Alachua County, Florida — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → florida. This page covers how Alachua County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

• County seat: Gainesville · Population: ~278,468 (2020 Census, FIPS 12001) · Recording unit: county (one of Florida’s 67 counties).
• Parent legal framework: florida (Ch. 197 tax certificates / tax deeds; Ch. 45 mortgage foreclosure).
• County structure: Alachua follows the standard Florida model — the elected Tax Collector (John Power) conducts the annual tax-certificate sale; the elected Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (J.K. “Jess” Irby, Esq.) conducts tax-deed auctions and holds surplus funds. The Clerk also conducts judicial (Ch. 45) mortgage-foreclosure sales.

C1. Local Tax Sale

Two distinct sales exist under Florida law (see florida for statutory mechanics):

(a) Tax-certificate sale — run by the Alachua County Tax Collector

• Conducts own sale? Yes, online. · Platform: LienHub (Grant Street Group) — lienhub.com/county/alachua/certsale/main. (Source: Alachua Tax Collector — Property Taxes; 2025 Tax Lien Auction page)
• Calendar: annual, on or before June 1 each year per Florida Statute § 197.432. Taxes become delinquent April 1; delinquent properties are advertised once per week for three consecutive weeks prior to the certificate sale. 2025 publication dates: May 6, May 13, May 20, and May 27, 2026 (for the 2025 tax year delinquent list). The 2025 sale was scheduled for approximately May 7, 2025. (Source: Alachua Tax Collector — Property Taxes; 2025 Delinquent Tax List page)
• Delinquent list location: Published on the Alachua County Public Notices page and accessible via the LienHub platform at lienhub.com/county/alachua/certsale/main. A direct link to the delinquent list is posted at alachuacollector.com/2025delinquenttaxlist/ each year.
• Bidding: bid-down interest from 18% to 0% in 0.25% increments; certificate awarded to the lowest bidder; unsold certificates struck to the county at 18% (state mechanics — florida § 197.432).
• Minimum return: 5% interest to the investor, with exceptions for zero-interest bids per state law. (Source: Alachua Tax Collector — Property Taxes)
• Registration / deposit: Registration deadlines (two-tier: ACH deposit deadline, then cash/certified-funds deadline) are posted on LienHub for each auction. ACH deposits can be made up to the ACH deposit deadline; cash/certified funds (cashier’s check or wire) accepted until the Registration Deadline. (Source: LienHub — Alachua FAQ) Exact deposit dollar amounts and registration steps not published on the Tax Collector website; access LienHub platform or call (352) 374-5236 for current requirements — needs_verification of exact deposit amounts.
• Contact: Alachua County Tax Collector, (352) 374-5236, 12 SE 1st Street, County Administration Building, Gainesville, FL 32601.

(b) Tax-deed auction — run by the Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller

• Conducts own sale? Yes. · Platform: RealAuction (RealTaxDeed) — alachua.realtaxdeed.com. Tax-deed case files viewable at alachua.realtdm.com/public/cases/list. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Tax Deed Sales page)
• Sale time: Online auctions begin at 10:00 a.m. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Tax Deed Sales)
• Sale schedule: Online, throughout the year. Specific upcoming dates are posted on alachua.realtaxdeed.com. Frequency (weekly, biweekly, monthly) not confirmed from official page during research — needs_verification.
• Registration / deposit / payment terms:
  1. Bidders must post an advance deposit before participating.
  2. Deposit: $200.00 or 5% of the anticipated bid, whichever is greater. Non-refundable (including deposit fees). Applied to the purchase price if the bidder wins.
  3. Hand-delivered deposits: must be received by 3:00 p.m. on the last business day before the sale.
  4. ACH payments: must be submitted at least 4 days in advance.
  5. Accepted payment forms: cash, money order, certified check, cashier’s check, or wire transfer. Personal checks not accepted.
  6. Winning bid payment: must be paid in full — including recording fees, deposit fee, and documentary stamps — via cash, cashier’s check, wire, or RealAuction collected funds within 24 hours of the sale. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Tax Deed Sales)
• “As-is” sale: Properties sold without warranties of any kind — condition, marketability, zoning, or mobile-home presence. The Property Information Report is not a title search. Bidders are advised to conduct independent research or seek legal counsel. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Tax Deed Sales)
• Contact — Tax Deed Coordinator: (352) 374-3615 · taxdeeds@alachuaclerk.org.

