Delinquent Taxes & Tax Liens in Florida: the timeline, your options, and how to sell for cash
Yes. Back taxes are paid from the sale proceeds at closing, which redeems any tax certificate and stops a tax deed. In Florida you can redeem up until the tax deed is issued, so selling early protects your equity.
How tax lien works in Florida, step by step
The stages below follow the Florida Statutes. Each county's Circuit Court, Clerk and Tax Collector handle the local steps — pick your area below for those details.
Taxes due
Florida property taxes are mailed in November and become delinquent if unpaid by April 1.
Tax certificate sale
The county Tax Collector sells a tax certificate on the unpaid taxes by June 1. The buyer earns interest; you still own the home.
Two-year clock
Two years after April 1 of the year the certificate was issued, the holder can apply for a tax deed (s. 197.502).
Tax deed auction
The county Clerk of Court schedules a public auction. For homestead property the opening bid includes half of the assessed value.
Redemption
You can redeem by paying the full amount owed any time before the tax deed is issued.
Every option, honestly compared
Pay in full
Stops everything if you have the cash.
Installment plan
Florida offers a prepayment installment plan for current-year taxes; it doesn't cover old delinquent years.
Refinance
Can roll taxes into a new loan if credit and equity allow.
Sell for cash
Taxes, interest and fees are paid at closing and you keep the rest.
Delinquent Taxes & Tax Liens help by county and city
Local pages include the court, Clerk and neighborhoods for each area.
Bay County · 14th Circuit
Broward County · 17th Circuit
Citrus County · 5th Circuit
Columbia County · 3rd Circuit
Duval County · 4th Circuit
Escambia County · 1st Circuit
Hernando County · 5th Circuit
Hillsborough County · 13th Circuit
Lee County · 20th Circuit
Leon County · 2nd Circuit
Manatee County · 12th Circuit
Marion County · 5th Circuit
Miami-Dade County · 11th Circuit
Orange County · 9th Circuit
Palm Beach County · 15th Circuit
Pinellas County · 6th Circuit
Polk County · 10th Circuit
St. Johns County · 7th Circuit
St. Lucie County · 19th Circuit
Volusia County · 7th Circuit
Three steps. Your schedule.
Here's exactly what happens after you ask for an offer on your Florida property.
Tell us about the house
Share the address and a few details online or by phone. It takes about two minutes and costs nothing.
Get a written cash offer
We review the property and recent nearby sales and send a no-obligation cash offer, usually within 24 hours.
Pick your closing date
Close in as little as 7 days through a Florida title company, or pick a later date. We cover normal closing costs.
Cash sale vs. listing with an agent
If time, repairs or certainty matter more than squeezing out top dollar, this is the trade-off.
| Traditional sale | QuikCashOffers | |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs before selling | Usually expected | None — sold as-is |
| Agent commissions | Often 5–6% | $0 |
| Showings and open houses | Weeks or months | None |
| Time to close | 30–60+ days after a contract | As little as 7 days |
| Financing risk | Buyer's loan can fall through | Cash — no loan needed |
| Closing costs | Often split or paid by seller | Normal costs covered by us |
Florida tax lien questions
When does a Florida tax certificate turn into a tax deed?
The certificate holder can apply for a tax deed two years after April 1 of the year the certificate was issued (s. 197.502). The Clerk then schedules an auction.
Can I still sell after a tax certificate is sold?
Yes. You still own the property. The certificate is paid off from your sale proceeds at closing.
What happens to surplus after a tax deed sale?
If the auction brings more than what's owed, the surplus goes to lienholders and then the former owner, who must claim it from the Clerk.
Do I lose my homestead exemption if I'm behind?
Not automatically, but a tax deed sale ends your ownership. Selling first lets you keep your equity.
Do you buy in every Florida county?
We focus on the counties and cities listed on this page and review other Florida addresses case by case. Submit the address and we'll tell you within a day.
Is this legal advice?
No. This guide summarizes Florida law in plain English. For advice about your case, talk to a Florida attorney.
Get a cash offer on a house with back taxes anywhere in Florida.
Two minutes to submit and a written offer within 24 hours.