Tax Certificate

Tax Certificate Sale - Real Estate Taxes in the State of Florida are for the calendar year and are payable November 1st of that year. If these real estate taxes are not paid on or before March 31st of the following year, they become delinquent the next day, April 1st. Florida Statutes require the Tax Collector to annually, on or before June 1st, conduct a sale of tax certificates on all land on which the taxes are delinquent for the preceding year.

The tax certificates are sold at a tax sale auction through competitive bidding. The bidding starts at 18% and is bid down in ¼% increments until the certificate is sold to the lowest bidder. The resulting certificate is a lien on the property, not the sale of the property. The amount of the certificate is the sum of the unpaid real estate taxes and non-ad valorem assessments, 3% interest, 5% in costs associated with the sale, and advertising charges.

Payment of the taxes cancels the lien. If the certificate is not redeemed, 2 years from the date of the delinquency, the certificate holder can initiate a tax deed application that may result in the loss of the property if the taxes remain unpaid.