County-held certificates
Certificates that no investor buys are struck to the county at the full 18 percent. Any person can then buy these county-held certificates over the counter at face value plus 1.5 percent per month plus a $6.25 fee. Separately, parcels that go unsold at a tax deed sale land on the Clerk's 'Lands Available for Taxes' list.
Lands available for taxes
For Lands Available parcels, the county has a 90-day first-purchase right; after that any buyer may purchase. A parcel escheats to the county 3 years after the day it was offered at public sale.
Either route skips the live auction, which means these are the parcels nobody bid on, so the due diligence matters even more. The national over-the-counter guide has the full cross-state playbook.
Verified Jul 4, 2026 against Florida sources.
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.