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

• Where/how to redeem locally: Redemption of a tax certificate before a tax deed issues is handled through the Alachua County Tax Collector. Under florida § 197.472, a property owner may redeem at any time after the certificate is issued and before the tax deed is issued (or before full payment for the tax deed is made to the Clerk). Pay delinquent taxes + accrued interest (subject to the 5% mandatory minimum if applicable) + advertising and sale costs to the Tax Collector. The Tax Collector then remits to the certificate holder within 15 business days.
• Tax payment portal (online): county-taxes.net/alachua/property-tax — eCheck ($1 fee per transaction); credit/debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal (2.5% convenience fee). (Source: Alachua Tax Collector — Property Taxes)
• Redemption contact: Alachua County Tax Collector — (352) 374-5236 · 12 SE 1st Street, County Administration Building, Gainesville, FL 32601 · alachuacollector.com.
• Local fees: No Alachua-specific surcharge identified beyond the state statutory formula (§ 197.472). needs_verification: confirm no local redemption surcharge above the statutory minimum.
• Deviations from state default: None identified — Alachua follows Ch. 197 redemption framework.

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

Business-critical module — sourced from Alachua Clerk official pages.

In Alachua County, tax-deed surplus is held and disbursed by the Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller under florida § 197.582.

• Claim filing venue: Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Tax Deeds Division

  • Address: 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601 (Alachua County Courthouse)
  • Phone: (352) 374-3615 (Tax Deed Coordinator)
  • Email: taxdeeds@alachuaclerk.org (“the most efficient method of corresponding with our office”) (Source: Alachua Clerk — Tax Deeds Surplus Funds; Alachua Clerk — Claiming Surplus Funds)

• Claim form:

  • Name: “Claim Form for Surplus Proceeds” (fillable PDF)
  • URL: alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/Documents/Claim%20Form-Surplus%20Proceeds%205-22-18%20Form%20Fillable.pdf (Source: Alachua Clerk — Claiming Surplus Funds; Alachua Clerk — Tax Deeds Surplus Funds)

• Additional required documents (all claimants):

  • Notarized, fully completed Claim Form (with tax deed number referenced on all documents)
  • Statement of interest in property and/or surplus funds
  • Amount currently owed / itemized expenses (interest, costs, attorney’s fees)
  • Contact information (email, phone, mailing address)

  Former owners additionally must provide:

  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Documentation showing all property liens satisfied, released, or expired

  Heirs/Beneficiaries/Personal Representatives additionally must provide:

  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Probate order showing distribution or identifying all heirs
  • A separate claim form per heir/beneficiary

  Lien holders additionally must provide:

  • Proof of officer’s authority to sign (for business entities)
  • Documentation authorizing any additional fee/expense assessments if not in the recorded lien document (Source: Alachua Clerk — Claiming Surplus Funds; Alachua Clerk — Tax Deeds Surplus Funds)

• Local deadline notes: Claims must be submitted “prior to the expiration of the claim period.” Consistent with florida § 197.582: the 120-day clock runs from the date the Clerk mails surplus notice to interested parties. Former owner is not barred by the 120-day cutoff; other claimants who miss the deadline are barred. All property liens must be resolved before former owners can receive payment on a surplus claim. (Source: Clerk pages above; florida § 197.582)

• Unclaimed-funds list published? Yes — accessible through the RealTDM case portal. Filter by “Surplus Balance” or “Surplus Balance Without Claim” at alachua.realtdm.com/public/cases/list. The Clerk also publishes an annual unclaimed-funds list each July for unclaimed court-related and non-court funds; state-held funds are searchable at FLTreasureHunt.org. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Tax Deeds Surplus Funds; Alachua Clerk — Unclaimed Funds)

• Contact:

  • Tax Deed Coordinator: (352) 374-3615 · taxdeeds@alachuaclerk.org
  • Finance & Accounting: Jennifer Williams — (352) 420-8000 ext. 2511 · jfe@alachuaclerk.org (for RealAuction deposit refunds / accounting matters) (Source: Alachua Clerk — RealAuction Deposits)

▸ For Investors / Operators — Alachua County operates a two-platform system: annual tax-certificate sales run via LienHub (bid-down from 18%, 5% minimum return) and tax-deed auctions run on RealAuction (alachua.realtaxdeed.com) beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a $200/5% non-refundable deposit required in advance. Tax-deed bids must be paid in full within 24 hours via cash, cashier’s check, or wire. Properties are sold as-is without warranties; the RealTDM case portal (alachua.realtdm.com/public/cases/list) shows live surplus balances you can filter by “Surplus Balance Without Claim.” Judicial foreclosure (Ch. 45) sales are conducted separately at alachua.realforeclose.com. See florida for the lien-survival and redemption framework.

