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Hills Clerk Seal

VICTOR D. CRIST

CLERK OF COURT & COMPTROLLER

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE!

Hills Clerk Seal

VICTOR D. CRIST

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE!

CLERK OF COURT & COMPTROLLER

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA

Tax Deed Sales

Tax Deed Sales and the issuance of tax deeds are governed by Florida Statute 197.  The procedure involves a Tax Certificate Holder (tax certificates are sold to collect delinquent taxes) applying for a tax deed through the Tax Collector.

 

The Clerk's Office is statutorily responsible for conducting Tax Deed Sales and issuing a tax deed in the name of the County to the successful bidder at a sale. This does not involve a court order and a case is not filed in court.

 

Please visit our Public Access View application to view the current tax deed sale list and the lands available list.

Tax Deed Sales FAQs

What are tax deed sales?
The Tax Deed Department sells property that is delinquent in taxes. A tax deed sale occurs after an owner of a tax certificate applies to the Tax Collector for a tax deed after the tax certificate has been held for the statutory period.
Where can I obtain information about Tax Deed Sales?

You can view current tax deed sales online at Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts Tax Deed Sales. You can view the list of lands available online using our Public Access View application. Properties that have a status of redeemed are no longer available for sale. 

Website Security Changes
Beginning February 1, 2019, Hillsborough County Clerk websites will no longer support TLS versions 1.0 and 1.1. Only TLS version 1.2 will be supported. If you are using unsupported web browsers, old versions of the browsers or have not enabled your browser to use TLS 1.2 to connect to our records search websites after this date, you will begin receiving error messages.
Why are we disabling TLS 1.0 and 1.1?
We are disabling them to ensure that our websites are providing our customers and partners with safe and secure protocols for these connections. This change is enforced throughout the industry to maintain secure connections that encrypt and protect data from malicious data breaches.
Supported Browsers
Most of the latest versions of standard browsers will support TLS 1.2 by default. If you are unsure about whether your browser will support it, you can verify this by using the following website: https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/viewMyClient.html
When and where are these tax deed sales held?

Tax deed sales are held on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. online at Hillsborough County Clerk of Court Real Auction Tax Deed.

 

You are encouraged to visit the online sales site prior to bidding on a property to become familiar with the requirements.

Where can I find out about upcoming sales?

A list of the properties scheduled for sale is available online at Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts Tax Deed Sales. Sales are advertised in local legal newspapers in their classified sections under "Notices of Sale."

 

You can research tax deed sales cases online using our RealAuction application which provides online auction sales information.

Website Security Changes
Beginning February 1, 2019, Hillsborough County Clerk websites will no longer support TLS versions 1.0 and 1.1. Only TLS version 1.2 will be supported. If you are using unsupported web browsers, old versions of the browsers or have not enabled your browser to use TLS 1.2 to connect to our records search websites after this date, you will begin receiving error messages.
Why are we disabling TLS 1.0 and 1.1?
We are disabling them to ensure that our websites are providing our customers and partners with safe and secure protocols for these connections. This change is enforced throughout the industry to maintain secure connections that encrypt and protect data from malicious data breaches.
Supported Browsers
Most of the latest versions of standard browsers will support TLS 1.2 by default. If you are unsure about whether your browser will support it, you can verify this by using the following website: https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/viewMyClient.html
Where can I find information on claims filed for available excess proceeds?
You can view claims filed on any tax deed file that still has funds available for disbursement here.
What are some things that I should know before the sales?

Properties should be researched before bidding. It is very important to understand what you are purchasing at the sale and whether there may be any liens remaining on the property. Tax deed sales are not for the uninformed. The Clerk's Office can not advise you on tax deed sales. You may want to seek the assistance of a legal advisor.

 

The lists of properties available for sale contain only the folio numbers for the properties being offered. Information regarding structures located on the property or their condition is not available through the Clerk's Office.

 

Visit the Property Appraiser's website or the Tax Collector's website for basic information regarding the listed properties. Be sure to write down the folio numbers you want to research before leaving the Clerk's website.

What happens if I am successful in a bid for a property?

You are required to post a nonrefundable deposit of 5% of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, prior to bidding for the parcel.

 

Payment in full, including documentary stamps and recording fees, must be made by 10AM the next business day. Payments can be made through the online sales site or in person with cash or by cashier's check payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court. Upon receipt, a tax deed will be issued and recorded.

 

If full payment is not made, the Clerk shall cancel all bids, re-advertise the sale, and pay all costs of the sale from the deposit. Any remaining funds will be applied toward the opening bid. The clerk may refuse to recognize the bid of any person who has previously bid and refused, for any reason, to honor their bid.

What happens if a property receives no bids at the auction?

