Thousands of former property owners are sitting on money they don't know exists. When a home is sold at a tax deed auction for more than the delinquent taxes owed, the leftover amount — the surplus — legally belongs to the former owner, not the county. Here's how to tell if you might be one of them.
1. You lost a property to a tax deed sale in the past few years
If a county sold your former home, land, or investment property after unpaid property taxes, a surplus may have been generated the moment the winning bid exceeded what was owed.
2. You never received a notice — or ignored one
Clerks are required to mail a Notice of Surplus Funds, but notices get sent to old addresses or missed entirely. No response doesn't mean no surplus.
3. The property had significant equity
The bigger the gap between what was owed in back taxes and the property's market value, the larger the potential surplus at auction.
4. You inherited a property or hold a lien on one
Heirs, estates, and lienholders can have a legal claim to surplus funds too — not just the last titleholder on record.
5. It's been less than a few years since the sale
Most states, including Florida under Section 197.582, impose strict claim deadlines. Miss the window and unclaimed funds can transfer to the state or school board, making recovery far harder.
If any of this sounds familiar, it's worth checking county records before the deadline passes. Reclaim Assets Recovery LLC helps former property owners locate and recover surplus funds owed to them under Florida Statute §197.582.
