Putnam County, FL tax sales
Putnam County, Florida sells both tax lien certificates and tax deeds. The Tax Collector runs an annual certificate sale (18% maximum, bid down), and unredeemed certificates move to a Clerk of the Circuit Court tax deed auction after about two years, under Florida Statutes Chapter 197.
Verified Jul 4, 2026 against official county and state sources.
New here? Read how Florida tax sales work, the difference between a lien and a deed, and redemption periods.
How Putnam County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
- Run by
- Putnam County Tax Collector
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- On or before June 1 annually (the 2026 sale began May 8)
- Next expected
- on or about June 1, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
- Sale list
- Certificate sale and delinquent list
Registration and deposit
Register on the RealAuction site and fund a deposit before the sale. The sale is an online reverse auction with bidders bidding down the interest rate from 18 percent.
Most Florida counties run the certificate sale online. Confirm the exact platform and list on the county Tax Collector page.
Register on RealTaxLien (RealAuction)Tax deed sale
- Run by
- Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
- Frequency
- As scheduled online; see the tax deed auction calendar
- Sale list
- Tax deed auction calendar
Registration and deposit
Place a deposit of $200 or 5 percent of your maximum bid, whichever is greater, in your bidder account online at putnam.realtaxdeed.com, by wire transfer, or at the Tax Deeds office. Deposits must be received by 5:00 pm on the Monday before the sale.
Putnam runs tax deed sales online at putnam.realtaxdeed.com (RealAuction). The Clerk's Tax Deeds office is at 107 N. 6th Street, Palatka.
Register on RealTaxDeed (RealAuction)Over-the-counter (leftover) purchases
County-held certificates can be bought from the Tax Collector. Parcels not sold at a tax deed sale go on the Clerk's Lands Available for Taxes list.
New to this path? Read how over-the-counter certificates work.
County offices
Tax Collector (runs the certificate sale)
Brenda Bridges
Clerk of the Circuit Court (runs the deed sale)
Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Tax Deeds office: 107 N. 6th Street, Palatka, FL 32177
Official websiteNotes for Putnam County
- Putnam uses RealAuction on both sides: the Tax Collector's certificate sale runs on putnamfl.realtaxlien.com and the Clerk's tax deed auctions run on putnam.realtaxdeed.com.
- Tax deed bidder deposits (the greater of $200 or 5 percent of the maximum bid) must reach the Clerk by 5:00 pm on the Monday before the sale.
- The Clerk's Tax Deeds office and Lands Available for Taxes list are handled at 107 N. 6th Street, Palatka.
Florida statewide rules
- Redemption
- The owner (or anyone) can redeem a certificate at any time after it is issued and before a tax deed is issued. The two-year clock that lets a certificate holder apply for a tax deed runs from April 1 of the year the certificate was issued.
- Deed deposit
- The high bidder posts a nonrefundable deposit of 5 percent of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, at the time of the sale, applied to the final price.
- Homestead deeds
- If the property was assessed as homestead on the latest roll, the opening bid also adds one-half of its latest assessed value. This sharply raises the floor price on homestead parcels and suppresses investor demand for them.
A tax deed does not convey marketable title. Most buyers file a quiet title action before they can resell or insure the property. See the due diligence guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Putnam County, Florida sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Putnam County follows Florida's hybrid system. The Tax Collector sells tax-lien certificates each year, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court holds tax deed auctions on parcels whose certificates go unredeemed after about two years.
When is the Putnam County tax certificate sale?
- On or before June 1 annually (the 2026 sale began May 8). Registration and bidding happen on the county's online platform. Always confirm the exact date with the Tax Collector before the sale.
Tax Sale Atlas publishes educational information about public tax sale processes. This is not legal, financial, or investment advice. Rules, dates, and fees change; confirm with the county office before you bid.
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