Florida Discretionary Sales Surtax Rules
12A-15.003 Admissions; Tangible Personal Property; Services; Service Warranties; Real Property and Transient Accommodations; Use Tax
(1) SCOPE.
(a) Section 212.054, F.S., provides for the imposition of discretionary sales surtaxes levied by a governing body of any county, as authorized in Section 212.055, F.S. This rule is intended to clarify the application of the surtaxes on admissions, sales and use of tangible personal property and services, leases, rentals, and licenses to use real property or transient accommodations, and other transactions.
(b) Rule 12A-15.0035, F.A.C. (Aircraft, Boats, Motor Vehicles, and Mobile Homes), governs the imposition of surtax on the sale, lease, rental, and use of any aircraft or boat that is required to be registered, licensed, titled, or documented in this state or by the United States Government and any motor vehicle or mobile home of a class or type that is required to be registered in this state.
(2) DEFINITION. For purposes of this rule, a “surtax county” means a county whose governing body levies a discretionary sales surtax pursuant to Sections 212.054 and 212.055, F.S.
(3) ADMISSIONS. When the event for which a taxable admission is charged is held within a surtax county, surtax is due at the rate imposed by the county where the event occurs. The seller of the admission to an event is required to collect surtax on the sales price or actual value of the admission, as provided in Section 212.04(1)(b), F.S., when the event is held within a surtax county.
(4) SALES OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY.
(a) A dealer who makes sales of tangible personal property is required to collect surtax when the taxable item of tangible personal property is delivered within a surtax county. The dealer is required to collect surtax at the rate imposed by the county where the delivery occurs, whether the delivery is made directly by the dealer or by a manufacturer or wholesaler who delivers the property to the purchaser on behalf of the dealer. When the item of tangible personal property is delivered within a county not imposing a surtax, the dealer is not required to collect surtax.
1. Example: A dealer in County A (a county not imposing a surtax) sells a washing machine to the purchaser, who takes possession of the washing machine at the dealer’s location in County A. The purchaser then takes the washing machine to a location within County B (a county imposing a 1% surtax). The sales transaction occurs in County A. The selling dealer is required to collect sales tax on the sales price of the washing machine at the rate of 6% and is not required to collect surtax. No surtax is due by the purchaser or the seller when the washing machine is taken to County B.
2. Example: A dealer in County A (a county imposing a 1% surtax) sells a washing machine to a purchaser and delivers the washing machine to a location in County B (a surtax county imposing a 1/2% surtax). The sales transaction occurs in County B. The selling dealer is required to collect sales tax and surtax on the sales price of the washing machine at the rate of 6 1/2% (6% state sales tax and 1/2% surtax).
3. Example: A retail dealer of office equipment in County A (a county imposing a 1/2% surtax) sells office equipment to a customer in County B (a county imposing a 1% surtax). The retail dealer in County A has the out-of-state manufacturer of the office equipment deliver the equipment to the customer in County B. The transaction occurs in County B, where the delivery to the customer is made. The retail dealer in County A is required to collect sales tax and surtax on the sales price of the office equipment at the rate of 7% (6% state sales tax and 1% surtax).
(b) When a florist who takes the original customer order to sell tangible personal property is located within a surtax county, the florist is required to collect surtax at the rate imposed where the florist is located. Florists are not required to collect surtax when they deliver tangible personal property to a location within a surtax county for another florist who received the original customer order.
(c) The sale of subscriptions to a newspaper, newsletter, magazine, or other periodical that is delivered to the customer by a carrier or by means other than by mail, such as home delivery, is subject to surtax when delivery of the publication is made to a location within a surtax county. The sales of subscriptions to periodicals that are delivered to a customer by mail are exempt. See Rule 12A-1.008, F.A.C., for the requirements to collect and remit sales tax on sales of periodicals and sales of subscriptions to periodicals.
(5) MAIL-ORDER SALES.
