Media Release

April 30, 2009

3 p.m.

This release has been sent at the request of Alachua County Tax Collector, Von Fraser.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Alachua County Tax Collector, Von Fraser invites citizens to participate in the "2009 Tax Certificate Sale" for the 2008 delinquent real estate taxes. This sale will be held online.  Since there will not be a live auction, all bids will be placed by registered bidders on the certificate sale website http://www.alachuataxsale.com which will be available by May 14, 2009.  This site is jointly hosted by the Alachua County Tax Collector and Realauction.  Registration and bidding will begin Thursday, May 14, 2009 and continue until the sale closes Friday, May 29, 2009.  Certificates will be offered in a series of six batches that will begin closing out at 9 a.m. and continue at one hour intervals until 2 p.m.  Certificates will be awarded to those bidders entering the lowest bids with ties awarded based on a computer generated random selection algorithm.  Our office will provide computers and limited assistance for registered bidders who do not have internet access and want to participate in the tax certificate sale.

The tax certificate sale process ensures that a majority of the 2008 unpaid property taxes are collected and distributed to the various taxing authorities, allowing for the continuation of services. Last year's sale netted $9,245,397.47 from the sale of 3,957 individual certificates.

Training for bidders and interested parties will be held Friday, May 8, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Grace Knight Conference Room located on the second floor in the County Administration Building (12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville).

Please note the internet tax certificate sale has a mandatory bidder deposit requirement.  Since bidders will not be physically present the day of the auction, we are requiring a 10% deposit of your total intended purchases ($100 minimum).  Please see our website or attend training for detailed information regarding deposits and bidding.

The delinquent real estate advertisement will be published in the "Alachua County Today" newspaper  May 14th, 21st & 28th.  The advertising list will also be available on our website and can be downloaded.

To avoid a certificate being issued, property owners with delinquent taxes are advised to pay at any of our three locations before 5:30 p.m. May 28, 2009. Cash or certified funds are required. Credit card payments can be made online www.actcfl.org, or by telephone 1- 866 -729-2282. (A 2.5% convenience fee will be added to credit card payments).

For more information regarding the tax certificate sale, please visit the Alachua County Tax Collector's website at www.actcfl.org or call 352-374-5236.

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