Sec. 4. (a) This section does not apply to vacant or abandoned real property that is on the list prepared by the county auditor under section 1.5 of this chapter.

     (b) Not less than twenty-one (21) days before the earliest date on which the application for judgment and order for sale of real property eligible for sale may be made, the county auditor shall send a notice of the sale by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by first class mail to:

(1) the owner of record of real property with a single owner; or

(2) at least one (1) of the owners, as of the date of certification, of real property with multiple owners;

at the last address of the owner for the property as indicated in the transfer book records of the county auditor under IC 6-1.1-5-4 on the date that the tax sale list is certified. If both notices are returned, the county auditor shall take an additional reasonable step to notify the property owner, if the county auditor determines that an additional reasonable step to notify the property owner is practical. The county auditor shall prepare the notice in the form prescribed by the state board of accounts. The notice must set forth the key number, if any, of the real property and a street address, if any, or other common description of the property other than a legal description. The notice must include the statement set forth in section 2(b)(4) of this chapter. With respect to a tract or an item of real property that is subject to sale under this chapter after October 31, 2023, and before November 1, 2024, the notice must include a statement declaring whether an ordinance adopted under IC 6-1.1-37-16 is in effect in the county and, if applicable, an explanation of the circumstances in which interest and penalties on the delinquent taxes and special assessments will be waived. The county auditor must present proof of this mailing to the court along with the application for judgment and order for sale. Failure by an owner to receive or accept the notice required by this section does not affect the validity of the judgment and order. The owner of real property shall notify the county auditor of the owner’s correct address. The notice required under this section is considered sufficient if the notice is mailed to the address or addresses required by this section.

     (c) On or before the day of sale, the county auditor shall list, on the tax sale record required by IC 6-1.1-25-8, all properties that will be offered for sale.

[Pre-1975 Property Tax Recodification Citation: 6-1-56-3.]

Formerly: Acts 1975, P.L.47, SEC.1. As amended by P.L.73-1987, SEC.5; P.L.89-1987, SEC.2; P.L.87-1987, SEC.4; P.L.55-1988, SEC.11; P.L.60-1988, SEC.8; P.L.83-1989, SEC.7; P.L.39-1994, SEC.6; P.L.139-2001, SEC.4; P.L.169-2006, SEC.18; P.L.89-2007, SEC.2; P.L.56-2012, SEC.3; P.L.5-2015, SEC.16; P.L.247-2015, SEC.13; P.L.251-2015, SEC.4; P.L.236-2023, SEC.45.