Selling land with back taxes in Florida
Yes, you can sell Florida land that has back taxes. The unpaid taxes are paid from the sale at closing. What matters is timing, because once the land goes to a tax sale your window gets shorter.
Request an offerHow Florida handles unpaid property taxes
Florida sells tax lien certificates. An investor pays your overdue taxes and gets a lien with interest. You still own the land, but if the lien is not paid off, you can lose it through the process in the rule below. Paying off the lien, including from a sale, clears it.
The redemption rule in Florida: Counties sell tax certificates for unpaid taxes. The owner may redeem at any time after issuance and before a tax deed is issued, paying face amount plus interest and costs. The certificate holder may apply for a tax deed 2 years after April 1 of the year the certificate was issued.
Law: Fla. Stat. 197.472, 197.502(1). Rules change, so confirm with the county tax collector.
What to do before the tax sale
- Call the county tax office and get the exact amount owed and the next sale date.
- Decide whether you want to keep the land. If not, selling before the sale stops the interest and penalties from growing.
- Gather the parcel number and any tax bills. A buyer and the title company need them to order a payoff.
Florida land at a glance
- Average farm real estate value: $9,150 per acre (2026, USDA).
- Average property tax on farmland: about $25.66 per acre per year (2022 Census of Agriculture).
- Transfer tax: Documentary stamp tax on deeds: 70 cents per $100 of consideration (0.70%). Miami-Dade County: 60 cents per $100, plus a 45 cents per $100 surtax. The surtax does not apply to a deed transferring only a single-family dwelling (so 1.05% on vacant land there). Consideration includes any mortgage or encumbrance on the property.
- Seller disclosure: No statutory seller disclosure form is required for vacant land (the radon disclosure excludes unimproved property). But the common-law duty to disclose known latent material defects (Johnson v. Davis) can still apply. The licensee duty in 475.278 for some unimproved residential land (10 acres or fewer) can still apply too.
These are statewide averages, not an appraisal. See selling land in Florida for county values, or try the land value estimator.
How a cash sale handles this
Liberty Acres is a family-owned cash land buyer. We buy land anywhere in the US, in any condition, including land with back taxes, inherited land and land with no road access. We pay back taxes and all closing costs, use no agents and charge no commissions, and close through a title company, escrow company or real estate attorney who pays you by wire or check.
Common questions
Can I sell my land in Florida if I owe back taxes?
Yes. The back taxes are paid from the sale at closing through the title company. Liberty Acres pays back taxes and all closing costs.
How long do I have to redeem land after a tax sale in Florida?
Counties sell tax certificates for unpaid taxes. The owner may redeem at any time after issuance and before a tax deed is issued, paying face amount plus interest and costs. The certificate holder may apply for a tax deed 2 years after April 1 of the year the certificate was issued.
Can I still sell after the tax sale?
It depends on the Florida rule above. If the law gives a redemption period after the sale, you can redeem or sell during it, but the payoff grows and title work gets harder. If it does not, your ownership ends when redemption ends, so sell before then.
Sources
- Florida tax sale law: Fla. Stat. 197.472, 197.502(1)
- USDA NASS Land Values 2026 and 2022 Census of Agriculture
State rules last checked 2026-10-10. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules vary by state, so talk to a local attorney or CPA about your situation.