Columbia County, FL tax sales
Columbia County, Florida sells both tax lien certificates and tax deeds. The Tax Collector runs an annual certificate sale (18% maximum, bid down), and unredeemed certificates move to a Clerk of the Circuit Court tax deed auction after about two years, under Florida Statutes Chapter 197.
Verified Jul 4, 2026 against official county and state sources.
New here? Read how Florida tax sales work, the difference between a lien and a deed, and redemption periods.
How Columbia County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
- Run by
- Columbia County Tax Collector
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- On or before June 1 annually (the 2026 sale began May 13)
- Next expected
- on or about June 1, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
- Sale list
- Certificate sale and delinquent list
Registration and deposit
Register on the RealAuction site and fund a deposit before the sale. The sale is an online reverse auction with bidders bidding down the interest rate from 18 percent. Certificates not sold are struck to the county and earn 18 percent.
Most Florida counties run the certificate sale online. Confirm the exact platform and list on the county Tax Collector page.
Register on RealTaxLien (RealAuction)Tax deed sale
- Run by
- Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
- Frequency
- As scheduled; see the upcoming tax deed sales list
- Sale list
- Upcoming tax deed sales
Registration and deposit
Tax deed sales are held in person on the third floor of the Columbia County Courthouse, 173 NE Hernando Avenue, Lake City. The winning bidder posts a nonrefundable deposit of 5 percent of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, cash only, with the balance due within 24 hours in verified funds.
Columbia holds tax deed sales in person at the courthouse; there is no online tax deed auction platform.
Over-the-counter (leftover) purchases
County-held certificates can be bought from the Tax Collector. Parcels not sold at a tax deed sale go on the Clerk's Lands Available for Taxes list.
New to this path? Read how over-the-counter certificates work.
County offices
Tax Collector (runs the certificate sale)
Kyle Keen
Clerk of the Circuit Court (runs the deed sale)
Notes for Columbia County
- Columbia is a split-platform county: the Tax Collector's certificate sale runs online on columbiafl.realtaxlien.com (RealAuction), but the Clerk holds tax deed sales in person.
- Tax deed sales are held on the third floor of the Columbia County Courthouse, 173 NE Hernando Avenue, Lake City. Deposits are 5 percent or $200, whichever is greater, cash only, with the balance due within 24 hours.
- The Tax Collector has offices in Lake City and Fort White; the Clerk's tax deed line is (386) 719-7580.
Florida statewide rules
- Redemption
- The owner (or anyone) can redeem a certificate at any time after it is issued and before a tax deed is issued. The two-year clock that lets a certificate holder apply for a tax deed runs from April 1 of the year the certificate was issued.
- Deed deposit
- The high bidder posts a nonrefundable deposit of 5 percent of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, at the time of the sale, applied to the final price.
- Homestead deeds
- If the property was assessed as homestead on the latest roll, the opening bid also adds one-half of its latest assessed value. This sharply raises the floor price on homestead parcels and suppresses investor demand for them.
A tax deed does not convey marketable title. Most buyers file a quiet title action before they can resell or insure the property. See the due diligence guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Columbia County, Florida sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Columbia County follows Florida's hybrid system. The Tax Collector sells tax-lien certificates each year, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court holds tax deed auctions on parcels whose certificates go unredeemed after about two years.
When is the Columbia County tax certificate sale?
- On or before June 1 annually (the 2026 sale began May 13). Registration and bidding happen on the county's online platform. Always confirm the exact date with the Tax Collector before the sale.
Tax Sale Atlas publishes educational information about public tax sale processes. This is not legal, financial, or investment advice. Rules, dates, and fees change; confirm with the county office before you bid.
Explore all 67 Florida counties
Compare sale calendars, platforms, and rules across the state, or read the guides before you bid.