▸ For Former Owners — Tax-deed surplus is held by the Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller. Submit a notarized “Claim Form for Surplus Proceeds” (fillable PDF at the Clerk’s website) to the Tax Deeds Division (201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601; taxdeeds@alachuaclerk.org; (352) 374-3615) with proof of ownership and documentation that all liens have been satisfied or released. Former owners are not barred by the 120-day cutoff that applies to other claimants. Unclaimed funds appear on the Clerk’s annual July unclaimed list and eventually transfer to the Florida Unclaimed Property search at FLTreasureHunt.org.

C4. Offices & Contacts

Note: Florida uses the Tax Collector (cert sale), Clerk (tax-deed auction; Ch. 45 foreclosure judicial sale); the Sheriff does not conduct tax or mortgage foreclosure sales in Florida.

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• Standard Florida model: Alachua follows the typical Florida structure — Tax Collector runs the annual certificate sale (LienHub platform); Clerk of Circuit Court runs the tax-deed auction (RealAuction/realtaxdeed.com) and holds surplus.
• Two-platform system: LienHub (lienhub.com/county/alachua/certsale/main) for the annual tax-certificate sale (Tax Collector side); RealAuction (alachua.realtaxdeed.com) for tax-deed auctions (Clerk side).
• Judicial foreclosure (Ch. 45) sales: Conducted online at alachua.realforeclose.com by the Clerk of Court. Foreclosure case management inquiries: foreclosures@circuit8.org or (352) 384-3093 (Alachua County Family and Civil Justice Center, 201 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601). (Source: Eighth Judicial Circuit — Alachua Foreclosures)
• RealAuction deposit refunds (stale accounts): Inactive accounts with no activity since December 31, 2020 were subject to forfeiture under § 116.21. Current refund requests go through the RealAuction platform; contact Jennifer Williams at jfe@alachuaclerk.org or (352) 420-8000 ext. 2511. (Source: Alachua Clerk — RealAuction Deposits)
• Unclaimed clerk-held funds: Annual list published each July. Finance & Accounting at 12 SE 1st Street, Fourth Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601 handles stale-dated check affidavits by September 1 deadline. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Unclaimed Funds)
• Tax-deed sale published newspaper: needs_verification — newspaper used for § 197.522 required publication not confirmed from an official Alachua County source during research.
• Foreclosure surplus: Governed by Ch. 45 §§ 45.032–45.033 (not § 197.582); requires court order for disbursement. Contact Clerk’s foreclosure division at (352) 374-3636 or taxdeeds@alachuaclerk.org. (Source: florida)
• No local ordinances deviating from state Ch. 197 / Ch. 45 procedure identified. needs_verification: confirm no local ordinances modify timeline or surplus process.
• Recording fees: $10.00 for the first page;$8.50 for each additional page; $1.00 indexing fee for each name over 4 names. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Recording)

C6. Records Access

• Parcel / property search: Alachua County Property Appraiser (Ayesha Solomon) — qPublic portal at qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=1081&LayerID=26490&PageTypeID=2&PageID=10768. (Source: acpafl.org)
• Recorder / deed search (Official Records): Alachua County Clerk — Aumentum Recorder Public Access at isol.alachuaclerk.org/RealEstate/SearchEntry.aspx. Searchable records include official public records, marriage records, party lists, and subdivision information. Requires cookies and JavaScript. Copies purchasable online, in person, or by phone. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Official Records; Alachua Clerk — Recording)
• Historical/archive deed records: Deed index books from 1848–1928 at alachuaclerk.org/archive/. (Source: Search results confirming Alachua Clerk Archive)
• GIS map: Alachua County Property Appraiser GIS at maps.acpafl.org. County GIS Center also available at growth-management.alachuacounty.us/gis/ (MapGenius viewer; GIS team: GIS@alachuacounty.us, (352) 374-5249). (Source: acpafl.org; Alachua County GIS)
• Tax payment portal: county-taxes.net/alachua/property-tax — eCheck ($1 fee); credit/debit/Apple Pay/Google Pay/PayPal (2.5% convenience fee). (Source: Alachua Tax Collector — Property Taxes)
• Tax deed case search (current): alachua.realtdm.com/public/cases/list — filter by “Surplus Balance” or “Surplus Balance Without Claim” to find unclaimed surplus. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Tax Deeds Surplus Funds)
• Judicial foreclosure auction: alachua.realforeclose.com. (Source: Alachua Clerk — RealAuction Deposits)
• e-Recording: Available through third-party vendors — see alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/pages/e-recording.aspx. (Source: Alachua Clerk — Recording)

