TaxEase Ohio LLC, are still serviced by that company, whose call center the county lists as 1-866-907-2626, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern. Eligibility is broad but bounded: all Portage County properties with delinquent taxes can be sold "provided they are not already set for a sheriff sale, in foreclosure or bankruptcy, under an existing contract for payment, tax exempt, or have a tax exemption application pending." On cost to the owner, the page states that fees and additional interest "(up to 15%)" are added and that later failure to pay "may lead to additional lien sales, at 18% interest." A certificate holder "will have the right to foreclose on the property beginning 12 months after the date of sale," and may instead wait until the end of the certificate period so more interest accrues. Owners receive several warnings first: three to four tax bills showing unpaid balances, newspaper publication, a warning letter, and a final certified letter giving 30 days before the liens are offered. No public auction platform; the county sells its liens by negotiated sale to one contracted purchaser
Source: Portage County Treasurer's Office - Tax Lien Sale (certificate sale mechanism, contracted buyer, interest and foreclosure rights)· Verified Aug 7, 2026

Tax deed sale

In person
Run by
Portage County Sheriff's Office, Civil Division. Delinquent tax foreclosure cases are filed by the Portage County Treasurer through the Portage County Prosecutor in the Portage County Court of Common Pleas, and the Sheriff conducts the resulting sale.
Frequency
annual
Typical timing
Scheduled Mondays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, roughly twice a month.
Sale list
Sheriff's Sales (dated sale lists and results)
When it runs
Scheduled Mondays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, roughly twice a month. The Sheriff's Sales page states that "Sheriff Sales begin PROMPTLY at 11 a.m." and, for the tax path specifically, that "EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2021 TAX SALES WILL BE HELD AT THE PORTAGE COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER, 8240 INFIRMARY ROAD, RAVENNA, OH 44266 ON MONDAYS AT 11:00 AM IN THE COURTROOM LOCATED OFF THE LOBBY." The 2026 sale dates the Sheriff listed as of the access date were January 5, February 9 and 23, March 9 and 23, April 6 and 13, May 11 and 18, June 8, 22 and 29, July 6 and 20, and August 24.
Registration and deposit

For the in-person delinquent tax sale the Sheriff requires a deposit of 10% of your bid, states "We will accept cashier checks only," and requires that "The Purchasers Information Form must be filled out at the time of auction." The unpaid balance of the purchase price is due to the Portage County Sheriff by cashier's check within 30 days of the filing of the confirmation entry. Since March 1, 2021 successful bidders also pay a Recorder's fee of $34.00 for the first two pages plus $8.00 for each additional page, a Sheriff's administrative and recording fee of $40.00 (effective January 1, 2022), a Sheriff's deed fee of $50.00, and the Auditor's conveyance fee of 0.4% of the purchase price rounded up to the nearest $100.00 plus $0.50 per parcel. Bidders in the Sheriff's separate online mortgage foreclosure sales must instead register with Realauction at https://portage.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov and complete the Purchaser Information Form there, with statutory deposits of $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 by appraised value; wire transfer deposits must reach Realauction by 5:00 p.m. Eastern two business days before the Monday auction and ACH debits by 4:00 p.m. Eastern five days before. Realauction customer service is 1-877-361-7325 or [email protected]. Under Ohio Revised Code 5721.19 you cannot purchase at a tax foreclosure sale if you own Ohio property against which delinquent taxes have been assessed.

