A tax foreclosure is a lawsuit against a property with certified delinquent property taxes. This lawsuit is filed on behalf of the county treasurer to retrieve the delinquent taxes owed on the property.

Cuyahoga County collects property taxes on behalf of municipalities, school districts, libraries and various important health and human service programs. These entities rely on property taxes to support their operations as a primary or secondary source of revenue. The foreclosure process allows the County to recoup delinquent taxes on a property and continue funding these services, and helps to reduce the risks for vacancies and property crime.

The process is handled either through judicial review or the Cuyahoga County Board of Revision.

In a judicial review, title work is completed and the addresses of the owners and interested parties are verified. Service must be perfected, meaning that the owners have to receive notice of the foreclosure. There is a motion to schedule a hearing date, which can be held within 90 and 180 days of the start of the process. The case is heard by a magistrate, who will typically render a decision within two weeks.

In a Board of Revision hearing, the steps are the same, but the process is expedited. This process applies only to abandoned properties and vacant lots.

If you find yourself facing tax foreclosure, please reach out to the Cuyahoga County Treasurer's Office. We can assist by helping taxpayers make delinquent tax payment contracts. If taxpayers make on-time payments on contracts and continue paying the current taxes on the property, a foreclosure can be mitigated. While the property owner will still accrue prosecutors fees and court costs, the home will not be subjected to a sheriff's sale.

To set up a delinquent tax payment contract, or for additional information, please call the Treasury Department at 216-443-7400 to speak with one of the tax services specialists.

There are several steps in the foreclosure process. The Prosecutor’s office is responsible for handling the foreclosure process. For more information, please visit https://cp.cuyahogacounty.us/court-resources/local-rules/.

If you find that you are having trouble making your tax payments when they are due, we encourage you to consider signing up for EasyPay, our pre-payment tax escrow program. EasyPay allows you to pay your current taxes monthly in advance.

If you already behind on your taxes, we encourage you to contact us to set up a delinquent tax payment contract as soon as possible. EasyPay may also be an option to help you pay current taxes.

To get started, please give us a call at 216-443-7400 and speak with one of our Property Tax Customer Representatives.