- Does Florida sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Both. Florida is a hybrid state: county Tax Collectors sell 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.
- What interest rate do Florida tax certificates pay?
- The statutory maximum is 18 percent per year. Certificates are bid down from there in quarter-percent steps, and the lowest rate wins. When a certificate is redeemed, the holder earns at least a 5 percent minimum return, unless it was bid at 0 percent, which earns nothing.
- How long is the redemption period in Florida?
- An owner can redeem a certificate any time before a tax deed is issued. A certificate holder cannot apply for a tax deed until two years have passed since April 1 of the year the certificate was issued.
- Why would an investor bid 0 percent on a Florida tax certificate?
- A 0 percent certificate earns no interest, but it secures the right to force a tax deed sale after two years. Investors accept 0 percent when they want the underlying land, treating the certificate as a low-cost option on the property.
- What deposit is required to bid at a Florida tax deed sale?
- The winning bidder posts a nonrefundable deposit of 5 percent of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, at the time of the sale. The balance, plus documentary stamp tax and recording fees, is due within 24 hours excluding weekends and holidays.
Verified Jul 4, 2026 against Florida statutes.
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.