Florida Sales Tax Basics for Orlando Business Owners

Florida Sales Tax Basics for Orlando Business Owners

Making payments to a governing body for the sale of certain goods and services is sales tax. Since 1949, the State of Florida has required business owners to collect and remit sales tax for specific business activities. Outlined in Chapter 212 of the Florida Statutes, this law can have serious consequences for business owners in Orlando, FL when it is violated.

Orlando Business Activities with Sales Tax Requirements

Prior to registering your business with the State of Florida, our tax attorneys in Orlando, FL recommend finding out if your business activities will require you to collect and remit sales tax. If you have registered your business with the State of Florida, working with an experienced tax professional can help ensure you are properly charging and paying sales tax for your business activities.

This list features some activities that will require a Florida-based business to collect and remit Sales Tax:

• • Retail sales of taxable items
• • Producing or manufacturing goods that will be sold at retail
• • Service warranty contract sales
• • Short-term living accommodation rentals, including:
• o Beach rentals
• o Condominiums
• o Motel/hotel rooms
• o Timeshare resorts
• o Travel parks
• o Vacation homes
• • Property rentals, leases, and licenses, including:
• o Commercial office space
• o Warehouses
• • 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)
• • Admission charges for entertainment, recreation or sports venues
• • Vending or amusement machine operations

If you don’t know or are unsure if your business activities will require you to collect and remit sales tax, our Tax Attorneys in Orlando, 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.

When to Pay Florida Sales Tax

Businesses collecting over $1,000 in sales tax annually are required to file monthly sales tax reports (on or before the 20th). Florida Sales Tax is reported with Form DR-115. The Florida Department of Revenue’s website features an online portal so you can electronically file and pay sales tax. Businesses that file and pay on time can get a credit up to $30. Businesses that file and pay late with get a 10% penalty is applied, and a floating interest rate is also applied to under or late sales tax payments. Further penalties can be charged when your return is incomplete.

Tips for Filing Florida Sales Tax

The State of Florida can assess penalties for being late for incomplete sales tax reporting. Here are a few filing tips to ensure you stay compliant:

• • Don’t miss a deadline (on or before 20th of each month)
• o Set reminders
• o If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, pay early
• • Compute sales tax correctly
• o Don’t forget county surtax
• o Don’t include tax collected in gross sales (this increases the amount you owe)
• • Complete the entire form
• • Hire a tax professional to help with delinquent sales tax

Delinquent Sales Tax? We Can Help!

If you owe delinquent sales tax, the State of Florida will take action by assessing fees and they will quickly escalate their collection attempts to aggressively pursuing you and shut down your business activities if you do not resolve your sales tax issues. If the State of Florida is contacting you regarding your delinquent sales tax, our tax attorneys in Orlando, 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.