Tax deed

The deed a buyer gets when a property is sold at a government auction for unpaid property taxes.

A tax deed is what a buyer gets when a property is sold for unpaid property taxes. Unlike a tax certificate, which is only a lien, a tax deed is the property itself.

Florida. A tax deed sale starts when the holder of a tax certificate applies, which can happen two years after April 1 of the year the certificate was issued. The clerk publishes notice once a week for four weeks and holds the auction at least 30 days after the first notice. The opening bid covers the outstanding certificates, taxes, interest and costs; on a homestead it adds half of the latest assessed value. If there's surplus, lienholders and the former owner have 120 days after the clerk's notice to claim it. How Florida foreclosure works

California. After five years of tax default (three for some nonresidential commercial property), the tax collector has the power to sell, at a sale the board of supervisors approves. The buyer gets a tax deed. The minimum bid is at least what it would take to redeem, plus costs, and excess proceeds can be claimed within a year after the deed is recorded. How California foreclosure works

Texas. Tax sales follow a court judgment for back taxes, and the buyer gets a sheriff's or constable's deed. The owner can still redeem for two years (homestead or agricultural land) or 180 days (other property) after that deed is recorded. How Texas foreclosure works

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General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, talk to a lawyer.