Behind on property taxes in Clearwater? Sell before a tax deed sale.
A local Florida buyer for houses with back taxes in Clearwater. Two minutes to request an offer, and you choose the closing date.
- Written cash offer within 24 hours
- No obligation to accept
- You pick the closing date
Can I sell a house with back taxes in Clearwater?
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.
For Clearwater properties, the local steps run through the Pinellas County Circuit Court (6th Judicial Circuit) and the Pinellas County Clerk of Court.
How tax lien works in Pinellas County
Every tax lien situation in Pinellas County, which includes Clearwater follows Florida law. These are the stages and the local offices involved.
Taxes due
Florida property taxes are mailed in November and become delinquent if unpaid by April 1.
Tax certificate sale
The Pinellas 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 Pinellas 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.
Clearwater: local facts that affect your sale
Clearwater is the Pinellas County seat, and its beach and bayfront neighborhoods flooded during Hurricane Helene in 2024. Pinellas is Florida's most densely populated county, with an older housing stock that took heavy surge damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
We buy houses with back taxes in Countryside, Clearwater Beach, Morningside, Skycrest and North Greenwood, and anywhere else in Clearwater, plus nearby St. Petersburg.
| County | Pinellas County, Tampa Bay |
|---|---|
| County seat | Clearwater |
| Court for tax lien cases | Pinellas County Circuit Court (6th Judicial Circuit) |
| Official records & court sales | Pinellas County Clerk of Court |
| Property taxes | Pinellas County Tax Collector |
| Where we buy | Countryside, Clearwater Beach, Morningside, Skycrest, North Greenwood · nearby St. Petersburg |
Is selling right for your Clearwater house?
You have more than one way out. Clearwater homeowners in this spot usually weigh pay in full, installment plan, refinance and sell for cash. If keeping the house or listing it makes more sense, we'll say so.
Compare every option in the Florida guide →- Several years of taxes are unpaid
- A tax certificate was sold on the property
- You received a tax deed application notice
- The house needs work you can't afford
Three steps. Your schedule.
Here's exactly what happens after you ask for an offer on your Clearwater 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.
What Clearwater homeowners ask about tax lien
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.
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.
Who runs tax certificate and tax deed sales in Pinellas County?
The Pinellas County Tax Collector sells tax certificates each spring. Tax deed auctions are run by the Pinellas County Clerk of Court.
Do you buy houses in Clearwater?
Yes. We buy in Countryside, Clearwater Beach, Morningside and Skycrest and every other part of Clearwater, as well as the rest of Pinellas County. Submit the address and we'll confirm within a day.
How fast can you close in Clearwater?
As little as 7 days after you accept, using a Florida title company. If you need more time, we'll set the date that works for you.
Related help
Other situations in Clearwater
Delinquent Taxes & Tax Liens help nearby
Get your no-obligation cash offer on your Clearwater property.
Two minutes to submit, a written offer within 24 hours, and the closing date you choose. Nothing to fix, nothing to list.