Iowa delinquent tax lists by county
Short answer: Iowa is a lien state, so a winning bidder gets a tax lien certificate, which pays interest if the owner redeems and can be foreclosed into ownership if they do not. Third-Monday-of-June tax sales at 2% per month (24% per year) with a redemption period of about 21 months. Each county publishes its own delinquent roll through the County Treasurer. Below is every Iowa county we cover, with the live count of distressed owners in each.
Counties covered
99
Every one has its own ranked list and county-level rules page.
Flagged owners statewide
12,712
Carrying at least one distress signal in public records, refreshed daily.
Sale type
Lien
Third-Monday-of-June tax sales at 2% per month (24% per year) with a redemption period of about 21 months.
Every Iowa county we cover
Sorted largest first. Each county page carries the official list source, the sale rules and the live ranked list of owners under pressure right now.
Iowa tax sale rules
| Tax sale system | Iowa is a lien state. A winning bidder gets a tax lien certificate, which pays interest if the owner redeems and can be foreclosed into ownership if they do not. |
|---|---|
| Rate and cadence | Third-Monday-of-June tax sales at 2% per month (24% per year) with a redemption period of about 21 months. |
| Who publishes the list | The County Treasurer in each county. |
| Foreclosure path | Judicial, typically 5 to 12 months from filing to sale. |
| Deficiency after sale | Restricted; commonly waived in exchange for a shorter redemption. |
| Local note | Iowa also offers a voluntary alternative that skips the auction entirely when both sides agree. |
The Iowa delinquency clock
Iowa delinquent tax list FAQ
Is Iowa a tax lien or tax deed state?
Iowa is a lien state. A winning bidder gets a tax lien certificate, which pays interest if the owner redeems and can be foreclosed into ownership if they do not. Third-Monday-of-June tax sales at 2% per month (24% per year) with a redemption period of about 21 months.
Where do I find the Iowa delinquent tax list?
Each county publishes its own list through the County Treasurer, usually as a PDF before a scheduled sale. Pick your county below for the official source plus the year-round ranked list of distressed owners in that area.
How long does an owner have to redeem in Iowa?
Third-Monday-of-June tax sales at 2% per month (24% per year) with a redemption period of about 21 months. That window is the single biggest thing separating a good tax-sale trade from a bad one, because it decides how long your money sits before you can act.
How many tax-delinquent properties are there in Iowa?
Across the 99 Iowa counties we track, roughly 12,712 properties currently carry at least one distress signal in public records, including tax delinquency, foreclosure filings, vacancy and long-distance ownership. The counts refresh daily.
Can I buy Iowa tax-delinquent property before the auction?
Yes. The delinquency appears in the public record months before any sale is scheduled, and during that window the owner can still sell normally. That is the whole opportunity: no bidding war, an inspection is possible, and an owner with equity walks away with money instead of nothing.