FL
The state runs more than one kind of sale, so the outcome depends on which sale a parcel goes through.
Sale type
Hybrid (lien and deed)
Redemption
24 mo
Interest / penalty
Bid-down · 18%
Sale timing
Annual
Rules in plain English
Sale type
Hybrid (lien and deed)
The state runs more than one kind of sale, so the outcome depends on which sale a parcel goes through.
Fla. Stat. § 197.432 (tax certificate lien sale); § 197.542 (tax deed sale)
“A lien created through the sale of a tax certificate may not be enforced in any manner except as prescribed in this chapter.”official source ↗
Redemption period
24 mo
24 months (2 years)
Fla. Stat. § 197.502(1)
“at any time after 2 years have elapsed since April 1 of the year of issuance of the tax certificate”official source ↗
Interest / penalty
Bid-down · 18%
Bidding starts at a maximum rate of 18% per year and goes down.
Fla. Stat. § 197.172(2); § 197.542(1)
“The maximum rate of interest on a tax certificate is 18 percent per year.”official source ↗
Bid method
Bid down the interest rate
Bidders compete by offering the lowest interest rate rather than the highest price.
Fla. Stat. § 197.432(6); § 197.542(2)
“Each certificate shall be awarded to the person who will pay the taxes, interest, costs, and charges and will demand the lowest rate of interest, not in excess of the maximum rate of interest allowed by this chapter.”official source ↗
Sale schedule
Annual
Sales are held about once a year.
Fla. Stat. § 197.402(3)
“on or before June 1 or the 60th day after the date of delinquency, whichever is later, the tax collector shall advertise once each week for 3 weeks and shall sell tax certificates”official source ↗
Bidder process
- 01A tax deed sale is advertised and held at public auction by the clerk of the circuit court of the county where the property is located (197.542(1))
- 02The certificateholder has a right to bid and the property is struck off and sold to the highest bidder (197.542(2))
- 03The high bidder posts with the clerk a nonrefundable deposit of 5 percent of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, at the time of the sale (197.542(2))
- 04Pay the full final bid plus documentary stamp tax and recording fees within 24 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays (197.542(2))
- 05The clerk issues and records the tax deed upon payment (197.542(1), (3)); a clerk may instead conduct electronic tax deed sales with proxy bidding (197.542(4)(a))
- Registration
- Not documented
- Registration mode
- Not documented
- Registration deadline
- Not documented
- Registration fee
- Not documented
- Deposit required
- Yes
- Deposit amount
- Not documented
- Deposit percent
- 5%
- Deposit refundable
- No
- Sale format
- hybrid
- Payment deadline
- full payment of the final bid and of documentary stamp tax and recording fees within 24 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays
- Payment methods
- unknown
- Residency required
- Not documented
Fla. Stat. 197.542(1)
“Real property advertised for sale to the highest bidder as a result of an application filed under s. 197.502 shall be sold at public auction by the clerk of the circuit court, or his or her deputy, of the county where the property is located on the date, at the time, and at the location as set forth in the published notice, which must be during the regular hours the clerk's office is open.”official source ↗
Fla. Stat. 197.542(2)
“The certificateholder has the right to bid as others present may bid, and the property shall be struck off and sold to the highest bidder. The high bidder shall post with the clerk a nonrefundable deposit of 5 percent of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, at the time of the sale, to be applied to the sale price at the time of full payment.”official source ↗
Fla. Stat. 197.542(2)
“If full payment of the final bid and of documentary stamp tax and recording fees is not made within 24 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays, the clerk shall cancel all bids, readvertise the sale as provided in this section, and pay all costs of the sale from the deposit.”official source ↗
Fla. Stat. 197.542(4)(a)
“A clerk may conduct electronic tax deed sales in lieu of public outcry. The clerk must comply with the procedures provided in this chapter, except that electronic proxy bidding shall be allowed and the clerk may require bidders to advance sufficient funds to pay the deposit required by subsection (2).”official source ↗
Notes
Tax certificate (lien) sale s.197.432 plus tax deed sale s.197.542. | Prose: hybrid | 18% per year maximum certificate rate (bid down); 1.5% per month after tax deed application | 2 years (before tax deed application) | interest-rate bid-down (certificate sale); highest bidder (tax deed sale) | on or before June 1 (tax certificate sale)