Tax Deeds
Tax Deed File Search
In May 2021, the Clerk’s Office moved to a new Tax Deed management system. Please use the links below to review Tax Deed files from prior and upcoming sales.
Sales prior to May of 2021 on our previous system.
Sales Before May 2021
Sales starting in May 2021 on our new system.
Sales as of May 2021
Background Information
Property taxes become delinquent April 1st of each year. At that time, the Tax Collector begins preparing a tax certificate sale. A tax certificate is sold for all taxes not paid by June 1st. A tax certificate is a tax lien against the property. The certificate holder does not have any rights to the property. If no individual purchases a certificate on a piece of property at the tax certificate sale, the county assumes the certificate. There are two types of tax certificates: individual and county. The owner or interested party may redeem the certificate at any time by paying to the Tax Collector the delinquent taxes and interest earned by the certificate holder. (Chapter 197 Florida Statutes). The tax certificate has a life of seven years (Chapter 197 Florida Statutes).
If a certificate is not redeemed, the certificate holder may force the issue by making an application for a Tax Deed. A certificate must be two years old to be eligible for Tax Deed application. (For certificates held by the county, the board of county commissioners makes application for the Tax Deed.) The application process must begin in the Tax Collector's office. The Tax Collector prepares the necessary paperwork (which includes Tax Collector's certificate and legal description of property) and forwards it to the Clerk's Office. The Clerk's Office then prepares the legal advertisement for the newspaper, the certified mailing of notices of the pending sale, the civil process to be served by the Sheriff's Office and the calculation of the opening bid. The Clerk’s Office also answers questions from the public and waits for the sale day. Please keep in mind that the owner or interested party may redeem that property right up until the very last minute prior to complete payment for the property at auction. All redemptions are made at the Tax Collector’s Office.
General Information
Tax Deed sales occur after the Tax Collector issues tax certificates for non-payment of the annual property taxes. They are held in keeping with Chapter 197 Florida Statutes. Tax Deeds are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit and County Court to the highest bidder, and the property owner then forfeits all rights by default.
The Florida Statutes governing Tax Deed sales Chapter 197 require high bidders to post with the clerk a nonrefundable deposit of five percent of their high bid or $200, whichever is greater. This must be done at the time of the sale, and the deposit will be applied to the sale price at the time of full payment. Please note that deposits paid in the Tax Deed office must be made before 4:00 p.m. the day before the sale, paid by cashier’s check, certified check, money order, or Bank wire.
Successful bidders are required to make payment to the Clerk of the Court by cashier’s check, certified check, money order, Bank wire, or payment by deposit via the bidder’s online account by 4:00 p.m. the following day. Failure to do so will result in being banned from future Tax Deed auctions and forfeiture of your deposit.
The City of Jacksonville/County of Duval cannot guarantee clear title to these properties. All properties are sold “buyer beware.” It is the bidder’s responsibility to search the title for any liens that may be recorded against the property. Governmental liens and judgments will survive the Tax Deed sale.
All parcels are sold in “as-is” condition and are conveyed by a Tax Deed. No guarantees are made about a parcel’s condition, title quality, accessibility or size. If you’d like other professional services, such as “Quiet-Title” suits, they are the responsibility of the buyer, as are the charges for these services.
Properties that are not paid for by the high bidder will be advertised for one time only, and a re-sale will be conducted no later than 30 days after the original sale date. This is governed by Florida Statute 197.542(3). Re-sales are held the Wednesday following the original sale unless otherwise stated by the Tax Deed office.
Deeds will be recorded in the name provided by the bidder on the Real Auction website under the name on the title. Please verify this information at the time of full payment to ensure that it is correct. It will be the bidder’s responsibility to make any corrections after the deed has been recorded. There is a $1.00 per-party indexing fee for deeds with more than four people or entities listed as titleholder.
