103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3028 Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the issuance of a tax deed, provides that the court shall find that all forfeitures and sales of the property occurring after the tax sale at which the certificate of purchase was issued and including only subsequent years taxes have been redeemed (currently, all forfeitures and sales that occur subsequent to the sale). Provides that a sale of the property that occurs after the tax sale at which the certificate of purchase was issued and includes only tax years that are prior to the year or years sold, or includes tax years which are both prior to and after the year or years sold, shall be declared a sale in error, and those tax years shall be merged into the tax deed grantee's title. Effective immediately. LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3028 Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the issuance of a tax deed, provides that the court shall find that all forfeitures and sales of the property occurring after the tax sale at which the certificate of purchase was issued and including only subsequent years taxes have been redeemed (currently, all forfeitures and sales that occur subsequent to the sale). Provides that a sale of the property that occurs after the tax sale at which the certificate of purchase was issued and includes only tax years that are prior to the year or years sold, or includes tax years which are both prior to and after the year or years sold, shall be declared a sale in error, and those tax years shall be merged into the tax deed grantee's title. Effective immediately. LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3028 Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the issuance of a tax deed, provides that the court shall find that all forfeitures and sales of the property occurring after the tax sale at which the certificate of purchase was issued and including only subsequent years taxes have been redeemed (currently, all forfeitures and sales that occur subsequent to the sale). Provides that a sale of the property that occurs after the tax sale at which the certificate of purchase was issued and includes only tax years that are prior to the year or years sold, or includes tax years which are both prior to and after the year or years sold, shall be declared a sale in error, and those tax years shall be merged into the tax deed grantee's title. Effective immediately. LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b A BILL FOR HB3028LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 AN ACT concerning revenue. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing 5 Sections 21-310, 22-40, and 22-85 as follows: 6 (35 ILCS 200/21-310) 7 Sec. 21-310. Sales in error. 8 (a) When, upon application of the county collector, the 9 owner of the certificate of purchase, or a municipality which 10 owns or has owned the property ordered sold, or an owner of a 11 certificate of purchase whose lien is subject to prior tax 12 years sold subsequent to its purchase as set forth in 13 subsection (b) of Section 22-40, it appears to the 14 satisfaction of the court which ordered the property sold that 15 any of the following subsections are applicable, the court 16 shall declare the sale to be a sale in error: 17 (1) the property was not subject to taxation, or all 18 or any part of the lien of taxes sold has become null and 19 void pursuant to Section 21-95 or unenforceable pursuant 20 to subsection (c) of Section 18-250 or subsection (b) of 21 Section 22-40, 22 (2) the taxes or special assessments had been paid 23 prior to the sale of the property, 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3028 Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the issuance of a tax deed, provides that the court shall find that all forfeitures and sales of the property occurring after the tax sale at which the certificate of purchase was issued and including only subsequent years taxes have been redeemed (currently, all forfeitures and sales that occur subsequent to the sale). Provides that a sale of the property that occurs after the tax sale at which the certificate of purchase was issued and includes only tax years that are prior to the year or years sold, or includes tax years which are both prior to and after the year or years sold, shall be declared a sale in error, and those tax years shall be merged into the tax deed grantee's title. Effective immediately. LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b A BILL FOR 35 ILCS 200/21-310 35 ILCS 200/22-40 35 ILCS 200/22-85 LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 2 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 2 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 2 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 (3) there is a double assessment, 2 (4) the description is void for uncertainty, 3 (5) the assessor, chief county assessment officer, 4 board of review, board of appeals, or other county 5 official has made an error (other than an error of 6 judgment as to the value of any property), 7 (5.5) the owner of the homestead property had tendered 8 timely and full payment to the county collector that the 9 owner reasonably believed was due and owing on the 10 homestead property, and the county collector did not apply 11 the payment to the homestead property; provided that this 12 provision applies only to homeowners, not their agents or 13 third-party payors, 14 (6) prior to the tax sale a voluntary or involuntary 15 petition has been filed by or against the legal or 16 beneficial owner of the property requesting relief under 17 the provisions of 11 U.S.C. Chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13, 18 (7) the property is owned by the United States, the 19 State of Illinois, a municipality, or a taxing district, 20 or 21 (8) the owner of the property is a reservist or 22 guardsperson who is granted an extension of his or her due 23 date under Sections 21-15, 21-20, and 21-25 of this Act. 24 (b) When, upon application of the owner of the certificate 25 of purchase only, it appears to the satisfaction of the court 26 which ordered the property sold that any of the following HB3028 - 2 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 3 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 3 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 3 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 subsections are applicable, the court shall declare the sale 2 to be a sale in error: 3 (1) A voluntary or involuntary petition under the 4 provisions of 11 U.S.C. Chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13 has been 5 filed subsequent to the tax sale and prior to the issuance 6 of the tax deed. 7 (2) The improvements upon the property sold have been 8 substantially destroyed or rendered uninhabitable or 9 otherwise unfit for occupancy