How to buy tax-sale property in Florida (2026)
This state runs more than one kind of tax sale, so the rules depend on which sale you enter. The owner has 2 years to pay you back. Bidding drives the rate down, and you earn up to 18% a year. You win by offering the lowest interest rate. Sales are held once a year.
- Redemption period
- 24 mo
- Interest / penalty
- Bid down · 18%
- Bid method
- Bid down interest
- Sale timing
- Annual
How to bid here · Florida
Hybrid- 1.A 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))
- 2.The certificateholder has a right to bid and the property is struck off and sold to the highest bidder (197.542(2))
- 3.The 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))
- 4.Pay the full final bid plus documentary stamp tax and recording fees within 24 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays (197.542(2))
- 5.The 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
- Required: UnknownUnknown
Not verified from a source yet.
- Deposit
- Required: YesUnknown5% of amount owed
at the time of the sale
- Forms
- Bidder ID card: UnknownW-9: Unknown
- Eligibility
- Residency required: UnknownNo delinquent taxes: Unknown
- Payment
- Unknown
Not verified from a source yet.
Florida tax deed sales are held by the clerk of the circuit court at public auction, or electronically in lieu of public outcry where the clerk so elects. The high bidder must post a nonrefundable deposit of the greater of 5 percent of the bid or $200 at the time of sale, and pay the balance plus documentary stamp tax and recording fees within 24 hours. Registration requirements are not set by state statute and vary by clerk.
Citations
Sale type
Fla. Stat. § 197.432 (tax certificate lien sale); § 197.542 (tax deed sale)
official source“A lien created through the sale of a tax certificate may not be enforced in any manner except as prescribed in this chapter.”
Redemption
Fla. Stat. § 197.502(1)
official source“at any time after 2 years have elapsed since April 1 of the year of issuance of the tax certificate”
Interest / penalty
Fla. Stat. § 197.172(2); § 197.542(1)
official source“The maximum rate of interest on a tax certificate is 18 percent per year.”
Bid method
Fla. Stat. § 197.432(6); § 197.542(2)
official source“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.”
Sale schedule
Fla. Stat. § 197.402(3)
official source“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”
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)
Frequently asked questions
- What do I actually buy at a Florida tax sale?
- The state runs more than one kind of sale, so the outcome depends on which sale a parcel goes through.
- How long does the owner have to redeem the property in Florida?
- 24 months (2 years)
- What interest or penalty do I earn on a Florida tax sale?
- Bidding starts at a maximum rate of 18% per year and goes down.
- How is the winning bidder chosen in Florida?
- Bidders compete by offering the lowest interest rate rather than the highest price.
Track Florida sales as they post
Get alerts when new Florida auctions and parcels appear, and see the plans that unlock the full parcel book.
Not legal, tax, or investment advice. Read the full disclaimer.