Florida Sales Tax Basics for Jacksonville Business Owners

Florida Sales Tax Basics for Jacksonville Business Owners

A tax paid to a governing body for the sale of certain goods and services is the definition of sales tax. The State of Florida began the requirement for business owners to collect and remit sales tax for specified business activities in 1949. Outlined in Chapter 212 of the Florida Statutes, this Florida Sales Tax law can have serious consequences for business owners in Jacksonville, FL when violated.

This article provides an overview of the Florida sales tax requirements, as well as risks associated with missing your sales tax deadlines and not paying delinquent sales taxes.

Business Activities with Florida Sales Tax Requirements

Before registering your business with the State of Florida, our tax attorneys in Jacksonville, FL recommend determining if your future business activities will require the collection and remittance of sales tax. If you have already registered your Jacksonville-based business with the State of Florida, we recommend hiring an experienced tax professional to ensure you are properly charging and paying sales tax for your business activities.

Here are some activities that will require a Florida-based business to collect and remit Sales Tax:

• • Admission charges for entertainment, recreation or sports venues
• • Producing or manufacturing goods sold at retail
• • Property rentals, leases, and licenses, including:
• o Commercial office space
• o Warehouses
• • Retail sales of items that will be taxed
• • Sales of service warranty contract
• • Short-term rentals, including:
• o Beach rentals
• o Condominiums
• o Motel/hotel rooms
• o Timeshare resorts
• o Travel parks
• o Vacation homes
• • Vending or amusement machine operations
• • Tangible personal property repairs or alterations
• • Taxable service providers, including:
• o Investigative and crime protection services
• o Interior cleaning services (nonresidential)
• o Pest control services (nonresidential)

Unsure if your business activities require you to collect and remit sales tax? Our Tax Attorneys in Jacksonville, FL can help. Click here to visit our Florida Sales Tax Services Page, or click here request a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with our firm.

Florida Sales Tax Payments & Penalties

If your business collects over $1,000 in sales tax annually, you are required to file monthly sales tax (due on or before the 20th). Form DR-115 is used to report Florida Sales Tax. The Florida Department of Revenue offers an online portal for electronic filing and paying sales tax. When you file and pay on time, you can get a credit up to $30. When you file and pay late, a 10% penalty is applied, and to under and late sales tax payments, a floating interest rate is also applied. If your return is incomplete, the State of Florida will also impose a penalty.

Filing Tips for Florida Sales Tax

The penalties for being late and for incomplete reporting add up quickly. Here are a few filing tips to ensure you stay compliant with the sales tax requirements:

• • Don’t miss the monthly deadline (on or before 20th of each month)
• • Set reminders on your calendar
• • Compute sales tax correctly
• • Complete your forms
• • Don’t ignore delinquent sales tax letters

Do You Have Delinquent Florida Sales Tax? We Can Help!

When you have delinquent sales tax payments in the State of Florida, the State will take action by assessing fees and the collection attempts will include aggressively pursuing you and shutting down your business activities if you do not resolve your sales tax issues. If the State of Florida has contacted you regarding your delinquent sales tax, our tax attorneys in Jacksonville, FL can help. Click here to visit our Florida Sales Tax Services Page, or click here to request a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with our firm.