subsequent to the tax sale 10 and prior to the issuance of the tax deed; however, if the 11 court declares a sale in error under this paragraph (2), 12 the court may order the holder of the certificate of 13 purchase to assign the certificate to the county collector 14 if requested by the county collector. The county collector 15 may, upon request of the county, as trustee, or upon 16 request of a taxing district having an interest in the 17 taxes sold, further assign any certificate of purchase 18 received pursuant to this paragraph (2) to the county 19 acting as trustee for taxing districts pursuant to Section 20 21-90 of this Code or to the taxing district having an 21 interest in the taxes sold. 22 (3) There is an interest held by the United States in 23 the property sold which could not be extinguished by the 24 tax deed. 25 (4) The real property contains a hazardous substance, 26 hazardous waste, or underground storage tank that would HB3028 - 3 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 4 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 4 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 4 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 require cleanup or other removal under any federal, State, 2 or local law, ordinance, or regulation, only if the tax 3 purchaser purchased the property without actual knowledge 4 of the hazardous substance, hazardous waste, or 5 underground storage tank. This paragraph (4) applies only 6 if the owner of the certificate of purchase has made 7 application for a sale in error at any time before the 8 issuance of a tax deed. If the court declares a sale in 9 error under this paragraph (4), the court may order the 10 holder of the certificate of purchase to assign the 11 certificate to the county collector if requested by the 12 county collector. The county collector may, upon request 13 of the county, as trustee, or upon request of a taxing 14 district having an interest in the taxes sold, further 15 assign any certificate of purchase received pursuant to 16 this paragraph (4) to the county acting as trustee for 17 taxing districts pursuant to Section 21-90 of this Code or 18 to the taxing district having an interest in the taxes 19 sold. 20 Whenever a court declares a sale in error under this 21 subsection (b), the court shall promptly notify the county 22 collector in writing. Every such declaration pursuant to any 23 provision of this subsection (b) shall be made within the 24 proceeding in which the tax sale was authorized. 25 (c) When the county collector discovers, prior to the 26 expiration of the period of redemption, that a tax sale should HB3028 - 4 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 5 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 5 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 5 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 not have occurred for one or more of the reasons set forth in 2 subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(6), or (a)(7) of this Section, 3 the county collector shall notify the last known owner of the 4 certificate of purchase by certified and regular mail, or 5 other means reasonably calculated to provide actual notice, 6 that the county collector intends to declare an administrative 7 sale in error and of the reasons therefor, including 8 documentation sufficient to establish the reason why the sale 9 should not have occurred. The owner of the certificate of 10 purchase may object in writing within 28 days after the date of 11 the mailing by the county collector. If an objection is filed, 12 the county collector shall not administratively declare a sale 13 in error, but may apply to the circuit court for a sale in 14 error as provided in subsection (a) of this Section. Thirty 15 days following the receipt of notice by the last known owner of 16 the certificate of purchase, or within a reasonable time 17 thereafter, the county collector shall make a written 18 declaration, based upon clear and convincing evidence, that 19 the taxes were sold in error and shall deliver a copy thereof 20 to the county clerk within 30 days after the date the 21 declaration is made for entry in the tax judgment, sale, 22 redemption, and forfeiture record pursuant to subsection (d) 23 of this Section. The county collector shall promptly notify 24 the last known owner of the certificate of purchase of the 25 declaration by regular mail and shall promptly pay the amount 26 of the tax sale, together with interest and costs as provided HB3028 - 5 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 6 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 6 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 6 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 in Section 21-315, upon surrender of the original certificate 2 of purchase. 3 (d) If a sale is declared to be a sale in error, the county 4 clerk shall make entry in the tax judgment, sale, redemption 5 and forfeiture record, that the property was erroneously sold, 6 and the county collector shall, on demand of the owner of the 7 certificate of purchase, refund the amount paid, except for 8 the nonrefundable $80 fee paid, pursuant to Section 21-295, 9 for each item purchased at the tax sale, pay any interest and 10 costs as may be ordered under Sections 21-315 through 21-335, 11 and cancel the certificate so far as it relates to the 12 property. The county collector shall deduct from the accounts 13 of the appropriate taxing bodies their pro rata amounts paid. 14 Alternatively, for sales in error declared under subsection 15 (b)(2) or (b)(4), the county collector may request the circuit 16 court to direct the county clerk to record any assignment of 17 the tax certificate to or from the county collector without 18 charging a fee for the assignment. The owner of the 19 certificate of purchase shall receive all statutory refunds 20 and payments. The county collector shall deduct costs and 21 payments in the same manner as if a sale in error had occurred. 22 (Source: P.A. 100-890, eff. 1-1-19; 101-379, eff. 1-1-20; 23 101-659, eff. 3-23-21.) 24 (35 ILCS 200/22-40) 25 Sec. 22-40. Issuance of deed; possession. HB3028 - 6 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 7 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 7 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 7 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 (a) The court If the redemption period expires and the 2 property has not been redeemed and all taxes and special 3 assessments which became due and payable subsequent to the 4 sale have been paid and all forfeitures and sales which occur 5 subsequent to the sale have been redeemed and the notices 6 required by law have been given and all advancements of public 7 funds under the police power made by a county, city, village or 8 town under Section 22-35 have been paid and the petitioner has 9 complied with all the provisions of law entitling him or her to 10 a deed, the court shall so find and shall enter an order 11 directing the county clerk, on the production of the 12 certificate of purchase and a certified copy of the order, to 13 issue to the purchaser or his or her assignee a tax deed if the 14 court finds all of the following: . 