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| Tax Certificate Sale |
| 1. |
The tax certificate sale is held at the end of May or on June 1st of each year, and will continue
until all certificates are sold. |
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| 2. |
Each sale day will end at 5:00 p.m. (or at the discretion of the Tax Collector).
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| 3. |
A one-hour lunch break will be taken from 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. daily. |
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| 4. |
All bidders must register with the Martin County Tax Collector. Registration begins May 1st of each year.
Only (1)one bidder number and bidding paddle will be assigned to each individual registered.
Only registered bidders will be allowed to bid.
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| 5. |
At the time of registration a Bidder Registration Form must be completed.
Additionally, each bidder must supply his or her tax identification number and complete an Internal
Revenue Service W-9 form.
Once a bidder has purchased one certificate, the bidder (paddle)
number will be permanently assigned to that individual indefinitely
for future tax sales.
For individuals, the tax identification number is your social security number.
For corporations or other entities, the tax identification number is the employer (Federal) identification number.
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| 6. |
Buyers must deposit (10%) ten percent of anticipated purchases
at time of registration in order to bid. Personal or business checks
can be used as payment prior to or at the sale. Cash or certified
funds (cashier’s check, money order or cash) are required after
the close of the sale.
All final payments must be received in the Tax Collectors (Stuart
branch) Office within 48 hours from the close of the sale. Failure
to make payment within this period will result in the forfeiture
of the bidders deposit and his certificate(s) will be cancelled and
resold.
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| 7. |
All bidding will begin at eighteen percent (18%) interest, and
will bid down to the lowest interest rate until sold or struck to
the county.
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| 8. |
The certificates will be announced and auctioned in the same
sequence that appears in the newspaper.
Delinquent taxes from prior years will be auctioned last.
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| 9. |
The auctioneer will acknowlege the lowest interest rate bid and the
successful bidder's number after each certificate is auctioned.
The Tax Collector’s Office will then record the interest rate
and the buyer's number in the official sale record.
The decisions of the auctioneer and the Tax Collector’s Office
are final. No disputes will be addressed.
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| 10. |
Printouts of purchased certificates can be obtained any time during
the sale.
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| 11. |
The Tax Collector’s Office must be notified of any clerical
error immediately.
It’s the bidder’s obligation to research properties prior
to bidding.
All Sales Are Final.
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| 12. |
All tax certificates issued to an individual may be transferred
by proper endorsement and upon paying a transfer fee of $2.25 for
each of the endorsements at the Tax Collector's Office.
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| 13. |
All tax certificates issued to the county may be purchased upon
paying all taxes, interest, costs, and charges to the Tax Collector.
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| 14. |
All payments must be made directly to the Martin County Tax Collector's main
office - Between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.:
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Martin
County Tax Collector
Attn: Delinquent Tax Department
3485 SE Willoughby Blvd.
Stuart, Florida 34994
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| 15. |
Any tax certificate issued on or after January 1, 1977, which
are cancelled or reduced as to either principal or interest due to
any error of the Property Appraiser or Tax Collector will earn simple
interest at the rate of eight percent (8%) per year or the rate of
interest bid at the tax certificate sale, whichever is less, calculated
from the date the certificate was purchased until the date the refund
is ordered.
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| 16. |
Rotational bidding is against the law. Rotational bidding generally
means any system, procedure or behavior, established or encouraged
or allowed to be established or encouraged, whereby two or more bidders
at the sale prevent or attempt to prevent free, open and competitive
bidding on each and every certificate. For example, ordered, sequenced,
cooperative behavior by any two or more bidders whereby certificates
are allocated among the bidders at rates higher than what could be
obtained through free, open and competitive bidding could be classified
as rotational bidding. If the Tax Collector observes any type of
rotational bidding occurring at the sale or an attempt to establish
rotational bidding, the Tax Collector will take whatever measures
are necessary to prevent the occurrence or continuance of rotational
bidding. These measures could include removing the bidders instigating
a rotational system, calling a recess, or adjourning the sale. The
Tax Collector has the authority to remove any bidder who attempts
to disrupt the sale.
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| 17. |
The Tax Collector does not guarantee the value of the property
on which taxes are levied or liened.
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| 18. |
Bankruptcy, forfeiture actions or other legal proceedings involving
the property on which certificates are issued may affect the certificate
holders collection, interest rate or tax deed application on their
certificate(s).
Consult your legal advisor. No employee of the Martin County
Tax Collector’s Office is authorized to give any
legal advice.
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| 19. |
The total of each bidders purchases will be issued in computer
printout form. Click here for.
Updated printouts of all outstanding certificates and requests for
additional lists for recently issued certificates will be provided
for a fee of $25.00 per bidder by contacting the tax department at
772-288-5595 or download the list free.
Click here to download
current delinquent tax list
All fees and information are subject to change without notice.
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| 20. |
Announcements made orally or in writing on the day of the certificate
sale may override these procedures.
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