How long is the tax sale redemption period in Indiana?

Published by Michael FrankeDrafted with AI; every statement checked against its source on November 7, 2026

In Indiana, the tax sale redemption period for the existing owner is one year after the tax sale. During that period, redemption is made by paying the county treasurer the amount required under Indiana Code. If the property is not redeemed before the period expires, the tax sale buyer may ask the court for a tax deed and the auditor may be ordered to prepare it.

Key facts

The Indiana Office of Court Services says the existing owner has one year to redeem after a tax sale.
The Indiana State Board of Accounts says redemption is made by paying the county treasurer before the redemption period expires.
During redemption, the Grant County Treasurer says the lien buyer has no right to enter the property or make changes.
If the property is not redeemed, the tax sale buyer may petition the court for a deed.

Selling in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee or Georgia? Get a written cash offer in 24 hours, no obligation.

Get my cash offer

The basic Indiana redemption deadline

In Indiana, the existing owner has one year to redeem the property after a tax sale. That is the core Indiana tax sale redemption period for an owner after the sale. The Indiana Office of Court Services also says the buyer at the tax sale must send certified mail notices to all owners within six months of the sale, allowing redemption by the end of the one year period.

Point in the process	What the sources say
At the tax sale	A successful bidder receives a certificate of lien, not immediate control of the home.
Within six months after sale	The tax sale buyer must send certified mail notices to all owners.
By the end of the period	The existing owner has one year to redeem after the tax sale.
After expiration	If the owner does not redeem, the buyer may petition the court for a deed.

If the property has not been sold yet

The tax sale does not give the bidder the right to enter the house during redemption. The Grant County Treasurer says that during the redemption period, the lien buyer has no right to enter the property or make changes. For a broader look at unpaid taxes, see what happens if you do not pay property taxes.

What redemption generally requires

The Indiana State Board of Accounts county auditor resource quotes Indiana Code 6-1.1-25-1. It says any person may redeem before the period expires by paying the county treasurer the amount required for redemption under Indiana Code 6-1.1-25-2.

The redemption payment is made to the county treasurer before the redemption period expires.

What happens during the redemption period

When real property is redeemed, the State Board of Accounts resource says the county auditor issues a quietus in favor of the person paying the money to the treasurer. It also says the money receipted into the tax sale redemption fund is held in trust for the purchaser.

During the redemption period, the Grant County Treasurer says the owner continues to have the right to demolish buildings or take other legally permissible action. The same county page says the lien buyer has no right to enter the property or make changes during that period.

If you are thinking about selling during redemption, the tax sale has to be handled before or as part of the transfer. In Lamasco, the Court of Appeals of Indiana said Indiana Code 32-21-8-7 is intended to prevent transfer of property sold at tax sale before the redemption period expires unless the transferee redeems and provides proof to the auditor from the treasurer that the required amount has been paid. If the tax sale is one title problem among others, this page on selling a house with a lien may help you sort the issues.

What happens if the period expires

If the owner does not redeem, the Indiana Office of Court Services says the tax sale buyer may petition the court for a deed. The court considers the motion and may order the auditor to prepare the deed.

The Grant County Treasurer says a winning bidder is buying a certificate of lien that entitles the buyer to request the court to issue a tax deed within 180 days after the one year redemption period has expired.

After the requirements are met, the Grant County Treasurer says all liens, including mortgage liens, but not state or Federal tax liens, are removed from the parcel and the property is transferred according to the tax sale lien holder's directions. The State Board of Accounts resource describes an executed tax deed as vesting fee simple absolute, free and clear of liens and encumbrances created or suffered before or after the tax sale except federal priority liens and later state or local tax and special assessment liens not removed.

Why the exact date still matters

The one year period runs after the tax sale, so the sale date matters when matching dates.

Do not assume a court can extend the redemption period just because an owner asks. In Elizabeth Gunther, the Court of Appeals of Indiana described tax sale statutes and said the delinquent landowners had one year to redeem, the one year deadline had expired by the hearing, and the statutes did not grant the trial court discretion to extend redemption beyond the one year limit.

The timeline is sale, redemption, then a tax deed request if there is no redemption. Lamasco states that unless the property is redeemed during the redemption period, the tax sale process continues to its conclusion with issuance of a deed to the tax sale purchaser. For state focused selling information, see the Indiana house selling guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long after an Indiana tax sale can I redeem?

The existing owner has one year to redeem the property after a tax sale.

Is the Indiana redemption period six months or one year?

The owner redemption period stated by the Indiana Office of Court Services is one year after the tax sale. The six month point can matter for required notices to owners.

Who do I pay to redeem an Indiana tax sale property?

The Indiana State Board of Accounts resource says redemption is made by paying the county treasurer the amount required for redemption. When real property is redeemed, the county auditor issues a quietus in favor of the person paying the treasurer.

Does the tax sale buyer own the house during redemption?

The Grant County Treasurer describes the winning bidder as buying a certificate of lien. The Grant County Treasurer says that during the redemption period, the lien buyer has no right to enter the property or make changes.

What happens if I miss the one year redemption deadline?

If the owner does not redeem, the tax sale buyer may petition the court for a deed. Grant County says the lien holder is entitled to request the court to issue a tax deed within 180 days after the one year redemption period has expired.

Can I sell the house after a tax sale but before redemption expires?

A sale during redemption has to deal with the tax sale. In Lamasco, the Court of Appeals of Indiana said the statute is intended to prevent transfer before the redemption period expires unless the transferee redeems and provides proof to the auditor from the treasurer that the required amount has been paid.

Can a judge extend the Indiana tax sale redemption period?

In Elizabeth Gunther, the Court of Appeals of Indiana said the statutes did not give the trial court discretion to extend the redemption period beyond the one year limit. That case does not decide every personal fact pattern, but it is a warning not to rely on an extension without parcel specific legal grounds.

Sources

Checked against each source on November 7, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Tax Sale Filings: Assigning a Case Number (Indiana Office of Court Services / courts.IN.gov)
Resource Library: 2025 County Auditors (Indiana State Board of Accounts)
Frequently Asked Questions (Grant County Treasurer)
Elizabeth Gunther v. St. Joseph County Auditor and St. Joseph County Treasurer (Court of Appeals of Indiana)