Volusia 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 Volusia County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

• County seat: DeLand · Population: ~553,543 (2020 Census, FIPS 12127) · 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: Volusia follows the standard Florida model — the elected Tax Collector (currently Will Roberts) conducts the annual tax-certificate sale; the elected Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (currently Laura E. Roth) conducts tax-deed auctions and holds surplus funds. The Clerk also conducts judicial (Ch. 45) mortgage-foreclosure sales. The Property Appraiser (separate elected office) maintains ownership records and parcel data.

C1. Local Tax Sale

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

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

• Conducts own sale? Yes, online. · Platform: LienHub (Grant Street Group) — lienhub.com/county/volusia/certsale/main. The Tax Collector refers to this system via the county’s customized bidder portal at BidVolusia.com. (Source: Volusia Tax Collector — Tax Certificate Info; Tax Collector — FAQ)
• Calendar: annual, on or before June 1 each year per florida § 197.432. Taxes become delinquent April 1. Certificate information is downloadable from LienHub/BidVolusia mid-May each year. The delinquent property list is advertised once per week for three consecutive weeks in a local newspaper (in print or electronically) immediately preceding the sale. (Source: Volusia Tax Collector — Tax Certificate Info)
• Delinquent list location: advertised in a local newspaper and posted online at LienHub.com/Volusia (lienhub.com/county/volusia). List is ordered by parcel ID from north to south county. (Source: Volusia Tax Collector — Tax Certificate Info; Tax Collector FAQ)
• Bidding: bid-down interest from 18% to 0% in 0.25% increments; unsold certificates struck to the county at 18% (state mechanics — florida § 197.432).
• Registration / deposit / bidder requirements:
  1. Register at BidVolusia.com — must provide Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or Social Security Number.
  2. Deposit: 10% of the estimated amount the bidder intends to purchase, submitted via ACH Debit on the BidVolusia.com payments page. Deposit may be increased at any time before the auction closes.
  3. Payment of all purchased certificates due within 48 hours of the close of sale via ACH from BidVolusia.com. Failure to pay results in forfeiture of deposit and all certificates.
  4. Unsold deposits refunded by check within four weeks after the conclusion of the sale. (Source: Tax Collector FAQ)
• Tax deed applications: certificate holders may apply for a tax deed via LienHub after holding the certificate for a minimum of 24 months from the date taxes became delinquent. Application made online through LienHub. (Source: Tax Collector FAQ)
• Certificate transfer fee: $2.25 per assignment recorded. (Source: Volusia Tax Collector — Tax Certificate Info)

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

• Conducts own sale? Yes. · Platform: RealAuction — volusia.realtaxdeed.com. Case-level tax deed inquiry: app02.clerk.org/or_td/. (Source: Volusia Clerk — Tax Deeds)
• Sale time: online, 9:00 AM ET. Specific upcoming sale dates are posted on the RealAuction platform and the Clerk’s website. Notice of sale is published in The West Volusia Beacon newspaper in DeLand/Volusia County. (Source: Volusia Clerk — Tax Deeds; Tax Deed Inquiry page)
• Registration / deposit / payment terms:
  1. Register at volusia.realtaxdeed.com to obtain a Username and Password.
  2. Deposit: $200.00 or 5% of the winning bid, whichever is greater for each property.
  3. Deposit methods and deadlines:
     • ACH: no later than 4 full working days prior to the sale.
     • Wire transfer: by 2:00 PM ET on the business day before the sale.
     • Cashier’s check / money order: delivered to Tax Deed Department at 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Room C119, DeLand, FL 32721 by 2:00 PM ET on the business day before the sale.
  4. Balance due within 24 hours or by 12:00 PM ET next business day; additional fees include recording fee, state documentary stamps ($0.70 per$100 of bid), and deposit registry fee.
  5. Effective January 1, 2022: cash no longer accepted. (Source: Volusia Clerk — Tax Deeds)

