Delinquent taxes must be paid by cash, cashier’s check or money order. Payment amount is determined by the date payment is received in our office. Postmark does NOT apply.
Florida Statute requires the Tax Collector to advertise the delinquent parcels in a local newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks prior to the tax certificate sale. The advertisement shall specify the place, date and time of sale, the amount due on each parcel, the person in whose name the property is assessed and shall include no less than the legal description as shown on the tax roll.
Beginning on or before June 1st each year, the Tax Collector is required by law to hold a tax certificate sale. The Tax Certificate Sale is conducted online at: https://lienhub.com
The sale offers certificates for the amount of tax debt including applicable interest and fees. The sale is conducted in an auction style with participants bidding downward on interest rates starting at 18%. The certificate is awarded to the lowest bidder. A tax certificate earns a minimum of 5% interest to the investor until the interest has accrued to greater than 5%, with the exception of "zero" interest bids, which always earn "zero" interest.
The tax certificate, when purchased, becomes an enforceable first lien against the real estate. The certificate holder is actually paying the taxes for a property owner in exchange for a competitive bid rate of return on his or her investment. In order to remove the lien, the property owner must pay the Tax Collector all delinquent taxes plus accrued interest, costs, and other charges. The Tax Collector then issues a check to the certificate holder.
A tax certificate is valid for seven years from the date of issuance. The certificate holder may apply for a tax deed when two or more years have elapsed since the date of delinquency. If the property owner fails to pay the tax debt, the property is sold at a public auction. The highest bidder will receive a tax deed for the property.
If a tax certificate does not receive any bids it is struck to the County. Eligible county-held certificates may be purchased from the Tax Collector’s office. The unsold certificates carry an 18% interest rate per Florida statute. All certificates are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
For a list of county-held tax certificates available to purchase, please CLICK HERE
Tax certificates may be transferred at any time before they have been redeemed or a tax deed is executed. A Flagler County bidder number is required.
For more information regarding the tax deed application process, please visit: https://lienhub.com/county/flagler/portfolio
If you are interested in bidding at a tax deed auction, please contact the Clerk of the Court at 386-313-4375 or visit their website www.flaglerClerk.com