TaxLienSimple

The TaxLienSimple Index / Iowa

The TaxLienSimple Index · IA · 2026

Iowa Tax-Lien & Tax-Deed Investing

What Iowa statute actually pays — return, redemption and bid method — cross-referenced with the live auction inventory we track. Every figure traces to state law or a county source.

Statutes verified Jul 29, 2026

57 /100
Tier B National rank #11 of 51
The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.
Sale type
Tax Lien
Statutory return / penalty
2% per month = 24%/yr
Redemption period
1 year 9 months, then a 90-day notice must expire (~2 years total)
Bid method
n/a
Sale season
third Monday in June; adjourned sales may follow
What you buy
tax lien certificate

Statutory note. Iowa sells by bidding down the undivided ownership percentage taken (not interest); the 24%/yr rate is fixed, and any fraction of a month counts as a full month.

2,398live parcels tracked
7counties with inventory
#11of 51 jurisdictions
Read the score correctly. The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.

Remote Investor Snapshot

Verified public-data profile for out-of-area investors — every figure below traces to the cited government source. Blank fields mean the source does not publish that value for this area (we never estimate).

Market & demographics

Population
3,188,836
5-yr population growth
+2.3% growing
Median household income
$70,571
Median age
38.4
Poverty rate
11.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022

Housing market

Median home value
$181,600
Median gross rent
$914/mo
Owner-occupied
71.5% 28.5% renter
Vacancy rate
9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022

Property-tax burden

Median real-estate taxes
$2,703/yr
Effective property-tax rate
1.49% of home value

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022

Natural-hazard risk & safety

Unemployment rate
2.9%

Source: FEMA National Risk Index (2023); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (2023 annual)

Growth & livability signals

New residential permits
11,230 units, 2023
Broadband subscription
86.3%
Bachelor's degree +
30.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (2023); U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022 (household broadband subscription; FCC availability not yet integrated); U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022 (educational attainment — school-quality proxy; NCES ratings not yet integrated)

Risk & opportunity flags

Opportunity Zone tracts
62 tax-advantaged
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites
24
EPA Brownfield sites
1,056

Source: U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund / IRS designated Opportunity Zones; U.S. EPA (SEMS National Priorities List; ACRES Brownfields)

Counties we track in Iowa

#CountyTaxLienSimple IndexLive parcels
1 Johnson County B 60 1,294
2 Dubuque County B 59 653
3 Scott County B 59 19
4 Polk County B 58 253
5 Linn County B 58 167
6 Pottawattamie County B 58 6
7 Story County B 58 6

Iowa tax sale — FAQ

What is the TaxLienSimple Index for Iowa?

Iowa scores 57/100 (Tier B), ranked #11 of 51 jurisdictions. The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.

How does redemption and return work in Iowa?

2% per month = 24%/yr Redemption period: 1 year 9 months, then a 90-day notice must expire (~2 years total). Iowa sells by bidding down the undivided ownership percentage taken (not interest); the 24%/yr rate is fixed, and any fraction of a month counts as a full month.

What is Iowa's statutory return on a tax lien or tax deed purchase?

2% per month = 24%/yr Iowa sells by bidding down the undivided ownership percentage taken (not interest); the 24%/yr rate is fixed, and any fraction of a month counts as a full month.

What is the bid method for Iowa tax sales?

Iowa uses a n/a method for its tax lien sales.

Does Iowa use tax-lien auctions or tax-deed sales?

Iowa uses a tax lien system. Iowa sells by bidding down the undivided ownership percentage taken (not interest); the 24%/yr rate is fixed, and any fraction of a month counts as a full month.

See the actual parcels in Iowa

Browse the live tax-lien, deed and foreclosure inventory we track — search by county, redemption window and opening bid.

Browse live auction inventory →  ·  Iowa tax delinquent property list →  ·  Iowa state guide →  ·  Set a max bid →  ·  Academy: what a tax lien actually is →
The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.

© 2026 TaxLienSimple · The TaxLienSimple Index is compiled from state tax statutes and county treasurer/tax-collector offices; live inventory counts reflect parcels currently tracked by TaxLienSimple and update continuously. Nothing here is investment or legal advice.