Sumter County, FL tax sales
Sumter 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 Sumter County sells delinquent taxes
Tax certificate sale (lien)
- Run by
- Sumter County Tax Collector
- Frequency
- annual
- Typical timing
- On or before June 1 annually
- Next expected
- on or about June 1, 2027 (window; exact date posts closer to the sale)
Registration and deposit
Register and fund a deposit on LienHub before the sale. Bidding is a reverse auction on the interest rate, starting at 18 percent, and the certificate goes to the lowest bidder.
Most Florida counties run the certificate sale online. Confirm the exact platform and list on the county Tax Collector page.
Register on LienHubTax deed sale
- Run by
- Sumter County Clerk of Courts
- Frequency
- As scheduled, several times per year; sales are typically held on Thursdays at 11:00 AM
- Sale list
- Tax deed sale calendar
Registration and deposit
Sales are held in person on the front steps of the historic courthouse at 215 E. McCollum Ave., Bushnell. A deposit of the greater of 5 percent of the winning bid or $200 is required per item, payable by cash, cashier's check, or money order, and bidders must sign in on the day of the sale. Full payment is due within 24 hours or the deposit is forfeited.
Sumter runs its tax deed sales in person at the courthouse in Bushnell rather than on an online auction platform. Notices are advertised in the Sumter County Times for four consecutive weeks before the sale.
Over-the-counter (leftover) purchases
County-held certificates can be bought from the Tax Collector through LienHub. Separately, 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)
Randy Mask
Clerk of the Circuit Court (runs the deed sale)
Notes for Sumter County
- Sumter follows the standard Florida split with one twist: the Tax Collector runs the annual LienHub certificate sale online, but the Clerk still runs tax deed sales in person at the courthouse in Bushnell.
- Bring a deposit of the greater of 5 percent or $200 per item and be ready to pay the balance within 24 hours, since Sumter forfeits the deposit otherwise.
- Check the Clerk's events calendar for scheduled tax deed dates and the Lands Available for Taxes list for parcels that did not sell.
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 Sumter County, Florida sell tax liens or tax deeds?
- Sumter 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 Sumter County tax certificate sale?
- On or before June 1 annually. 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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