(a) A dealer who makes mail-order sales, as defined in Rule 12A-1.103, F.A.C., is required to collect surtax at the rate imposed by the surtax county where the taxable item of tangible personal property is delivered when:
1. The mail order is placed through a dealer’s location within a surtax county and received by the dealer in another state; and
2. The item is delivered to a location within a surtax county.
(b)1. Example: A multi-state company has stores in Florida located in surtax counties and in counties that do not impose a surtax. A purchaser places a mail order with the company’s mail-order division at the dealer’s location in County A (a county imposing a 1% surtax). The out-of-state mail-order division ships the merchandise to purchaser’s residence in County B (a county not imposing a surtax). Although the company has stores within a surtax county and the order is placed through the dealer’s location within a surtax county, the item is not delivered within a surtax county. The selling dealer is not required to collect surtax.
2. Example: A multi-state company has stores in Florida located in surtax counties and in counties that do not impose a surtax. A purchaser places a mail order with the company’s mail-order division at the dealer’s location in County A (a county imposing a 1% surtax). The mail-order division ships the item to a residence in County B (a county imposing a 1/2% surtax). The transaction occurs in County B. The selling dealer is required to collect sales tax and surtax on the sales price of the merchandise at the rate of 6 1/2% (6% state tax and 1/2% surtax).
(6) SERVICES.
(a) When a dealer sells a taxable service, and delivery of the service, or tangible personal property representing a taxable service, is made to a location within a surtax county, the dealer is required to collect surtax at the rate imposed in the county where the services are provided or where the tangible personal property representing the services is delivered. If there is no reasonable evidence of delivery of a service, the sale of a service occurs in the county in which the purchaser accepts the invoice for services rendered.
(b)1. Example: A dealer in County A (a county not imposing a surtax) sells nonresidential cleaning services to a purchaser in County B (a surtax county imposing a 1% surtax) and performs those services at a location in County B. The service transaction occurs within County B. The selling dealer is required to collect sales tax and surtax on the sales price of the service at the rate of 7% (6% state sales tax and 1% surtax).
2. Example: A dealer in County A (a county imposing a 1/2% surtax) sells burglar monitoring services to a location in County B (a surtax county imposing a 1% surtax). The burglar monitoring service monitors the alarms at the purchaser’s location in County B. The service transaction occurs within County B. The dealer is required to collect sales tax and surtax on the sales price of the service at the rate of 7% (6% state sales tax and 1% surtax).
3. Example: A dealer in County A (a county imposing a 1% surtax) sells armored car service to a bank in County B (a surtax county imposing a 1/2% surtax). The armored car service is provided to the bank’s branches located in different counties and to the main bank. Under this example, the armored car service provider cannot reasonably allocate the service provided to each county. The main bank located in County B receives the invoice for services rendered. Therefore, the service transaction occurs within County B. The dealer is required to collect sales tax and surtax on the sales price of the services at the rate of 6 1/2% (6% state sales tax and 1/2% surtax).
(7) SERVICE WARRANTIES.
(a) Any dealer who receives consideration for the issuance of a service warranty from the agreement holder is required to collect surtax at the rate imposed by the county where the tangible personal property indemnified by the service warranty is delivered or located.
(b)1. Example: The person receiving consideration for a service warranty is located in County A (a county imposing a 1% surtax). The service warranty covers a refrigerator sold in County A and delivered in County B (a county imposing a 1.5% surtax). The person receiving consideration for the service warranty is required to collect sales tax and surtax on the sales price of the service warranty at the rate of 7.5% (6% state sales tax and 1.5% surtax).
2. Example: The person receiving consideration for the issuance of a service warranty is located in County A (a county imposing a 1% surtax). The service warranty covers a television located within County B (a county not imposing the surtax). The person receiving consideration for the service warranty is required to collect sales tax on the sales price of the service warranty at the rate of 6%. The person receiving the consideration is not required to collect surtax.
3. Example: The person receiving consideration for the issuance of a service warranty is located in County A (a county not imposing a surtax). The service warranty covers a motor vehicle, and the resident address of the owner identified on the title document is located in County B (a county imposing a 1% surtax). The person receiving consideration for the service warranty is required to collect sales tax and surtax on the sales price of the service warranty at the rate of 7% (6% state sales tax and 1% surtax).
(8) ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITIES.