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

• Where/how to redeem locally: redemption of a tax certificate before a tax deed issues is processed through the Volusia County Tax Collector — Office of Will Roberts, Tax Collector.
  • In person or by mail: Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., Room 103, DeLand, FL 32720.
  • Payment must be made with certified funds payable to Volusia County (cash, certified check, cashier’s check, money order, wire transfer, or credit/debit card). Personal checks are not accepted.
  • Credit/debit card: 2.6% service fee (in-office or online). (Source: Tax Collector FAQ)
• Redemption formula: face amount of certificate + accrued interest at the bid rate; statutory 5% minimum interest applies if accrued interest is less than 5% (unless bid at 0%). Proceeds remitted weekly to the certificate holder after redemption.
• Local redemption fee: $6.25 charged on redemptions made on or after June 1 (i.e., after the certificate sale). (Source: Volusia Tax Collector — Tax Certificate Info) This is a Volusia County local charge in addition to the state statutory formula.
• Redemption contact: Office of Will Roberts — Tax Collector, taxes phone: (386) 736-5938 · email: taxcollector@volusiatax.gov · website: vctaxcollector.org. (Source: Tax Collector — Locations and Hours)
• Deviations from state default: the $6.25 local redemption fee (on or after June 1) is a local surcharge not specified in florida § 197.472 itself; it is an additional county-level charge. All other redemption mechanics follow state law.

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

Business-critical module.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Volusia County uses a two-platform model: LienHub/BidVolusia.com for the annual tax-certificate sale (Tax Collector side; 10% ACH deposit, payment within 48 hours, bid-down interest from 18%) and RealAuction (volusia.realtaxdeed.com) for tax-deed auctions (Clerk side; 5%/$200 deposit; sale at 9:00 AM ET). Certificate holders may apply for a tax deed after holding the certificate a minimum of 24 months from the date taxes became delinquent. A $6.25 local redemption fee applies to redemptions on or after June 1 — a Volusia-specific charge above the state formula. Properties that fail to sell at the tax-deed auction enter the Clerk’s “Lands Available for Taxes” list at app02.clerk.org/cm_rpt/?id=lat.

▸ For Former Owners — Tax-deed surplus in Volusia County is held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Tax Deed Department (101 N. Alabama Avenue, Room C119, DeLand, FL 32724; P.O. Box 6043, DeLand, FL 32721-6043; (386) 736-5919). The Clerk mails a surplus notice with claim instructions after the sale; the 120-day window applies to lienholders and other claimants after the notice (former property titleholders are not barred by the 120-day cutoff). An updated Tax Deed Surplus List PDF is published at clerk.org. Unclaimed or undistributed funds route to the Florida Department of Financial Services under Chapter 717 (unclaimed property).

In Volusia County, tax-deed surplus is held and disbursed by the Volusia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Laura E. Roth) under florida § 197.582.

• Claim filing venue: Volusia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Tax Deed Department

  • Physical address: Volusia County Courthouse, 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Room C119, DeLand, FL 32724
  • Mailing address: P.O. Box 6043, DeLand, FL 32721-6043
  • Phone: (386) 736-5919
  • Website: clerk.org/tax-deeds.aspx (Source: Volusia Clerk — Tax Deeds)

• Claim form: The Clerk’s website does not publish a downloadable surplus claim form at a confirmed URL. The Clerk mails a surplus notice with claim instructions to parties of record after the sale. The form is commonly titled “Claim to Receive Surplus Proceeds of a Tax Deed Sale” (used across Florida counties under § 197.582); claimants indicate whether they are a lienholder or titleholder. [needs_verification: confirm whether clerk.org has a downloadable form URL; contact Tax Deed Dept at (386) 736-5919 to request packet.] (Source: Volusia Clerk — Tax Deeds; Tax Collector FAQ)

• Unclaimed surplus list published? Yes — the Clerk publishes a Tax Deed Surplus List (PDF) updated periodically, available at clerk.org/pdf/user_publish/TaxDeeds/Tax_Deed_Surplus_List.pdf. The list shows property owner names, certificate numbers, deposit amounts, fees, and remaining balances. (Source: Volusia Clerk — Tax Deed Surplus List PDF)

• Local deadline notes: consistent with florida § 197.582 — the Clerk mails a surplus notice to interested parties of record; the 120-day claim window applies to lienholders and other claimants. The former owner / property titleholder is NOT barred by the 120-day cutoff. After 120 days with no conflicting claims, funds are disbursed per the Clerk’s priority determination; conflicting claims may result in interpleader. Unclaimed/undistributed funds are routed to the state under Chapter 717 (Florida unclaimed property — Dept. of Financial Services / Division of Unclaimed Property). [needs_verification: confirm exact Volusia Clerk procedure for mailing vs. waiver of notice and any local form requirements beyond state minimum.]

