FL Supreme Court - Online Travel Company Hearings – 11:30 on April 30th
UPDATE 5/2/2014: SEE A VIDEO OF THE 4/30/14 ORAL ARGUEMENTS HERE
It looks like the string of cases between various counties around Florida and the mega travel booking web sites Expedia and Travelocity have finally made it to the Florida Supreme Court. For those of your following the case, the first hearing will be on Wednesday April 30, 2014, at 11:30 AM. Alachua County, et al., v. Expedia, Inc., et al., SC13-838. These hearing are usually recorded, so we will provide you with a copy of the hearing as soon as it is available.
Quick Summary: Seventeen counties and four county tax collectors sued nine online travel companies, alleging the companies were not paying the full amount of a county tax on hotel occupancy. The companies argued they did not have to pay tax on the amount they kept as an intermediary in the reservation process because the tax was supposed to be levied on hotels rather than hotel guests. The trial court ruled for the online travel companies. So did the First District Court of Appeal, which also certified the legal question as one of great importance for this Court's review.
Our hats off to Mark Holcomb, Esq. of Madsen, Goldman, & Holcomb, LLP, who has been leading the legal fight against the overly aggressive counties, which hired contingency fee lawyers to wage this loosing battle.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
FL tax controversy ALERT – LEON COUNTY LOSES AGAIN, published August 24, 2013, by Jerry Donnini, Esq.
FL TAX ALERT: ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANY CASE CERTIFIED TO FL SUPREME COURT, published April 18, 2013, by James Sutton, CPA, Esq.
FL tax controversy ALERT – HUGE VICTORY FOR ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES, published March 1, 2013, by Jerry Donnini, Esq.
2013 FL SALES TAX RATES FOR HOTELS – BY COUNTY, published January 17, 2013, by James Sutton, CPA, Esq.
FL controversy ALERT - HOTELS LIABLE FOR TAX ON EXEMPT GUESTS, published January 8, 2013, by James Sutton, CPA, Esq.
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS HOTELIER FACES 15 YEARS FOR SALES TAX THEFT, published October 8, 2013, by James Sutton, CPA, Esq.