Tax Deed Sales

Property owners are required to pay property taxes on an annual basis to the County Tax Collector. If the owner fails to pay his/her taxes, a tax certificate will be sold by the Tax Collector at a date and time advertised by the Tax Collector.

A tax certificate may be held for a minimum of two (2) years but not more than seven (7) years. At any time between the second and seventh year, the certificate holder may request the sale of the property to satisfy the certificate. The certificate holder must apply for the tax deed sale by presenting the original certificate to the Tax Collector. For more information about tax certificates, you should contact the Walton County Tax Collector’s office.

The Tax Collector then certifies the tax deed application over to the Clerk, who computes the base bid and charges the certificate holder for the costs of holding the sale. The Clerk’s fee is $60.00 for each application, and other varying costs for advertising, sheriff’s service fees, and certified mail must be paid before the sale date is set. Once the costs have been paid, the Clerk sets a sale date, notifies the certificate holder, the property owner, and all lien holders, and the sale is held in accordance with Florida Statutes.

Notices of pending tax deed sales are published in a newspaper with local circulation. You must do your own research for the property involved. You may check on property improvements with the Walton County Property Appraiser’s office. Tax deed files are available online at Walton County Tax Deed Search Page.

At the time of the sale, the highest bidder shall post with the Clerk a nonrefundable deposit of 5% of the bid or $200.00, whichever is greater. The remainder of the bid is due by 11:00 a.m. CST the next day. Payment must be made in the form of cash, cashier’s check, or money order. Payment should be made to the tax deed clerk at either of our locations. Upon payment of the remainder of the bid, the Clerk will issue a tax deed to the property. The sale is final when the tax deed is signed by the Clerk. The property owner may redeem his/her property by paying all back taxes and costs up until the Clerk of Court signs the tax deed.

If the certificate holder is not the successful bidder, he/she is reimbursed all monies paid, plus interest earned from the monies received from the successful bidder. Valid liens are then paid out of the monies received. Notarized claims must be submitted to the Clerk’s office to substantiate a claim. The former property owner may claim any excess funds.

The Clerk’s office is not authorized to give legal advice. If you require legal advice, you should obtain it from an attorney or some other source. The Clerk’s office assumes no responsibility for any encumbrances on any property offered for sale.

If you have additional questions concerning the procedure for tax deed sales held by the Clerk of the Court, please contact our office at (850) 892-8115 or (850) 267-3066.

Current listing of upcoming tax deed sales.