Redemption
It’s important to understand that properties can be redeemed any time before the clerk has received full payment for the Tax Deed. The redemption amount can be obtained and payment may be made at any branch of the Tax Collector’s office. Please understand that the Clerk’s Office does not provide this information nor do we accept payments for the redemptions of properties from the sale. The Tax Collector’s new telephone number is (904)255-5700 option 4.
Tax Deed Sale Rules
This is a “buyer-beware” situation. The bidding for each property will start with the opening bid, which consists of the delinquent taxes and fees associated with the sale.
In accordance with Section 197.542(2), Florida Statutes, the high bidder will be asked to post with the clerk a non-refundable deposit of five percent of the bid or $200, whichever is greater. This must be done at the time of the sale, and the deposit will be applied to the sale price at the time of full payment. This deposit must be placed no later than 4:00 p.m. the day BEFORE the sale.
Your bid amount and all fees for filing your deed must be paid by 4:00 p.m. the business day after the sale. Payments may be made by cashier’s check, certified check, or money order in the Tax Deeds Department, located in Room 1046 of the Duval County Courthouse. You may also make your payment via Bank wire.
Please keep in mind that bidders with cash transactions over $10,000.00 will be required to fill out IRS form 8300.
List of Lands Available
The List of Lands Available for taxes shows properties that were offered at a Tax Deed sale but were not purchased. Ninety (90) days after the sale, any person or governmental unit may purchase the land for the opening bid, plus the omitted years’ taxes.
Please understand that these properties are sold “buyer beware:” Any property that is the subject of a Tax Deed sale is sold on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind or character, express or implied, regarding the property. This includes, but is not limited to, warranties or representations as to matters of title; land use; zoning; tax consequences; physical or environmental conditions; availability of access, ingress or egress; valuation; governmental approvals; governmental regulations; or any other matter or thing relating to or affecting the property.
Without limiting the foregoing, there are no warranties or representations concerning: (a) the ownership of the property; (b) whether the property is subject to any liens, easements or restrictions; (c) the land use, zoning, value, condition, merchantability, marketability, profitability, suitability or fitness for a particular use or purpose of the property; (d) whether any improvements, including buildings or mobile homes, are located on the property, or the value thereof; (e) the manner or quality of the constructions or materials incorporated into any part of the property; (f) the manner, quality, state of repair, or lack of repair of the property, or of any improvements thereon; or (g) whether utilities are available to the property.
If you would like the current-month purchase amount, please feel free to request it by contacting our office at ask.taxdeeds@duvalclerk.com to receive the Request for Statement. Lands Available Statements are processed and verified in a timely manner, however, auctions take precedence over Lands Available and statements will be set aside until auction work has been completed. Please note that Lands Available statements will not be calculated during auction week, but can be requested.
The purchase amount is payable by certified check, cashier's check or money order. You’ll also be asked to pay recording fees of $10.00 for the first page, $8.50 for each additional page and documentary stamps at $0.70 per hundred dollars. The recording fees and documentary stamps may be paid by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order. When we receive the funds to purchase a property from the list of Land Available for Taxes, we will issue a Tax Deed, as requested.
For more information, we invite you to view the FAQ’s or contact our office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deposits can be made conveniently on the RealAuction website using the ACH (Electronic Check) payment wizard. Cashier’s checks, money orders, and certified checks are also accepted, but please keep in mind that these forms of payment must be delivered to the Clerk’s Office in Room 1046 of the Duval County Courthouse. Also please note that deposits must be made by 4:00 p.m. the day before the sale. Bank wires are also accepted, but must be deposited in the Clerk's Office bank account by 4:00 p.m., as well.
Payments can be made in the Tax Deed Department by cashier’s check, money order, or certified check, made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. A second method is also available, "Deposit Payment," which will only display if the bidder has sufficient funds to cover the remaining balance. Final payments must be made by 4:00 p.m. the day after the sale. Please go to RealAuction for Bank Wire instructions.