Sale format and venue
Portage County runs two sheriff sale formats and the tax path is the in-person one, so do not assume the online site covers it. The Sheriff's own dated sale sheets carry both lines: "After January 1, 2021, the Sheriff Sales for Mortgage Foreclosures will be held on Realauction Online Site at https://portage.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov" and "After March 4, 2021, the Sheriff Sales for Delinquent Tax Foreclosures may be sold on location at the Portage County Justice Center, 8240 Infirmary Rd., Ravenna OH 44266." The Sheriff's Sales page repeats it: "Delinquent Tax Sales will be held at the Portage County Justice Center, 8240 Infirmary Road, Ravenna Ohio 44266. Deposits for Tax Sales will be 10% of your bid." The August 24, 2026 sale sheet bears this out. Every parcel on it was a Treasurer foreclosure with Joseph Bica, Portage County Treasurer, as plaintiff, each carried a set minimum bid equal to the opening bid, and the sheet states that the above properties will be sold at the Portage County Justice Center. Because of this split, the Realauction calendar and the county's own date list do not always show the same dates, so check both before planning to attend. If a parcel does not receive a sufficient bid it is offered again under the same terms at the same time and place on the next listed date. The county's House Bill 390 notes add that if a property is unsold at the first auction a second auction is held and the property is sold to the highest bidder without regard to minimum bid, subject to related costs, allowances and real estate taxes. A judgment creditor buying residential property at sale owes no deposit under Ohio Revised Code 2329.211, and a judgment creditor or lien holder submitting a remote bid must email it by 4:30 p.m. Eastern on the business day before the sale under Ohio Revised Code 2329.152. The Sheriff states that neither the office nor its affiliates have access to the inside of any property, and the plaintiff's attorney must deliver the deed to the Sheriff within seven days of the filing of the confirmation of sale under Ohio Revised Code 2329.36. Probate sales are also held at the Justice Center rather than online. In person at the Portage County Justice Center, 8240 Infirmary Road, Ravenna, OH 44266, in the courtroom off the lobby
Source: Portage County Sheriff's Office - Sheriff's Sales (sale day and time, in-person tax sale location, deposits, fees, registration, dated sale lists)· Verified Aug 7, 2026

Portage County tax sale list and auction calendar

For Portage County tax sale 2026 searches, use the county-run sources below rather than a copied parcel list, and confirm the parcel, registration cutoff, deposit, and payment deadline against the county before you bid.

  1. Get the advertised list

    Use Sheriff's Sales (dated sale lists and results) for the current advertised parcels, then recheck it before the auction.

  2. Register to bid

    Ask the county office how and when to register; many counties close registration days or weeks before the sale.

  3. Sale day

    Scheduled Mondays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, roughly twice a month. The sale is live and in person; there is no online bidding platform. Confirm the venue and hour with the county office before you go.

  4. Confirm with the office

    If the list, platform, and notice disagree, use Portage County Sheriff's Office, Civil Division. Delinquent tax foreclosure cases are filed by the Portage County Treasurer through the Portage County Prosecutor in the Portage County Court of Common Pleas, and the Sheriff conducts the resulting sale. as the source to confirm which parcels are actually offered.

Before you bid in Portage County

  1. Start with the live sale list

    Pull the current advertised parcels from Sheriff's Sales (dated sale lists and results). Lists can change before the sale, so recheck the county source before you price a parcel.

  2. Confirm registration and deposit

    For the in-person delinquent tax sale the Sheriff requires a deposit of 10% of your bid, states "We will accept cashier checks only," and requires that "The Purchasers Information Form must be filled out at the time of auction." The unpaid balance of the purchase price is due to the Portage County Sheriff by cashier's check within 30 days of the filing of the confirmation entry. Since March 1, 2021 successful bidders also pay a Recorder's fee of $34.00 for the first two pages plus $8.00 for each additional page, a Sheriff's administrative and recording fee of $40.00 (effective January 1, 2022), a Sheriff's deed fee of $50.00, and the Auditor's conveyance fee of 0.4% of the purchase price rounded up to the nearest $100.00 plus $0.50 per parcel. Bidders in the Sheriff's separate online mortgage foreclosure sales must instead register with Realauction at https://portage.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov and complete the Purchaser Information Form there, with statutory deposits of $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 by appraised value; wire transfer deposits must reach Realauction by 5:00 p.m. Eastern two business days before the Monday auction and ACH debits by 4:00 p.m. Eastern five days before. Realauction customer service is 1-877-361-7325 or [email protected]. Under Ohio Revised Code 5721.19 you cannot purchase at a tax foreclosure sale if you own Ohio property against which delinquent taxes have been assessed.

