I’m in Palm Beach County too and familiar with how the auction system works here.
When you deposit funds into your auction account (usually via wire or cashier’s check), they are held as a bid deposit. These funds aren’t permanently “locked in,” but they are held in escrow and can’t be withdrawn instantly like a regular bank account.

Here’s how it works:
You can request a refund at any time before you win an auction.
If you request a refund, it usually takes a few business days to a couple weeks to process depending on the county.

If you do win a property, your deposit goes toward the purchase price, and the remainder is due by the deadline (typically within 24 hours).

So yes, you can withdraw your funds, but not instantly — and definitely not during an active bidding session. It’s meant to show you're a serious bidder.