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Back taxes
Owe back taxes on a Florida lot? You can still sell it. Owing taxes does not mean you lost the land. See how the taxes get paid at closing. No pressure, no fees.
You owe back property taxes on a Florida lot. You want to sell it. You still can. Owing taxes does not mean you lost the land. It does not stop a sale. Here is how it works.
Many people fear the land is gone once taxes go unpaid. In Florida it is slower than that. It helps to see the steps.
Florida tax bills go out around November 1 each year.
Paying early earns a small discount. It is 4 percent in November. Then 3 percent in December. Then 2 percent in January. Then 1 percent in February.
The bill is due by March 31.
If it is not paid, the taxes are late on April 1.
Around June 1 the county holds a tax certificate sale. This part scares people, so read it slowly. The county sells a certificate. A certificate is a kind of lien, a claim for the unpaid tax. An investor pays your overdue taxes. In return, the investor earns interest. You still own the land.
That certificate has to stay unpaid for about two years before the holder can ask for a tax deed. A tax deed is what can send the land to a public auction. So there is usually time to act.
You are not trapped. You have real choices.
You can pay the back taxes yourself at the county tax collector and keep the land.
You can pay them, then list the land with an agent.
Or you can sell the land and let the back taxes be paid out of the sale.
Time does matter. It helps to check your county tax collector website. It shows what is owed and where your lot stands.
Here is the part that gives people relief. You do not have to clear the back taxes first, out of your own pocket. At a normal closing, the title company does it for you. The title company is a neutral office that handles the paperwork and the money.
It adds up exactly what is owed to the county.
It pays the county out of the sale money.
It pays you the rest.
So the taxes come off the top of the price. The lien is cleared as part of the sale. You walk away owing nothing.
If your lot is worth enough, listing it with a Florida agent may bring the most money. That holds even after the agent fee and the wait. Keep two things in mind. Some agents pass on low-value vacant lots. And the taxes keep adding up while the lot sits. So weigh the wait against the price. We will tell you plainly which road looks better for your lot.
Tell us where the land is. You do not need to know the exact tax figure.
We pull the county records and the taxes owed ourselves. It costs you nothing.
If it fits, we put your land under contract, with the offer in writing. There is no rush on your side.
We are not agents, and we do not list your land.
A licensed title company runs the closing. It pays the county, clears the lien, and pays you what is left.
One honest point. Our offer sits below full retail. The difference is what we earn, and we do not hide it. If listing would clear more for you after the taxes, we will say so.
Where it is, and roughly how far behind the taxes are, is a fine start. You do not need exact numbers. Write to us and we will write back.
Can I sell my Florida land if I owe back taxes?
Yes. Owing back taxes does not stop a sale. The taxes are normally paid out of the sale money at closing by the title company. The lien is cleared as part of selling. It comes off the price rather than out of your own pocket.
Does a Florida tax certificate sale mean I lost my land?
No. At a tax certificate sale the county sells a lien, not your land. An investor pays your overdue taxes and earns interest. You still own the lot. Only after the certificate stays unpaid for about two years can the holder begin a tax deed.
Who pays the back taxes when I sell the land?
The title company pays the county out of the sale money at closing, then pays you the rest. You do not have to pay the back taxes up front, from your own pocket, in order to sell.
How much time do I have before I could lose the land to taxes?
Usually a couple of years. A Florida tax certificate must stay unpaid for about two years before the holder can apply for a tax deed and send the land to auction. Check your county tax collector website for your lot's exact status.
Do I have to sell to Bellfield Land Co?
No. You can pay the taxes and keep the land, or list it with a Florida agent. The price we can offer is below full retail, and we say so openly. We will tell you honestly if listing is likely to get you more. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I sell my Florida land if I owe back taxes?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Owing back taxes does not stop a sale. The taxes are normally paid out of the sale money at closing by the title company. The lien is cleared as part of selling. It comes off the price rather than out of your own pocket."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does a Florida tax certificate sale mean I lost my land?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. At a tax certificate sale the county sells a lien, not your land. An investor pays your overdue taxes and earns interest. You still own the lot. Only after the certificate stays unpaid for about two years can the holder begin a tax deed."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who pays the back taxes when I sell the land?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The title company pays the county out of the sale money at closing, then pays you the rest. You do not have to pay the back taxes up front, from your own pocket, in order to sell."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much time do I have before I could lose the land to taxes?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Usually a couple of years. A Florida tax certificate must stay unpaid for about two years before the holder can apply for a tax deed and send the land to auction. Check your county tax collector website for your lot's exact status."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I have to sell to Bellfield Land Co?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. You can pay the taxes and keep the land, or list it with a Florida agent. The price we can offer is below full retail, and we say so openly. We will tell you honestly if listing is likely to get you more."}}]}
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If this is your situation too, see selling land you inherited. If this is your situation too, see how to check what your lot is worth.
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