  3. Check the state rules that change the bid

    Read the Ohio due-diligence checklist before bidding. Redemption, liens that survive a tax deed, title cleanup, and payment deadlines can change what a parcel is worth.

  4. Set a walk-away number

    Work out what the parcel is actually worth with the rural land value estimator, then turn it into a ceiling with the tax deed max-bid calculator.

Over-the-counter (leftover) purchases

Ohio has no over-the-counter tax certificate channel. The equivalent inventory is the county auditor's forfeited land list, made up of parcels that drew no qualifying bid at two foreclosure sales. The auditor offers that list at public auction at least annually, and a tract that still receives no bid meeting the statutory minimum may then be sold for the best price obtainable.

New to this path? Read how over-the-counter certificates work.

Use the arrow keys to switch between these sections.

County offices

Tax Collector (runs the certificate sale)

Portage County Treasurer's Office, Delinquent Tax Division

(330) 297-3586 general; (330) 297-2243 Delinquent Tax Division; fax (330) 297-3393

449 S. Meridian Street, 1st Floor, Ravenna, OH 44266. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1217, Ravenna, OH 44266.

Official website

County notes

  • County seat is Ravenna. The Treasurer is at 449 S. Meridian Street, 1st Floor, Ravenna, OH 44266, open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Sheriff and the auction courtroom are at the Portage County Justice Center, 8240 Infirmary Road, Ravenna, OH 44266.
  • Portage County Treasurer is Joseph Bica. He appears as plaintiff on the county's delinquent tax foreclosure sale sheets. General office number is (330) 297-3586; the Chief Deputy Treasurer, Delinquent Tax Coordinator, Portfolio Manager and Pay-Ins all route through that number, and payments by phone use (330) 355-1544.
  • Portage County Sheriff is Bruce D. Zuchowski. The Civil Division, which handles sheriff sales, is reached at (330) 297-3889 with fax (330) 298-2110; administration is (330) 296-5100. The Realauction contact page lists the Civil Division address as 8240 Infirmary Rd, Ravenna, OH 44266.
  • Portage County Clerk of Courts is (330) 297-3644 per the Realauction contact page. The Clerk dockets the Common Pleas foreclosure cases whose case numbers appear on the Sheriff's sale sheets but publishes no separate sale list.
  • The Prosecutor's Office files the Treasurer's tax foreclosures. The attorney named on the 2026 tax foreclosure sale sheets is Connie Lewandowski, (330) 297-3850.
  • The two paths are cleanly separated in Portage. The Treasurer sells liens privately to a contracted buyer in May and October, and the Sheriff sells the property itself at in-person tax foreclosure sales at the Justice Center. An investor who wants to acquire Portage real estate through the tax system uses the Sheriff sale, not the certificate sale.
  • Foreclosure may also be brought by a lien holder such as FIG Taxes or TaxEase Ohio LLC, or by the Portage County Land Reutilization Corporation, which the Treasurer's site calls the Land Bank. The Treasurer notes the county rarely gets involved once a third-party lien holder forecloses, because the county's interest was already satisfied by the lien sale, unless later unpaid taxes have accrued.
  • Delinquent tax parcels on the Sheriff's sheets show a set minimum bid equal to the opening bid and no appraised value, consistent with tax foreclosure sales being sold to satisfy the judgment plus costs rather than at two thirds of appraisal.
  • The county website www.portagecounty-oh.gov (also reached as portageco.com and co.portage.oh.us) sits behind a Cloudflare bot challenge that blocks plain automated fetches with a 403. Use a normal browser to reload these pages. The Realauction site portage.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov serves normally.
  • Auditor parcel search is at https://portagecountyauditor.org/ and the Recorder's land records are hosted at cotthosting.com, both linked from the Realauction site. Neither was fetched for this record.