• Required documentation (general Florida standard; confirm with Clerk):

  • Completed, notarized claim form / affidavit
  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of interest (deed of record, mortgage, lien, assignment, or probate documents for deceased owners)
  • IRS Form W-9 (Source: florida § 197.582 notice requirements; practices corroborated by secondary source Visionary Surplus Recovery blog — primary source confirmation via direct Clerk contact recommended)

• Contact — Tax Deed / Surplus:

  • Phone: (386) 736-5919
  • Address: 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Room C119, DeLand, FL 32724

C4. Offices & Contacts

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• Standard Florida two-platform model: Volusia uses LienHub (BidVolusia.com) for the annual tax-certificate sale (Tax Collector side) and RealAuction (volusia.realtaxdeed.com) for the tax-deed auction (Clerk side). This mirrors the pattern used in Brevard and other Florida counties.
• BidVolusia.com is Volusia’s branded entry point into the LienHub platform for tax-certificate bidders. New and returning bidders should register there (not at LienHub.com directly) for the certificate sale.
• 10% deposit for certificate sale — higher upfront commitment than the 5%/$200 for tax-deed auctions; payment must be via ACH within 48 hours after close.
• $6.25 local redemption fee (on or after June 1) is a Volusia-specific charge in addition to the statutory interest formula.
• Tax-deed auctions start 9:00 AM ET on the RealAuction platform; The West Volusia Beacon is the publication newspaper for tax-deed sale notices.
• Lands Available for Taxes: properties that fail to sell at the tax-deed auction and are not paid timely are entered on the Clerk’s “Lands Available for Taxes” list. The county has 90 days to purchase at the opening bid; after that, any person may purchase. Inquiries handled by Tax Deed Department at (386) 736-5919. Purchase price = original opening bid + accumulated taxes + recording fees + documentary stamps. Payment must be cashier’s check or money order; conveyance is by Tax Deed with no warranties. List available at app02.clerk.org/cm_rpt/?id=lat. (Source: Volusia Clerk — Lands Available)
• Effective January 1, 2022: cash no longer accepted for tax-deed deposits and payments. (Source: Volusia Clerk — Tax Deeds)
• No local ordinances deviating from Ch. 197 / Ch. 45 procedure identified beyond the $6.25 redemption fee. [needs_verification: confirm via Clerk or Tax Collector that no local ordinances modify the statutory timeline or surplus process.]
• Tax deed application fee chain: applicant must pay costs for advertising, certified mailings, and sheriff service/posting at the time of application. If delinquent taxes are paid by the property owner post-application, the applicant is reimbursed for total investment plus accrued interest and the sale is cancelled. (Source: Tax Collector FAQ)

C6. Records Access

• Parcel / real property search: Volusia County Property Appraiser — vcpa.vcgov.org/search/real-property/ (search by owner name, address, or parcel ID). (Source: VCPA Search)
• Recorder / deed search (Official Records): Volusia County Clerk — Online Records Inquiry at app02.clerk.org/or_m/inquiry.aspx. Electronic records date to April 4, 1988; physical records maintained back to 1887. Searchable by name, instrument number, book/page, or advanced search options. (Source: Volusia Clerk — Official Records)
• Plat inquiry: app02.clerk.org/or_plats/
• GIS / interactive map: Volusia County Kiosk Map — imapt.vcgov.org/Html5Viewer/index.html?viewer=Volusia_County_BaseMap.Kiosk (multi-layer: land use, planning, voting districts, parcel boundaries, aerial imagery). Property Appraiser map search: vcpa.vcgov.org/search/map. (Source: Volusia County GIS Interactive Mapping)
• Tax payment portal: vctaxcollector.org/taxes/pay-taxes.html · also accessible at county-taxes.net/vctaxcollector — eCheck ($1.50 flat fee); credit/debit card (2.6% service fee). (Source: Volusia Tax Collector — Pay Taxes)
• Tax deed case inquiry / upcoming sales: app02.clerk.org/or_td/ (case search and upcoming sales list). (Source: Volusia Clerk — Tax Deeds)
• Tax deed surplus list: clerk.org/pdf/user_publish/TaxDeeds/Tax_Deed_Surplus_List.pdf
• Lands Available list: app02.clerk.org/cm_rpt/?id=lat
• Open Data / GIS downloads: opendata-volusiacountyfl.hub.arcgis.com

