How the clock works
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.
What the owner pays to redeem
Face amount of the certificate plus accrued interest (subject to the 5 percent minimum, except 0 percent bids), plus a $6.25 redemption fee per certificate and any applicable charges.
How your interest accrues
The annual bid rate accrues monthly (bid rate divided by 12 per month); a partial month counts as a full month. At redemption the holder receives the bid rate or the 5 percent floor, whichever is greater (except 0 percent bids).
Why some certificates are bid to zero
Bidders may bid the rate all the way down to 0 percent. A 0 percent certificate earns no interest and returns only its face amount at redemption; it is the sole exception to the mandatory 5 percent minimum. Investors bid 0 percent purely to secure the right to force a tax deed after two years.
A redeemed certificate, plus your accrued interest, is what makes the wait profitable; see how redemption periods work across states. An unredeemed certificate is instead your path to the property through a tax deed sale, which still does not convey marketable title on its own, so budget for a quiet title action.
Verified Jul 4, 2026 against Florida statutes.
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.