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Tax Certificates Overview

Florida Statutes require the Tax Collector to conduct a sale of tax certificates beginning on or before June 1 for the preceding years delinquent real estate taxes.

Sale of a tax certificate by the Tax Collector's office, through competitive bidding at an auction, results in a lien on the real estate property. It is not a purchase of the property. The amount of the certificate is the sum of the unpaid real estate tax and non- ad valorem assessment, 3% interest (for April and May), 5% Tax Collector's commission and advertising costs.

Bidding on the certificate starts at 18%, and interest is bid down until the tax certificate is sold. Interest is paid at the rate of the lowest bid. The person redeeming (paying) the tax certificate pays the interest rate bid or the 5% mandatory charge, whichever is greater. All tax certificates must be redeemed in certified funds in U.S. dollars.

Failure by the property owner to redeem the certificate within the 22-month period prescribed by law can result in the loss of the property at a Tax Deed Sale.

For more information, please contact our office.

Back to Property Tax Certificates

Taxes E-Mail: taxes@hillstax.org
Telephone: (813) 635-5200, Fax: (813) 612-6707

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records.  If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity.  Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Updated: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Page URL:  http://www.hillstax.org/tax/prop_tax05.asp