C7. Meta

• sources:
  • {type: official, url: https://www.vctaxcollector.org/taxes/tax-certificate-info.html, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (LienHub/BidVolusia platform; delinquent list in local newspaper + lienhub.com/volusia; $6.25 redemption fee;$2.25 certificate transfer fee; mid-May availability; tax deed applications via LienHub)
  • {type: official, url: https://vctaxcollector.org/taxes/faqs.html, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (BidVolusia.com registration; 10% ACH deposit; SSN/TIN required; 48-hr payment deadline; deposit refund by check within 4 weeks; redemption = certified funds only; redemption proceeds remitted weekly; 24-month minimum for tax deed application; applicant reimbursement if owner redeems)
  • {type: official, url: https://vctaxcollector.org/taxes/locations-and-hours.html, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Thomas C. Kelly Admin Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., Room 103, DeLand FL 32720; Daytona Beach 1847 Holsonback Dr.; New Smyrna Beach 124 N Riverside Dr.; taxes phone 386-736-5938; motorist 386-254-4610; email TaxCollector@VolusiaTax.gov)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.clerk.org/tax-deeds.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (RealAuction platform at volusia.realtaxdeed.com; 9:00 AM ET sale time; 5%/$200 deposit; ACH 4-day / wire/check 2:00 PM prior-day deadlines; 24-hr/noon balance due; doc stamps$0.70/$100; no cash effective 1/1/2022; Tax Deed Dept address 101 N. Alabama Ave. Room C119 DeLand FL 32721; phone (386) 736-5919; P.O. Box 6043 DeLand FL 32721-6043)
  • {type: official, url: https://app02.clerk.org/or_td/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (tax deed case inquiry portal; West Volusia Beacon as publication newspaper; Clerk does not warrant accuracy of online records)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.clerk.org/official-records.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Official Records Inquiry at app02.clerk.org/or_m/; records from 4/4/1988 electronically; physical records to 1887; Recording Dept Room A121; phone (386) 736-5912; main Clerk (386) 736-5915; recording fees: first page $10, additional pages$8.50)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.clerk.org/lands_available.aspx, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Lands Available procedure; 90-day county right to purchase; cashier’s check/money order only; Tax Deed Dept (386) 736-5919; list at app02.clerk.org/cm_rpt/?id=lat)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.clerk.org/pdf/user_publish/TaxDeeds/Tax_Deed_Surplus_List.pdf, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Volusia County Tax Deed Surplus List PDF — binary/compressed; confirms list exists and is published; content not directly readable)
  • {type: official, url: https://vcpa.vcgov.org/info/contact, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Property Appraiser: 123 W. Indiana Ave. Room 102 DeLand FL 32720; phone (386) 736-5901; email vcpa@volusia.org; 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. M–F)
  • {type: official, url: https://vcpa.vcgov.org/search/real-property/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (real property search portal confirmed accessible; map search at /search/map)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.volusia.org/services/financial-and-administrative-services/finance-department/information-technology/geographic-information-services/interactive-mapping/, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Kiosk Map URL: imapt.vcgov.org/Html5Viewer/index.html?viewer=Volusia_County_BaseMap.Kiosk; flood zone, fire hydrant, storm surge maps also listed)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.vctaxcollector.org/taxes/pay-taxes.html, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (tax payment portal; eCheck $1.50; credit/debit 2.6%; Wells Fargo wire routing 121000248 / acct 4942160805; mailing 123 W Indiana Ave Room 103 DeLand FL 32720)
  • {type: official, url: https://www.volusiasheriff.gov/contact/office.stml, retrieved: 2026-06-02} (Sheriff Mike Chitwood; 123 W. Indiana Ave. 4th Floor DeLand FL 32720; PO Box 569 DeLand FL 32721-0569; phone (386) 736-5961)
