Bay County, FL Property Tax Guide: Offices, Dates and Selling With Tax Due
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Last updated November 14, 2026. Citations come from the Florida statutes and the official county pages linked in Sources. Where we could not confirm something on an official page, we say so.
Bay County property tax is billed by the county tax collector, and Florida bills are due November 1 and delinquent April 1. This guide points you to the official Bay County offices and explains what happens to the tax when you sell a house there.
Who bills what in Bay County
- Bay County Property Appraiser sets the assessed value and handles exemptions such as homestead.
- Bay County Tax Collector sends the bill and collects the tax.
- The clerk’s Official Records search shows recorded deeds, liens and mortgages.
Due dates and discounts
Florida taxes are due November 1, or when the certified roll reaches the tax collector, and become delinquent April 1. Early payment discounts run 4 percent in November, 3 percent in December, 2 percent in January and 1 percent in February (Fla. Stat. 197.162 and 197.333). Real property is assessed as of January 1. What the county tax collector’s pages state:
- Tax notices normally mailed on or before November 1, due March 31; discounts 4% November, 3% December, 2% January, 1% February; delinquent April 1; delinquent taxes require certified funds (cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card).
County millage rate
An official page we opened lists the Bay County government millage as 5.4362 mills for 2026. That is one taxing authority’s rate. Your bill adds the school district, cities and special districts, so it is not your total. A mill is $1 of tax per $1,000 of taxable value. See the official page and use the parcel lookup for your bill.
Selling in Bay County cities
What we could not confirm
- Property appraiser parcel search URL
- Property appraiser homestead deadline and portability on its own site (homepage opened, no text extracted)
- Installment plan, mailing wording, penalty percentage, certificate sale venue and tax deed handling on collector pages
How to sell a house in Bay County when you owe property tax
- Find out what the title company needs. For an inherited or transferred house, that usually means the recorded document that shows who owns it today.
- Ask the tax collector for the amount due in the month you expect to close. Unpaid tax is paid from the sale proceeds at closing.
- Compare offers on what you net after repairs, commissions and closing costs, not on the headline price.
- If you want a fast, simple closing, ask for a written cash offer. We buy houses as-is. See we buy houses in Florida.
Bay County property tax FAQ
When are property taxes due in Bay County, FL?
Florida taxes are due November 1 or when the certified roll reaches the tax collector, and become delinquent April 1 (Fla. Stat. 197.333).
What early payment discounts apply?
The statute provides 4 percent in November, 3 percent in December, 2 percent in January and 1 percent in February (Fla. Stat. 197.162). Check the tax collector's page for this year's exact dates.
When is the homestead exemption deadline?
March 1 each year with the county property appraiser (Fla. Stat. 196.011).
What happens to unpaid Bay County property tax when I sell?
The title company pays the unpaid tax from the sale proceeds at closing.
Sources
- Bay County Property Appraiser
- Bay County Tax Collector
- Official millage page
- Florida Statutes, Chapter 197
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Laws, forms and fees change, so confirm details with the official office or a Florida tax professional.
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