(a) When a dealer sells electricity or natural or manufactured gas to a consumer located within a surtax county, the dealer is required to collect surtax at the rate imposed by the county where the consumer is located. See Rule 12A-1.060, F.A.C.
(b) Any dealer who provides electricity or natural or manufactured gas to consumers located within a surtax county is required to register for sales tax purposes in each surtax county in which its consumers are located.
(9) REAL PROPERTY AND TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS.
(a) When real property that is leased, rented, or upon which a license for use is granted is located within a surtax county, surtax on the rental or license payment is due at the rate imposed within the surtax county.
(b) When any transient accommodation is located within a surtax county, surtax is due at the rate imposed within the surtax county.
(c) The owner of real property or a transient accommodation that is leased, rented, or upon which a license for use is granted or the owner’s representative is required to collect surtax at the rate imposed by the surtax county where the real property or transient accommodation is located.
(10) USE TAX.
(a) Any person who is not required to be a registered dealer but who owes use tax on tangible personal property purchased out-of-state, in another country, or through mail-order firms or the Internet is not required to pay surtax when paying the applicable use tax to the Department.
(b) Any person who purchases tangible personal property and pays the selling dealer the applicable sales tax and surtax due at the time of sale is not required to pay any additional surtax when the item of tangible personal property is later used within a surtax county imposing a surtax at a rate higher than the rate imposed at the time of sale.
(c) Any person, located within a surtax county, who owes use tax on newspapers, magazines, or other publications it produces for its own use or purchases without paying the applicable sales tax due is required to accrue and remit sales tax and surtax at the rate imposed by the surtax county where the publications are used. See Rule 12A-1.008, F.A.C.
(d) A dealer who is registered with the Department and who is required to pay use tax directly to the Department shall pay surtax in the following manner:
1. When tangible personal property is purchased, leased, or rented outside Florida for use in a surtax county, the dealer is required to pay surtax at the rate imposed by the surtax county where the tangible personal property is used.
2. When a dealer is authorized by the Department to accrue use tax on the lease, rental, or license to use real property located within a surtax county, the dealer is required to pay surtax at the rate imposed by the surtax county where the property is located.
3. When a dealer is required to pay use tax on services and when the primary benefit of the service is used or consumed within a surtax county, the dealer is required to pay surtax at the rate imposed by that surtax county, as provided in subsection 12A-1.0161(2), F.S.
4. For surtax due on the fabrication of items of tangible personal property by real property contractors for use in performing contracts, see Rule 12A-15.008, F.A.C.
(e)1. Example: A purchaser of tangible personal property in County A (a surtax county imposing a 1% surtax) has received authority from the Department to self-accrue and remit the state sales and use tax directly to the Department. The purchaser issues a copy of its direct pay permit to the seller of the property relieving the seller from the responsibility of collecting and remitting state sales tax on the transaction. The purchaser must self-accrue and pay sales tax and surtax at the rate of 7% (6% state use tax and 1% surtax).
2. Example: A dealer in County A (a surtax county imposing a 1% surtax) purchases office supplies from an out-of-state dealer that is not registered with Florida to collect sales tax. The purchasing dealer is required to pay use tax and surtax at the rate of 7% (6% state use tax and 1% surtax).
3. Example: A dealer purchases office supplies at the selling dealer’s location in County A (a county not imposing a surtax) and takes possession of the supplies at the dealer’s location. The dealer pays the applicable 6% sales tax to the selling dealer. The purchaser immediately transports the office supplies to the purchaser’s business location in County B (a county imposing a 1% surtax). Florida sales tax has been properly collected on the office supplies, and no use tax is due; therefore, no additional surtax is due when the office supplies are used by the purchaser in the surtax county.
Rulemaking Authority 212.17(6), 212.18(2), 213.06(1) FS. Law Implemented 212.05(1), 212.0506, 212.054, 212.055, 212.0596, 212.06(1), (2), (4), (6), (8), (10), 212.07(8), 212.18(3), 212.183 FS. History–New 12-11-89, Amended 1-30-91, 5-12-92, 8-10-92, 11-16-93, 3-20-96, 6-19-01, 10-2-01, 4-17-03, 5-28-06.
