You can claim it yourself, for free

Checklist: Indiana, money left over after a tax-deed sale

Who holds it: County auditor and county treasurer (county tax sale surplus fund)

How long: 3 years from when the county receives the money. After that, it moves to the county general fund and can't be paid out on a claim.

How you claim: File a verified (sworn) claim with the county auditor for the money in the tax sale surplus fund. If the auditor and treasurer approve it, the auditor issues a warrant (check).

Your deadline: ____________ (confirm it with the clerk)

Steps

1. Ask the county auditor whether your parcel has money in the tax sale surplus fund.
2. Get the auditor's verified claim form.
3. File it well within 3 years of the sale money being received.
4. After the auditor and treasurer approve it, the auditor issues payment.

Documents

• Verified (sworn) claim to the county auditor

What it costs you

Not researched yet — ask the clerk

If someone offers to do it for you

• A finder who charges you may need to be a licensed private investigation firm: ask the clerk.
• There may be a fee limit: ask the clerk.
• Any deal must be in writing.
• You never need to pay anyone to file.

Official links

• Indiana State Board of Accounts audit citing the 3-year surplus rule: https://www.in.gov/sboa/WebReports/B40857.pdf