I’d start by asking which county this is in. In most Florida foreclosure auctions (especially ones run through RealAuction) the Clerk usually withholds the documentary stamp taxes automatically from the deposit or final payment. That’s why your situation isn’t typical. If the Clerk returned your check and told you to hire an attorney, it usually means the normal administrative process broke and they can’t fix it on their end anymore.

The documentary stamp tax isn’t optional and it’s not something you can “handle later” when you refinance or sell. If it’s not paid, the deed can’t be properly recorded, and without a clean recorded deed you’ll hit a wall with title insurance, lenders, or a future buyer. Practically speaking, it freezes the property from a legal standpoint.

At this point, the Clerk is just behaving carefully. Once the timing is missed, the fix usually requires a court motion so the Clerk has legal authority to accept the tax and correct the title record. A real estate or foreclosure attorney is the right move, not because it’s complicated, but because it has to be done the right way.