Straight Answers — Tax Deed Season 2026
Tax bills go out in November and the fall auction calendar is already posted. Here are the real dates, read straight from the Clerks' systems on September 5, 2026, and every option a delinquent owner still has before sale day.
Both counties run their tax deed auctions online. These are the sale dates on the calendars as of September 5, 2026 — properties drop off a list whenever the owner redeems, so the count on sale day is always lower than the count today.
Look up any Pinellas case by parcel number or address at taxdeedsales.mypinellasclerk.gov (the Clerk's tax deed records). The sale date, case status, and any surplus balance are public.
Hillsborough posts the full item list for each sale on its calendar at hillsborough.realtaxdeed.com. If your address is on it, the clock is measured in days, not months.
Homestead detail: under §197.502(6)(c) the opening bid on a homestead property includes an extra amount equal to half of its assessed value. Surplus detail: if the winning bid exceeds what was owed, the surplus is held by the Clerk and may be claimed under §197.582 — but the former owner is behind lienholders in line, and the sale price at auction is rarely close to market value.
Pinellas: call the Tax Collector's delinquent tax line at (727) 464-3409 or look the property up at pinellas.county-taxes.com. Hillsborough: use the Tax Collector's online property search at hillstax.org. Ask for the redemption amount good through a specific date, and whether a tax deed application is already open. If family or a lender can bridge the amount, redemption ends the process and you keep the house.
A sale pays the taxes, interest, and fees at closing and puts the remaining equity in your pocket. With weeks or days left, that means a buyer with its own funds and a title company that can close quickly. We have done exactly this: one Pinellas seller called us the day before her auction — read the full conversation. Our guide to selling while behind on property taxes in Pinellas walks through the math.
Auction lists are public, so owners on them get letters, calls, and knocks — some from people who want a signed deed in exchange for a promise. Never sign a deed without a closing through a licensed Florida title company and a written settlement statement showing what you receive. Our red flags when choosing a cash home buyer guide lists what to check, including on us.
As of September 5, 2026 the Pinellas County Clerk's tax deed records list sales on October 21, November 18, and December 16, 2026 — Pinellas sells on a monthly cycle, and each sale is held online at pinellas.realtaxdeed.com. Case files are searchable at taxdeedsales.mypinellasclerk.gov. Dates and case counts change as owners redeem, so confirm your own case there.
Hillsborough County runs tax deed auctions almost every Thursday at 10:00 AM ET on hillsborough.realtaxdeed.com. As of September 5, 2026 the calendar shows sales on September 17 and 24, October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, and November 5 and 12, 2026, each with roughly 12–20 properties.
Yes. Under Florida Statutes 197.472 the tax certificates can be redeemed — paid in full with interest, costs, and fees — at any time before the tax deed is issued (before the winning bidder's full payment reaches the Clerk). Redemption cancels the sale. A closing that pays the taxes off from the proceeds does the same thing.
The property is sold to the highest bidder online and a tax deed is issued to that bidder. You lose the home. Any surplus above the taxes, costs, and other liens is held by the Clerk and may be claimed under Florida Statutes 197.582 — but former owners typically recover far less than they would by selling before the sale.
For homestead property, Florida Statutes 197.502(6)(c) adds one-half of the property's assessed value to the required opening bid. That protects some equity for the owner if the sale happens, but it also means a homestead that goes to auction rarely leaves the former owner in a good position compared with a normal sale.
Be careful. Signing a quitclaim deed to a stranger in exchange for a promise transfers your entire equity for nothing guaranteed. A legitimate sale closes through a licensed Florida title company, shows you a written settlement statement, and pays you the price minus the taxes and liens at closing. Read our guide to red flags when choosing a cash home buyer before you sign anything.
The dates and counts on this page were read from the Pinellas Clerk's tax deed records and the Hillsborough tax deed calendar on September 5, 2026, and the statutes cited are Florida Statutes Chapter 197. This is general information about Florida's process, not legal advice — for your specific situation talk to a Florida attorney. If you want a second set of eyes on your case file, we will pull it and tell you exactly how many days you have, at no cost and with no obligation.
Free conversation. We'll pull the certificate and auction status the same day.
Call or text us with your address — we'll look up the case and give you straight options, including the ones that don't involve us.
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