C7. Meta

• sources:

  • {type: official, url: https://www.alachuacollector.com/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Tax Collector — John Power; 12 SE 1st St.; (352) 374-5236; services overview)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.alachuacollector.com/property-taxes/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (LienHub as cert-sale platform; bid-down from 18%; 5% min; annual on/before June 1; three weeks advertising; county-taxes.net/alachua/property-tax payment portal; 2.5% card fee)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.alachuacollector.com/2025-alachua-county-tax-lien-auction/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (LienHub URL for 2025 auction; public notices for advertising list)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.alachuacollector.com/2025delinquenttaxlist/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (2025 delinquent list — published on public notices page May 6/13/20/27, 2026; LienHub link for cert sale)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.alachuacollector.com/contact-us/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (physical address 12 SE 1st Street, CAB, Gainesville FL 32601; (352) 374-5236; hours M–F 8:30–5:00; mailing addresses for title/tax/auto-tag payments)
  • {type: official, url: https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/TaxDeeds/pages/taxdeedsales.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (realtaxdeed.com platform; 10 a.m. start; $200/5% deposit; 3 p.m. hand-deliver deadline; 4-day ACH lead time; 24-hr payment; non-refundable deposits; as-is sale; taxdeeds@alachuaclerk.org; (352) 374-3615; alachua.realtdm.com case list)
  • {type: official, url: https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/Pages/ClaimingSurplusFunds.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (claim form PDF URL; notarized claim; taxdeeds@alachuacounty.org; documentation by claimant type; liens must be resolved; (352) 264-6906 public records)
  • {type: official, url: https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/TaxDeeds/Pages/TaxDeedsSurplusFunds.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (surplus funds claim details; realtdm.com surplus filter; link to unclaimed funds page)
  • {type: official, url: https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/Pages/UnclaimedFunds.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (annual July unclaimed list; tax deed surplus; RealAuction deposit refunds; Finance & Accounting 12 SE 1st St. 4th Fl.; September 1 stale-check deadline; FLTreasureHunt.org for state-held funds)
  • {type: official, url: https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/Pages/Clerk.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (J.K. “Jess” Irby, Esq., Clerk & Comptroller; 201 E. University Ave.; (352) 374-3636; fax (352) 338-3201; hours 8:15 a.m.–5:00 p.m. M–F; alachuaclerk.org)
  • {type: official, url: https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/Pages/Recording.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (recording fees $10 first page/$8.50 additional/$1 extra names; in-person 201 E. University; mail Attn: Official Records; e-recording available; publicrecordsrequest@alachuacounty.us (352) 264-6906)
  • {type: official, url: https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk/Pages/RealAuctionDeposits.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (tax deed platform alachua.realtaxdeed.com; foreclosure platform alachua.realforeclose.com; Jennifer Williams jfe@alachuaclerk.org (352) 420-8000 ext. 2511; inactive account forfeiture under § 116.21)
  • {type: official, url: https://isol.alachuaclerk.org/RealEstate/SearchEntry.aspx?e=newSession, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Aumentum Recorder public access — official records search portal; Harris Recording Solutions v2023.1.2; cookies/JS required)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.acpafl.org/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Ayesha Solomon, Property Appraiser; 515 N. Main St. Suite 200, Gainesville FL 32601; (352) 374-5230; qPublic parcel search; maps.acpafl.org GIS)
  • {type: official, url: https://growth-management.alachuacounty.us/gis/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (County GIS Center; MapGenius viewer; GIS@alachuacounty.us; (352) 374-5249; 10 SW 2nd Ave.; M–Th 8:30–4; Fri 8:30–2)
  • {type: official, url: https://acso.us/contact-us/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Sheriff Chad D. Scott; 2621 SE Hawthorne Road, Gainesville FL 32641; (352) 367-4000)
  • {type: official, url: https://circuit8.org/departments-services/alachua-foreclosures/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (foreclosure case manager foreclosures@circuit8.org; (352) 384-3093; 201 E. University Ave.; certificates/notices sent to Clerk; motion-to-cancel rules)
  • {type: official, url: https://alachuacounty.us/Pages/public-notices.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (public notices portal; search by keyword/tag; legalnotices@alachuacounty.us)