Ohio rules

Max interest rate
18% per year, bid down in 0.25% steps
Minimum return
6% floor at redemption
Redemption
Ohio has no post-sale redemption window. On the certificate track the owner or any other person entitled to redeem may pay the county treasurer at any time before the certificate holder pays to start foreclosure, and after that up until the entry of confirmation of sale, the expiration of the 28-day alternative redemption period, or the decree that conveys title to the certificate holder. On the direct foreclosure track, delinquent land may be redeemed before proceedings begin, and afterwards up to the entry of confirmation of sale or the end of the alternative redemption period. The alternative redemption period is 28 days after an adjudication of foreclosure is journalized, and when it expires the right and equity of redemption terminate without any further order. Once title vests, a decree conveying the parcel to a certificate holder is a permanent bar to redemption.
Deed deposit
For residential property the deposit is fixed by statute: $2,000 if the appraised value is $10,000 or less, $5,000 if it is above $10,000 and up to $200,000, and $10,000 if it is above $200,000. A judgment creditor buying at its own sale posts no deposit. For commercial property the deposit follows whatever requirements the sale sets. Deposit timing is set by the court or the officer conducting the sale and printed in the sale advertisement, and an online sale may take the deposit by card or other financial transaction device.
Surplus proceeds
Sale proceeds pay costs first, then the certificate holder or the taxing districts, and any residue goes to the clerk of the court within 45 days after confirmation. The clerk notifies the former owner. Residue left unclaimed 90 days after that final notice is paid into the county treasury and held for the owner, who may demand it within three years. After three years it is forfeited to the county's delinquent tax and assessment collection fund, or to the county land reutilization corporation fund where one exists.
Governing statute
R.C. Chapter 5721

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.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Portage County, Ohio sell tax liens or tax deeds?

Portage County follows Ohio's hybrid system. The County Treasurer sells tax lien certificates, and the County Sheriff handles the tax deed sale on parcels whose certificates go unredeemed.

When is the Portage County tax certificate sale?

Twice a year, in May and in October. The Treasurer's published Delinquency Processing Policy states: "In May, the Treasurer's Office will hold a tax lien sale for properties with certified delinquent taxes that have not made payment in full or established payment plan." After a second notice sent by certified mail in September, the policy continues: "A tax lien sale will follow this letter in October." The same policy limits the pool: certified delinquent taxes "will generally be offered for tax lien sale on properties where the delinquency period exceeds two years." No bidder calendar is published because the sale is not competitive. The sale is held in person. Always confirm the exact date with the County Treasurer before the sale.

How often does Portage County hold tax deed sales?

Portage County holds its tax deed sale once a year. Scheduled Mondays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, roughly twice a month. Each sale is scheduled and advertised in advance, so check the county's tax deed calendar for the next posted date.

I own a property in this sale. Can I stop it?

Often yes, by paying the overdue taxes, interest, and costs before the deadline. Ohio's redemption rule: 1 year after the certificate sale before the holder can request foreclosure; redemption then stays open until confirmation of sale. Call the Portage County Sheriff's Office, Civil Division. Delinquent tax foreclosure cases are filed by the Portage County Treasurer through the Portage County Prosecutor in the Portage County Court of Common Pleas, and the Sheriff conducts the resulting sale. as early as possible for your exact payoff and options; deadlines are strict. Free help: lawhelp.org lists legal aid programs, and consumerfinance.gov lists HUD-approved housing counselors.

Where can I find the Portage County tax sale list?

Portage County posts its tax sale list at portagecounty-oh.gov. Lists go up ahead of each sale and keep changing until the sale date, so confirm every parcel against the county's legal advertisement before you bid.

Verified Aug 7, 2026 against official county and state sources.

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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