FL

Registry entries (prose)

Sale typeWhat you actually buy. A lien sale gives you a claim on the property and the owner keeps it for now; a deed sale transfers the property itself. A redeemable deed transfers ownership but still gives the former owner time to pay you back. See the full glossary for more terms.

hybrid

Fla. Stat. § 197.432 (tax certificate lien sale); § 197.542 (tax deed sale)

Interest / penaltyWhat you earn when the owner redeems. Interest is a rate paid over time; a penalty is usually a one-time percentage of the tax or redemption amount. A rate that is bid down during the auction is still interest. See the full glossary for more terms.

18% per year maximum certificate rate (bid down); 1.5% per month after tax deed application

Fla. Stat. § 197.172(2); § 197.542(1)

RedemptionHow long the former owner has to repay the debt and keep the property after the sale. Your money stays tied up until this window closes, so a long period can mean a multi-year wait on a lien. See the full glossary for more terms.

2 years (before tax deed application)

Fla. Stat. § 197.502(1)

Bid methodHow the winner is chosen: bidding the interest rate down, bidding a premium above the amount owed, a random or rotating draw, or simply buying at the minimum bid. See the full glossary for more terms.

interest-rate bid-down (certificate sale); highest bidder (tax deed sale)

Fla. Stat. § 197.432(6); § 197.542(2)

Sale timingWhen sales are typically held. Many counties publish sale lists only a few weeks ahead, and some sell continuously or on their own schedule. See the full glossary for more terms.

on or before June 1 (tax certificate sale)

Fla. Stat. § 197.402(3)

Source

https://flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/197.432

Tax certificate (lien) sale s.197.432 plus tax deed sale s.197.542.

Counties (67)