• needs_verification:
  • Surplus claim form name and downloadable URL — the Clerk’s tax-deeds page does not publish a PDF form; the form title “Claim to Receive Surplus Proceeds of a Tax Deed Sale” is from secondary sources. Confirm by calling (386) 736-5919 or visiting clerk.org directly.
  • Surplus claim exact required document list — documents listed (notarized affidavit, ID, W-9, proof of interest) are inferred from Florida § 197.582 and secondary sources; confirm the Volusia Clerk’s specific packet via (386) 736-5919.
  • Local ordinances deviating from state Ch. 197 / Ch. 45 — none found; confirm no Volusia County ordinance modifies the statutory sale or surplus timeline.
  • 2026 tax-certificate sale specific start/end dates — sale is confirmed annual on or before June 1, with BidVolusia/LienHub active mid-May; exact 2026 dates not retrieved from a primary source (the LienHub county page returned 403 during research).
  • Unclaimed surplus list URL format — the PDF at clerk.org/pdf/user_publish/TaxDeeds/Tax_Deed_Surplus_List.pdf was confirmed as a published list but the PDF content was not readable during research (binary/compressed). Confirm the list format and update frequency with the Clerk.
  • Tax-deed auction fixed schedule — sales are confirmed online at 9:00 AM ET but no fixed weekly day-of-week was identified; confirm upcoming schedule at app02.clerk.org/or_td/ or by calling (386) 736-5919.
• 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
• changelog:
  • 2026-06-02 — Initial population. All C0–C7 modules filled from Volusia County Tax Collector (vctaxcollector.org), Clerk of Circuit Court (clerk.org), Property Appraiser (vcpa.vcgov.org), Sheriff (volusiasheriff.gov), and county GIS pages. Key verified facts: LienHub/BidVolusia.com for certificate sale; 10% ACH deposit for cert sale; $6.25 local redemption fee; RealAuction (volusia.realtaxdeed.com) for tax-deed auctions; 5$200 deposit for tax-deed bidding; 9:00 AM ET sale time; The West Volusia Beacon as publication newspaper; Tax Deed Surplus List PDF published at clerk.org; Lands Available list at app02.clerk.org/cm_rpt/?id=lat; interactive GIS at imapt.vcgov.org; official records from 1988 at app02.clerk.org/or_m/; tax payment at vctaxcollector.org. Gaps: surplus claim form URL not confirmed; 2026 cert-sale exact dates not retrieved; surplus required-document list is secondary-source only.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Volusia County uses a two-platform model: LienHub/BidVolusia.com for the annual tax-certificate sale (Tax Collector side; 10% ACH deposit, payment within 48 hours, bid-down interest from 18%) and RealAuction (volusia.realtaxdeed.com) for tax-deed auctions (Clerk side; 5%/$200 deposit; sale at 9:00 AM ET). Certificate holders may apply for a tax deed after holding the certificate a minimum of 24 months from the date taxes became delinquent. A $6.25 local redemption fee applies to redemptions on or after June 1 — a Volusia-specific charge above the state formula. Properties that fail to sell at the tax-deed auction enter the Clerk’s “Lands Available for Taxes” list at app02.clerk.org/cm_rpt/?id=lat.

▸ For Former Owners — Tax-deed surplus in Volusia County is held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Tax Deed Department (101 N. Alabama Avenue, Room C119, DeLand, FL 32724; P.O. Box 6043, DeLand, FL 32721-6043; (386) 736-5919). The Clerk mails a surplus notice with claim instructions after the sale; the 120-day window applies to lienholders and other claimants after the notice (former property titleholders are not barred by the 120-day cutoff). An updated Tax Deed Surplus List PDF is published at clerk.org. Unclaimed or undistributed funds route to the Florida Department of Financial Services under Chapter 717 (unclaimed property).

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes how Volusia 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 Volusia County sources and consult a licensed Florida attorney before acting. The legal framework lives on florida. Last verified: 2026-06-02.