If you are the successful bidder on a piece of property, your required non-refundable deposit will be automatically deducted from your online account, and the balance of your bid must be paid by 4:00 p.m. the following day. You may make this payment in Room 1046 of the Duval County Courthouse. The balance must be paid by cashier’s check, certified check, or money order, made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. We will also accept a Bank Wire paid by this time.
If you’re the successful bidder, you will also be required to pay Recording, Proof of Publication and Documentary Stamp fees. The Recording fee is $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page. Proof of Publication fee is $18.50. Documentary Stamps are based on the high bid. They will be calculated for you and should be included in the email sent to you by RealAuction. There is a $1.00 per-party indexing fee for deeds with more than four people or entities listed as titleholder
Deeds will be recorded in the name provided by the bidder on the auction website under the name on the title. We ask that you please verify this information when you make full payment to assure that it is correct. It will be the bidder’s responsibility to make any corrections after the deed has been recorded. Please note that deeds are recorded seven to 10 business days after the sale.
No, they can’t. Bids are treated confidentially.
That depends. You see, Tax Deed properties are sold on a “buyer-beware” basis. The clerk will issue a Tax Deed to transfer ownership to the successful bidder, but it is not a guarantee of clear title. It is the bidder’s responsibility to determine whether there are any liens or other encumbrances that will survive the Tax Deed sale. The buyer should also investigate whether additional taxes may be due or if further legal action is necessary. To obtain clear title, you will have to file a “Quiet-Title” suit in the Civil Court system. The fees required to file this suit are above and beyond the bidder’s purchase price.
Can the former property owner get the property back even after it is sold at a Tax Deed sale?
The short answer is yes. As with many things, the purchaser of a Tax Deed should have a “buyer-beware” attitude. If the former owner disputes the sale and takes the case to court, the judge will decide the ownership of the property. It’s always best to consult an attorney regarding the purchase of any property.
It’s also a good idea to check the property thoroughly prior to the sale so you’ll know exactly what you are getting. The clerk is unable to make any warranty or representation regarding the quality or character of the title you receive. We hope you’ll understand that matters such as land use, access to the property, zoning, physical and environmental conditions, and the suitability of the lot for building are outside the scope of the duties and responsibilities of the Clerk’s Office. These and many other matters are issues that the high bidder accepts responsibility for. The obligation to resolve, investigate or determine them are not considered the duty of the clerk.
Unused deposit money may be used to pay for winnings by clicking on “Make Payment” and following the steps indicated. A refund may be requested by clicking on “Request Refund” from the Home Page, under the Funds Transfer menu category. During this process you will select the refund method (ACH or check).
Refunds for deposits not made by ACH will be in the form of a paper check mailed from the Clerk's Office to the bidder's registered name and address. Requests for refunds are turned in once a week to the Finance Department. Please allow approximately 20 business days for the processing of refunds.
To request a refund, simply click “Request Refund.” That’s all you have to do. And please remember that funds on deposit are returned only when requested.
If the applicant is a person or company and there are no bids, the property will be offered to the applicant. They will be responsible for paying the Recording, Proof of Publication and Documentary Stamp fees. If the applicant is the City of Jacksonville, the City will have 90 days to purchase the property. If the City does not purchase the property, it will then be placed on the List of Lands Available. After that happens, anyone may request a statement and purchase the property. The purchase price will be the minimum bid plus any taxes that are due at the time of purchase, plus interest. For your convenience, there is a list of these properties available for $1.00 per page in Room 1046 of the Duval County Courthouse or you may contact the Tax Deeds Department at ask.taxdeeds@duvalclerk.com and the list can be emailed to you.
For more information, we invite you to see the Lands Available FAQs
Tax Deeds Documents
Office Information
Tax Deed Department
Office Hours
Monday through Friday (excluding holidays): 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Mailing Address
Duval County Clerk of Courts
Attn: TAX DEED DEPARTMENT
501 West Adams Street, Room 1046
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone
(904) 255-1916