Marion County at a Glance
Marion County is a consolidated city-county government (Indianapolis/Marion County). The annual tax sale is Indiana's largest by volume — consistently 1,000–3,000+ parcels — covering the full spectrum from urban residential to vacant lots, commercial, and industrial. The sale is conducted online through SRI Tax Sale Services and draws buyers from across Indiana and beyond.
Marion County uses SRI Tax Sale Services (sriservices.com) for its annual sale. The process begins well before sale day: register on SRI's platform, complete the required documentation, and submit a refundable deposit (typically $1,000–$2,000 for Marion — confirm current amount with the county auditor). Registration typically closes 10–15 days before the sale opens.
The sale runs online for multiple days, with parcels closing in batches. You bid from your computer — no in-person attendance required. This opens the Marion County sale to investors outside Indiana but also increases competition. Payment for winning bids is due within 48 hours via wire transfer or certified funds. Failure to pay results in forfeiture of your deposit and potential removal from future sales.
The full parcel list is available on SRI typically 3–4 weeks before the sale opens. This is your primary research window. Download the list, cross-reference with the Marion County Assessor for values and ownership, run title searches on your target parcels, and set your maximum bid before the sale opens. Do not rely on in-the-moment decisions for Marion County's fast-moving auction.
Indiana law (I.C. § 6-1.1-25-4.5) requires certificate holders to send written notice to the property owner and all interested parties at least 135 days before the 1-year redemption period expires. This is not optional. If you miss this notice window, you lose the right to foreclose your certificate until the statutory period resets — effectively extending your hold time significantly.
The math: If your sale date is October 10, your redemption period expires October 10 of the following year. Count back 135 days from October 10 — your notice must be sent by approximately June 1. Mark this date in your calendar the moment you purchase a certificate. Send the notice via certified mail, return receipt requested, and retain proof of delivery. Many Indiana investors use a real estate attorney to handle this notice to ensure compliance.
How Marion County Tax Lien Sales Work
October — SRI Platform
Marion County holds its tax sale annually in October through SRI Tax Sale Services. The sale runs online over multiple days. Register on SRI's platform and submit a deposit before the registration deadline (typically mid-September). The full parcel list is available on SRI 3–4 weeks before the sale. Bids are placed online — no courthouse attendance required.
Bid-Up Online, Pay Within 48 Hours
The minimum bid is the delinquent taxes plus costs. Bidders compete upward. Payment is due within 48 hours of winning via wire transfer or certified funds — failure to pay forfeits your deposit. Your deposit counts toward payment on your winning bids. After payment, the county auditor issues a tax sale certificate confirming your lien position.
Direct Foreclosure After 1 Year
After the 1-year redemption period — assuming you sent the required 135-day notice — you may file a petition to foreclose the right of redemption in Marion County Superior Court. If the owner does not contest, the court issues a judgment and orders a commissioner's deed. No competing bidders. No second auction. Your attorney files and you receive the deed.
Key Details
| County seat | Indianapolis — Indiana's capital and largest city, consolidated city-county government |
| Population | 977,203 (2020 Census) — largest county in Indiana |
| Sale platform | SRI Tax Sale Services — online auction at sriservices.com → |
| Sale timing | Annual — typically October; exact dates set each year by county auditor |
| Registration deadline | Typically 10–15 days before sale opens — verify with SRI or county auditor |
| Deposit required | Refundable deposit required before bidding — confirm current amount at indy.gov |
| Payment deadline | 48 hours after winning — wire transfer or certified funds |
| Instrument issued | Tax Sale Certificate — lien, not deed; confirms investor's right to penalty on redemption |
| Redemption period | 1 year from date of sale — I.C. § 6-1.1-25-2 |
| Year 1 penalty | 10% of certificate amount — flat, not annualized |
| Subsequent penalty | 5% per additional 6-month period of non-redemption |
| 135-day notice | Required at least 135 days before redemption expiry — I.C. § 6-1.1-25-4.5 — certified mail to owner and interested parties |
| Foreclosure | Petition to foreclose right of redemption in Marion County Superior Court after 1-year period |
| County Auditor | 317-327-4444 · indy.gov → |
| Statute | I.C. § 6-1.1-24 → · I.C. § 6-1.1-25 → |
Research Tools for Marion County
SRI Tax Sale Services
Primary platform for Marion County's annual sale. Register, view the parcel list, place bids, and pay. Start here — SRI has the authoritative list 3–4 weeks before the sale opens.
sriservices.com →Marion County Auditor / Indy.gov
Official county source for sale schedules, deposit requirements, and registration procedures. Cross-reference with SRI for current year details.
indy.gov →Marion County Assessor
Assessed values, property characteristics, exemption status, and ownership information. Cross-reference with sale list to calculate equity before bidding.
assessor.indy.gov →Marion County Recorder
Deeds, mortgages, mechanics liens, and all recorded instruments. Run a title search on every parcel you plan to bid — federal tax liens and senior mortgages affect your position.
Marion County Recorder →IndyGIS
Parcel data, aerial imagery, zoning, and property boundaries for Marion County. Use to verify lot dimensions, land use classification, and surrounding conditions before bidding.
IndyGIS →Indianapolis Building Services
Permits, code violations, unsafe building orders, and demolition notices. Urban Marion County has significant code enforcement activity — check every residential parcel for open orders.
Indianapolis Building →Indiana DEM Environmental Database
UST registrations, contaminated sites, and brownfield areas. Check commercial and older industrial parcels before bidding — environmental liability transfers with any ownership interest.
IDEM Cleanups →MIBOR Realtor Association
Current Indianapolis residential market data by neighborhood and zip code. Verify resale values and rental rates before calculating your maximum bid on any parcel with ownership intent.
MIBOR Market Stats →IRS Lien Search
Federal tax liens survive Indiana tax sales — the IRS has a right of redemption. Check every commercial parcel or any property with signs of federal tax issues before bidding.
IRS Lien Search →Marion County Courts
Active foreclosures, probate proceedings, and civil actions. Foreclosure proceedings on a property can affect lien priority and your post-foreclosure title position.
Marion County Courts →Indianapolis Vacant & Abandoned Registry
City registry of known vacant and abandoned properties. Useful for identifying properties with structural issues, city liens, or demolition orders that affect investment value.
Indianapolis Vacant →Indiana Code § 6-1.1-24 & 25
Full statutory framework for Indiana tax sales, certificate rights, redemption procedures, the 135-day notice requirement, and foreclosure petition process.
I.C. § 6-1.1-24 →Evaluate Marion County liens before you bid
Use the LTV Calculator to model 10% penalty returns vs. foreclosure scenarios, and the Parcel Tracker to log title flags, code violations, and 135-day notice deadlines across your certificate portfolio.