• needs_verification:

  • Tax-certificate sale exact deposit amounts and LienHub registration steps — LienHub bidder portal (lienhub.com/county/alachua/certsale/main) returned 403 during research; deposit amounts and two-tier registration deadlines are referenced but not quantified. Call Tax Collector at (352) 374-5236 or access LienHub directly.
  • Tax-deed auction frequency / day-of-week schedule — auctions are confirmed online year-round starting at 10:00 a.m. at alachua.realtaxdeed.com, but whether they are held weekly, biweekly, or monthly is not stated on official pages.
  • Newspaper for tax-deed and certificate-sale publication — the publication vehicle for § 197.522 notices and the § 197.432 delinquent-property list was not confirmed from a retrieved Alachua County source (contrast: publication dates identified as public notices website, not a named newspaper).
  • Local redemption surcharge — no Alachua-specific fee above the state statutory minimum was identified; confirm no surcharge with Tax Collector.
  • Local ordinances deviating from Ch. 197 / Ch. 45 — none found during research; confirm with Clerk at (352) 374-3636.
  • Unclaimed surplus RealTDM direct URL — realtdm portal (alachua.realtdm.com/public/cases/list) returned 403 during research; confirmed from Clerk’s official surplus page as the designated search tool.
  • Judicial foreclosure (Ch. 45) surplus claim procedure — requires court order; specific Alachua Clerk form or mailing address for Ch. 45 surplus claims not retrieved from a dedicated official page (general surplus form retrieved covers tax deed surplus under § 197.582).

• cross_links: florida, surplus-funds, right-of-redemption, treasurer-sale, third-party-recovery-rules, tyler-v-hennepin-county, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, heirs-property, due-process-notice, vosilla-v-rosado-2006, cricket-properties-v-nassau-pointe-2013

• changelog:

  • 2026-06-02 — Initial population. All C0–C7 modules filled from Alachua County Tax Collector (alachuacollector.com), Clerk of Circuit Court (alachuacounty.us/Depts/Clerk), Property Appraiser (acpafl.org), Sheriff (acso.us), and Eighth Judicial Circuit (circuit8.org) official pages. Key verified facts: LienHub cert-sale platform; $200/5% non-refundable deposit for tax-deed auctions at alachua.realtaxdeed.com; 10 a.m. sale time; 3 p.m./4-day deposit deadlines; 24-hr bid payment; “Claim Form for Surplus Proceeds” fillable PDF; taxdeeds@alachuaclerk.org; realtdm.com surplus filter; annual July unclaimed list; official records portal at isol.alachuaclerk.org; qPublic parcel search; maps.acpafl.org GIS; county-taxes.net tax payment portal; judicial foreclosure platform alachua.realforeclose.com. Seven operational gaps flagged as needs_verification (all Row 2).

▸ For Investors / Operators — Alachua County operates a two-platform system: annual tax-certificate sales run via LienHub (bid-down from 18%, 5% minimum return) and tax-deed auctions run on RealAuction (alachua.realtaxdeed.com) beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a $200/5% non-refundable deposit required in advance. Tax-deed bids must be paid in full within 24 hours via cash, cashier’s check, or wire. Properties are sold as-is without warranties; the RealTDM case portal (alachua.realtdm.com/public/cases/list) shows live surplus balances you can filter by “Surplus Balance Without Claim.” Judicial foreclosure (Ch. 45) sales are conducted separately at alachua.realforeclose.com. See florida for the lien-survival and redemption framework.

▸ For Former Owners — Tax-deed surplus is held by the Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller. Submit a notarized “Claim Form for Surplus Proceeds” (fillable PDF at the Clerk’s website) to the Tax Deeds Division (201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601; taxdeeds@alachuaclerk.org; (352) 374-3615) with proof of ownership and documentation that all liens have been satisfied or released. Former owners are not barred by the 120-day cutoff that applies to other claimants. Unclaimed funds appear on the Clerk’s annual July unclaimed list and eventually transfer to the Florida Unclaimed Property search at FLTreasureHunt.org.

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes how Alachua County, Florida administers tax-certificate and tax-deed sales and surplus claims for research purposes only and may be incomplete or out of date. Procedures, offices, platforms, form names, and deadlines change. Verify every figure, address, and deadline against the cited official Alachua County sources and consult a licensed Florida attorney before acting. The legal framework lives on florida. Last verified: 2026-06-02.