Properties for which no bids are received are placed on the Lands Available List, if it is a County-held certificate. Florida Statute 197 states the County may, at any time within the first 90 days from the day the property is placed on the list, purchase the property for the opening base bid. After the ninety-day period, the property is available for purchase by the public for the base bid plus accrued interest, any taxes due, documentary stamps, and recording and indexing fees.

 

If a non-homestead property brought to sale by an individual certificate holder (the applicant) has no bids, the property shall be sold to the certificate holder, who shall pay to the Clerk any amounts included in the minimum bid not already paid within 30 days after the sale. If the certificate holder fails to make full payment, within 30 days after the sale, the Clerk shall enter the property on a list entitled "Lands Available for Taxes."

 

If a homestead property brought to sale by an individual certificate holder has no bids, the certificate holder shall pay to the Clerk one-half of the assessed value of the homestead, the documentary stamp tax and the recording fees within 30 days after the sale. Upon payment, a tax deed shall be issued and recorded by the Clerk. If the certificate holder fails to make full payment, 30 days after the sale, the clerk shall enter the property on a list entitled Lands Available for Taxes.

 

Visit the Property Appraiser's website or the Tax Collector's website for basic information regarding the listed properties. Make note of the folio numbers you want to research before leaving the Clerk's site.

Where can I obtain the claim affidavit for tax deed excess proceeds?

If the claim is for a file that predates the sale date of August 15, 2019 use the TD-Excess Proceeds Affidavit form.

 

If the claim is for a file that is for August 15, 2019 forward use the TD-120 Day Surplus Proceeds Affidavit form.

 

Claims are only accepted by mail at the address listed on the claim forms. Additionally, note the following is required in addition to the claim form:

  • If you are the titleholder, please provide a legible copy of your government identification.
  • If you are a lienholder, please attach documentation such as a payoff statement or affidavit of indebtedness that substantiates the amount due and owing under the lien and that you are the current holder of the lien.
  • If you are a third party asset recovery company, please include documentation substantiating the contractual relationship between yourself and the titleholder/lienholder (with a legible copy of your and their government issued photo identification).
  • If your claim is on behalf of an Estate as an undetermined heir, we will need government issued photo identification and please submit either a Summary Administration Order or a Disposition of Personal Property without Administrative Order per chapter 735, Florida Statutes, showing distribution of the available excess proceeds to the determined heirs of the Estate. Please conduct all necessary research of the tax deed file to determine whether or not the Estate is entitled to any available excess funds prior to commencing a probate action.
How can I find unpaid tax certificates on properties that have not yet been scheduled for sale?
You can search individual properties on the Tax Collector’s website.
Where can I obtain a list of tax deed excess proceeds that have not been disbursed by the Clerk's accounting department?

You can download Weekly Tax Deed Spreadsheet here. Please note that the information is being provided in the format that it is maintained, with only the file number and unclaimed amount listed.

 

As for any information you need (i.e., date of sale, any and all file and case numbers, name and address of former owner), please note that as a convenience to the public, our office has made the Tax Collector’s Certification (a/k/a “DR 513”) and O & E Report for tax deed properties online free of charge; this would list most of the information you are requesting for each individual tax deed file. These documents can be located using the Clerk’s Public Access View Application. 

 

When attempting to locate the tax deed file number, use the following format YYYY-CaseNumber instead of the case numbers listed on the downloaded weekly tax deed spreadsheet (i.e. type in "2016-142," not "16-LW-000142").

What are my options for obtaining customer service from the Clerk's office?
Mail:  PO Box 3360, Tampa, FL 33601-3360
Email: Contact us
Phone:  (813) 276-8100 ext. 7805
In person:  Downtown Tampa
What are the fees associated with this service?
The charges listed are established by Florida Statutes, Hillsborough County ordinances, administrative orders, rules of court procedures and special legislative acts.
NOTE: Some charges include additional fees that are authorized by county ordinances, which may vary from county to county.
Advertising: actual cost will vary with each newspaper.
Disbursement of excess proceeds from Tax Deed sale. First $100 or fraction thereof
$10.00
Postage: When the Clerk mails documents by Certified or Registered Mail, the party requesting the documents is responsible for the applicable postage cost. 
Photocopying: Any instrument in the Public Record not more than 8.5 by 14 inches, per page
$1.00
Certifying copies of any instrument in Public Records
$2.00
Receiving money into the registry of court:
(1) First $500
(2) Each subsequent $100.00
3%
1.5%
Recording: First page or fraction thereof 
                   Each additional page
$10.00
$8.50
Sheriff: service
Sheriff: posting
$40.00
$40.00 per posting
State Documentary Stamps/Real Estate Conveyances: Rate per $100 of consideration or part on deeds or other instrument conveying and interest in real estate. A 70 cent stamp must be affixed to deeds which have a consideration of $100 or less.
Tax Deed sale application includes sale, issuance and preparation of tax deed and disbursement or proceeds of sale (other than  excess proceeds)
$60.00