Delinquent Tax Information

*Unpaid amounts due increase immediately if county held certificate is purchased or an application for tax deed is made.

Real estate taxes become delinquent on April 1st of each year at which time a 3 percent penalty is added. Once taxes become delinquent, cashier’s check, money order, cash or credit card are the only acceptable forms of payment. The date the payment is received in the office determines the amount due. Failure to pay property taxes in a timely fashion could result in the loss of the property.  Florida Statutes require the Tax Collector to advertise the delinquent parcels in a local newspaper once a week for three weeks prior to the sale of a tax certificate. The Board of County Commissioners awards the advertisement job to the local newspaper with the lowest job bid. Advertising cost is added to the delinquent taxpayer’s bill.

Tax Certificate Sale Information
Beginning on or before June 1st, the Tax Collector is required by law to hold a Tax Certificate Sale. The certificates represent liens on all unpaid real estate properties. The sale is conducted in reverse auction style with participants bidding downward on interest rates starting at 18 percent. The certificate is awarded to the lowest bidder.

The Tax Certificate Sale is held online each year at LienHub.com. Please read the FAQ section on LienHub.com (select Santa Rosa) for details concerning tax certificate sales, bidder registration and deposit requirements. Buying a certificate does not give rights of ownership.

Buyer Beware is good advice. The purchase of tax certificates is not without risk.

Florida Statutes 197.432-602 cover the procedures for tax certificates and tax deeds and are available at Leg.state.fl.us

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