Core Concepts
Tax Certificate
The document a tax lien buyer receives, representing the right to be repaid the taxes plus interest.
A tax certificate is evidence of a purchased tax lien. The certificate holder is repaid, with interest, when the owner pays the delinquent taxes.
Holding a certificate does not give the right to use or enter the property.
How it works by state
- Florida
- Florida counties sell certificates each year in a sale that must begin by June 1. Bidders compete by bidding down the interest rate from a maximum of 18%. After two years (counted from April 1 of the year the certificate was issued) a holder can apply for a tax deed.
General information, reviewed 2026-10-12. Not legal advice. Rules change and each county publishes its own sale terms; confirm with the county before bidding.
Related terms
- Tax LienA legal claim against a property for unpaid taxes, which in some states the government sells to investors.
- Interest Rate Bid-DownA tax lien auction format where investors compete by accepting a lower interest rate rather than paying a higher price.
- Tax Deed ApplicationIn Florida, the request a tax certificate holder files to force a public sale of the property.
- Redemption PeriodThe window during which an owner can keep a property by paying the delinquent taxes, interest, and fees.