Polk County surplus funds list
Florida · unclaimed money left over from tax deed and foreclosure sales.
Getting the Polk County list
Polk has no downloadable list. For sales since January 2025, search the Clerk's RealTDM tax deed files (polk.realtdm.com) with Balance Type "Surplus Balance".
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Florida surplus funds rules
- Sales that create surplus
- tax deed sale (clerk auction of a tax certificate; judicial mortgage foreclosure sale by the clerk (s. 45.031-45.033); HOA/condo lien foreclosure (judicial
- Who holds the money
- Clerk of the circuit court for both tax deed and foreclosure surplus.
- Unclaimed funds go to
- Foreclosure: 1 year after the sale, unclaimed surplus is presumed unclaimed and remitted to the Department of Financial Services (ch. 717) unless a court proceeding is pending. Surplus under $10 escheats to the clerk. Tax deed: if no claims arrive within 120 days of the clerk's notice, the titleholder of record is conclusively presumed entitled and the clerk processes the funds under ch. 717 (state unclaimed property).
- How owners claim
- Foreclosure: file the owner's claim (sample form in s. 45.032) with the court and clerk. The owner of record on the lis pendens date is presumed entitled after timely subordinate lienholders are paid, and the court orders the clerk to pay. Tax deed: file the clerk's notarized claim form, which comes with the mailed notice of surplus. — deadline: Foreclosure: claim within 1 year of the sale, before the funds go to DFS; lienholders have shorter deadlines. Tax deed: 120 days from the notice of surplus for lienholders and other non-owners. The property owner is exempt from the 120-day bar but the funds then go to ch. 717. After transfer, claim through DFS (fltreasurehunt.gov).
- Agent / finder fee cap
- Foreclosure surplus assignment: total compensation to the transferee/assignee may not exceed 12% of the surplus (s. 45.033(3)). Once funds are with DFS: 30% cap on fees or purchase discount (s. 717.135). No statutory cap found specific to tax deed surplus held by the clerk. verify
Law: Fla. Stat. 45.032, 45.033 (12% cap added by ch. 2018-71); 197.582; 197.473; 717.135
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Questions
Where does the Polk County surplus funds list come from?
From the official list published by Polk County Clerk of Court (source). Surplus Funds HQ checks it daily and last found it updated Oct 12, 2026.
How do I claim surplus funds in Polk County?
The former owner (or heirs) files a claim with the office that holds the funds, usually with ID and proof of ownership. It is free to do yourself. See how to claim surplus funds; in Florida: Foreclosure: claim within 1 year of the sale, before the funds go to DFS.
Can someone else claim the money for me?
Yes, recovery agents and attorneys do this for a fee, but Florida law may cap the fee or require a waiting period (Foreclosure surplus assignment: total compensation to the transferee/assignee may not exceed 12% of the surplus (s. 45.033(3)). Once funds are with DFS: 30% cap on fees or purchase discount (s. 717.135). No statutory cap found specific to tax deed surplus held by the clerk.). Read any contract carefully; you never need an agent to file.