If you don’t pay your Illinois real property taxes, you might lose your home.

In Illinois, if you fall behind in paying your real property taxes, the county collector can start a lawsuit in court to get a judgment and order of sale. At the sale, the purchaser basically buys the unpaid tax lien that exists on the home. If you then don’t pay off the tax debt, the purchaser can eventually get legal title to your home. You will be notified before this happens and you’ll also be allowed a set period of time after the sale in which to pay off the debt, so that you can keep your home.

When you don’t pay your property taxes in Illinois, the county collector can apply to the circuit court for a judgment against the property for the taxes and costs, and for an order of sale. However, the purchaser at the sale doesn't buy the title to the home. Instead, he or she gets a certificate of purchase, which represents a lien on the property. If you don’t “redeem” the home after the sale within the allotted time period (described below), the purchaser can petition the Illinois circuit court for a tax deed (title) to your hom

When you don’t pay your property taxes in Illinois, the county collector can apply to the circuit court for a judgment against the property for the taxes and costs, and for an order of sale. However, the purchaser at the sale doesn't buy the title to the home. Instead, he or she gets a certificate of purchase, which represents a lien on the property. If you don’t “redeem” the home after the sale within the allotted time period (described below), the purchaser can petition the Illinois circuit court for a tax deed (title) to your home.

At any time on or before the business day immediately before the sale, you can pay the taxes and costs due, which will stop the sale. If you live in a county with 3,000,000 or more residents, you’ll have to pay the taxes, special assessments, interest, and costs due. (35 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. § 200/21-165).

If you don't get caught up on what you owe, the court will issue a judgment and then the county collector will hold a sale to sell the delinquent tax debt. (35 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. §§ 200/21-190, 200/21-260). The person or entity that is the winning bidder at the sale will receive a certificate of purchase. (35 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. §§ 200/21-250, 200/21-260).

After an Illinois tax sale, you get a set period of time to pay off the taxes (as well as other amounts) and keep your home. This is called “redeeming” the property. ​

Under Illinois law, you typically get two and a half years to redeem the home, though the redemption period may be different depending on your particular circumstances. (35 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. § 200/21-350).

When you don’t pay your property taxes in Illinois, the county collector can apply to the circuit court for a judgment against the property for the taxes and costs, and for an order of sale. However, the purchaser at the sale doesn't buy the title to the home. Instead, he or she gets a certificate of purchase, which represents a lien on the property. If you don’t “redeem” the home after the sale within the allotted time period (described below), the purchaser can petition the Illinois circuit court for a tax deed (title) to your home.

If you want to look up Illinois’ property tax sale statutes, the citations are: 35 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. §§ 200/21-5 through 200/21-445 and 200/22-5 through 200/22-95. To find the Illinois Compiled Statutes, go to the Illinois General Assembly’s website.