15 (1) that the redemption period has expired and the 16 property has not been redeemed; 17 (2) that all taxes and special assessments on the 18 property that became due and payable after the tax sale at 19 which the certificate of purchase was issued have been 20 paid; 21 (3) that all forfeitures and sales of the property 22 that occur after the tax sale at which the certificate of 23 purchase was issued and include only subsequent years 24 taxes have been redeemed; 25 (4) that the notices required by law have been given; 26 (5) that all advancements of public funds under the HB3028 - 7 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 8 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 8 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 8 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 police power made by a county, city, village or town under 2 Section 22-35 have been paid; and 3 (6) that the petitioner has complied with all the 4 provisions of law entitling him or her to a deed. 5 The court shall insist on strict compliance with Section 6 22-10 through 22-25. Prior to the entry of an order directing 7 the issuance of a tax deed, the petitioner shall furnish the 8 court with a report of proceedings of the evidence received on 9 the application for tax deed and the report of proceedings 10 shall be filed and made a part of the court record. 11 (b) If taxes for years prior to the year or years sold are 12 or become delinquent subsequent to the date of sale, the court 13 shall find that the lien of those delinquent taxes has been or 14 will be merged into the tax deed grantee's title if the court 15 determines that the tax deed grantee or any prior holder of the 16 certificate of purchase, or any person or entity under common 17 ownership or control with any such grantee or prior holder of 18 the certificate of purchase, was at no time the holder of any 19 certificate of purchase for the years sought to be merged. A 20 sale of the property that occurs after the tax sale at which 21 the certificate of purchase was issued and includes only tax 22 years that are prior to the year or years sold, or includes 23 both tax years that are prior to the year or years sold and tax 24 years that are after the year or years sold, shall be declared 25 a sale in error, and those tax years that are included in the 26 subsequent sale and are prior to the year or years sold shall HB3028 - 8 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 9 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 9 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 9 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 be merged into the tax deed grantee's title if the court 2 determines that the tax deed grantee or any prior holder of the 3 certificate of purchase, or any person or entity under common 4 ownership or control with any such grantee or prior holder of 5 the certificate of purchase, was at no time the holder of any 6 certificate of purchase for the years sought to be merged. If 7 delinquent taxes are merged into the tax deed pursuant to this 8 subsection, the court shall enter an order declaring which 9 specific taxes have been or will be merged into the tax deed 10 title and directing the county treasurer and county clerk to 11 reflect that declaration in the warrant and judgment records; 12 provided, that no such order shall be effective until a tax 13 deed has been issued and timely recorded. Nothing contained in 14 this Section shall relieve any owner liable for delinquent 15 property taxes under this Code from the payment of the taxes 16 that have been merged into the title upon issuance of the tax 17 deed. 18 (c) The county clerk is entitled to a fee of $10 in 19 counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5 in counties 20 with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants for the issuance of the 21 tax deed. The clerk may not include in a tax deed more than one 22 property as listed, assessed and sold in one description, 23 except in cases where several properties are owned by one 24 person. 25 Upon application the court shall, enter an order to place 26 the tax deed grantee or the grantee's successor in interest in HB3028 - 9 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 10 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 10 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 10 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 possession of the property and may enter orders and grant 2 relief as may be necessary or desirable to maintain the 3 grantee or the grantee's successor in interest in possession. 4 (d) The court shall retain jurisdiction to enter orders 5 pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this Section. This 6 amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly and this 7 amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly shall be construed 8 as being declarative of existing law and not as a new 9 enactment. 10 (Source: P.A. 98-1162, eff. 6-1-15.) 11 (35 ILCS 200/22-85) 12 Sec. 22-85. Failure to timely take out and record deed; 13 deed is void. Unless the holder of the certificate purchased 14 at any tax sale under this Code takes out the deed in the time 15 provided by law, and records the same within one year from and 16 after the time for redemption expires, the certificate or 17 deed, and the sale on which it is based, shall, after the 18 expiration of the one year period, be absolutely void with no 19 right to reimbursement. If the holder of the certificate is 20 prevented from obtaining or recording a deed by injunction or 21 order of any court, or by the refusal or inability of any court 22 to act upon the application for a tax deed, or by the refusal 23 of the clerk to execute the same deed, or by the refusal, 24 inability, or delay of any county, city, village, or 25 incorporated town to issue transfer stamps, the time he or she HB3028 - 10 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028- 11 -LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 11 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b HB3028 - 11 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b 1 is so prevented shall be excluded from computation of the one 2 year period. Certificates of purchase and deeds executed by 3 the clerk shall recite the qualifications required in this 4 Section. The court shall retain jurisdiction to enter orders 5 pursuant to this Section. 6 (Source: P.A. 87-669; 88-455.) 7 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 8 becoming law. HB3028 - 11 - LRB103 06054 HLH 51084 b