Delinquent Taxes

Real property taxes are billed and collected at the local city, township or village beginning July 1 and December 1 each year. On March 1, the unpaid real property taxes for the previous year’s levy are returned delinquent to the county treasurer to collect. For more than 30 years, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has funded the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund which allows the Ottawa County Treasurer to advance cash to local school districts and local government units for their portion of the delinquent taxes. Full payment is made to all taxing authorities around April 10 each year.

Important Property Tax Dates (PDF)

Delinquent Taxes

Amounts owed can be found online using the Ottawa County Property Search. There is a fee of $1.00 for the information. In the property summary, click on “Tax Search.” After a successful transaction using a credit card, delinquent tax amounts will be shown for that property.

After the Tax Search is purchased, payments on delinquent taxes owed can be paid using credit card through the website. A technology fee will apply.

Avoiding Tax Foreclosure in Ottawa County

If you are a property owner with delinquent real property taxes, there are three available options to avoid tax foreclosure:

1. Pay Delinquent Taxes in Full

You can pay your delinquent property taxes in full through any of the following methods:

• Online
• In person at any Ottawa County Treasurer’s Office location
• Automatic monthly payments via bank withdrawal

To enroll in the automatic payment program, complete the Delinquent Property Tax Automatic Payments Enrollment Form (PDF).

2. Apply for a Financial Hardship Exemption

If you’re experiencing financial hardship, you may qualify for a one-year exemption from foreclosure by completing a Financial Hardship Exemption Application. If approved, you’ll need to adhere to a payment plan agreed upon with the Treasurer’s Office.

Access the application form here (PDF).

3. Apply for the Tax Foreclosure Avoidance Payment Reduction Program

If you owe two or more years of forfeited property taxes, or a combination of delinquent and forfeited taxes, you may qualify for this program. If approved, you and the Ottawa County Treasurer will enter a five-year payment plan, during which the interest and penalty accrued will be cancelled and the property will be withheld from foreclosure.

Program Resources

• Program Policy Document (PDF) – Outlines benefits and eligibility requirements
• Program Application Form (PDF) – Must be submitted to the Ottawa County Treasurer’s Office

If you have any questions or need help with any of the above options, please contact the Ottawa County Treasurer’s Office at 616-994-4501 for assistance.

Foreclosed Property/Tax Sale

Michigan is a property tax foreclosure state. In Ottawa County, if real property taxes returned delinquent on March 1 remain unpaid, they are forfeited to the Ottawa County Treasurer the following March 1. The property owner or other interested parties have one year to redeem the property by paying the forfeited delinquent taxes plus all penalties, interest and costs assessed. If not paid in full, the property is foreclosed on March 31 by Circuit Court action. By fee simple title, the property is owned by the foreclosing government unit, the Ottawa County Treasurer.

At the end of March each year the Ottawa County Treasurer forecloses on properties for unpaid delinquent taxes. By the end of April title is transferred to the Ottawa County Treasurer by deed recorded with the Ottawa County Register of Deeds. The first Land Auction is held by the end of August with a second Land Auction held by the end of September for parcels not sold at the first auction. The parcel number(s) for the property(s) that were foreclosed are listed below. You may research these property(s) by using the on-line Property Search. From this location on the Ottawa County web site, you will be able to access free GIS mapping, real estate summary information, assessed values, legal description, sales history and split history. For a fee chargeable to your credit card, you will be able to search historical tax roll and delinquent tax roll information.

• Form 5743 Notice of Intent to Claim Sale Proceeds (PDF)
• Notice Of Show Cause Hearing And Judicial Foreclosure Hearing (PDF)
• Michigan Legal Help: Claiming Tax Sale Proceeds
• Michigan Legal Help: Mortgage Foreclosure & Tax Foreclosure

Foreclosure Auctions

Title Check, LLC is the agent for the Ottawa County Treasurer to manage activities leading up to the auction as well as the auction. Title Check provides information regarding the auction process and specific auction information when it becomes available which is about 30 days prior to the auction date.

Questions may be directed to Kathy Dennings.

The list for the 2026 Foreclosures year to date. All sold properties will appear on this list as they are sold.
Rules for the Auction may change yearly so please visit Title Check, LLC Auction.

Ottawa County Surplus Properties Not Purchased at Foreclosure Auction (PDF)