Florida is just one of several Republican-led states trying to significantly cut or even abolish the property tax, including Illinois, Kansas, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Simplify the process with this Florida sales tax guide for a better idea of what tax to collect. Using a street address helps to ensure more accurate rates and calculations when compared to relying on broader geographic indicators. Engaging with tax professionals, such as accountants or tax planners specializing in Florida’s tax laws, can help individuals and businesses identify deductions, credits, and incentives to optimize tax liabilities.

• However, for businesses, you need to make sure you charge and pay the correct Florida sales tax rates in case you are selected for a Florida sales tax audit.
• She said roughly half the city’s residents are renters who wouldn’t get anything from the millage rate reduction.
• Florida collects state sales tax on most material purchases as well as on the rental of houses/apartments, rental of material goods, admissions fees, and services such as pest control and cleaning.
• Valid residency documentation includes a Florida driver’s license, vehicle license plate number or voter registration number.
• Capital gains from investments and dividends are not taxed at the state or local level, another by-product of Florida not having a personal income tax.

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

• “I think that property taxes have pinched a lot of people, and I think we got to do something about it,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Tampa.
• The homestead exemption will remain in place for as long as the spouse or joint tenant owns the property and maintains it as his or her permanent residence.
• This page provides an overview of the sales tax rates and laws in Florida.
• Hours after Carrico’s event, Mayor Donna Deegan told reporters her budget is about solving problems that residents care about while council members pressing for the millage cut are bowing to political pressure from state officials.
• This is our recommendation if you need an in-depth look into sales taxes.

This page provides an overview of the sales tax rates and laws in Florida. If you are a business owner and need to learn more about things like getting a sales tax permit, filing a sales tax return, or making tax-exempt purchases for resale see the Florida Sales Tax Handbook’s Table of Contents above. Florida also has some counties that charge a discretionary sales surtax (or county tax). That means the highest total Florida sales tax rate that can be charged is 7.5%. In many instances, this additional county tax only applies to the first $5,000 of a sale. If you split your time between Florida and another state that has a personal income tax, you must refer to the other state’s tax laws to determine whether you must pay income tax.

Sales tax exemption forms (as well as business sales tax id applications, sales tax returns, and the full Florida sales tax code) can be downloaded from the Florida Department of Revenue here . Others include expanding the property tax exemptions for disabled military veterans and to rein-in the tax increases local governments can impose on non-homesteaded properties, mostly rentals and commercial space. Certain nonprofits and financial institutions may be exempt from sales tax in Florida, including credit unions, 501(c) charitable organizations, and tax-supported schools, colleges, and universities.

So, depending on where you live, you can expect to pay a total sales tax rate of 7.5% for most purchases. Other items including gasoline, alcohol, and cigarettes are subject to various Florida excise taxes in addition to the sales tax. Property tax in Florida is a county tax that’s based on the assessed value of your home. Homes are appraised for market value as of Jan. 1 of each year by county appraisers. Further discounts are available to property owners with disabilities, veterans and active-duty military service members, disabled first responders and owners 65 years and older who meet certain qualifications.

Sales tax is added to the price of taxable goods or services and collected from the purchaser at the time of sale. The state won’t tax your pension or any other type of retirement income. Florida cannot eliminate property taxes in the state without introducing a constitutional amendment approved by 60 percent of voters. “I think that property taxes have pinched a lot of people, and I think we got to do something about it,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Tampa. “All I will say to that is, stay tuned. I’m already working with folks, we are crunching numbers, we’re doing all these different things. But you are going to have an opportunity to get this done in November 2026,” he added.

He then likened home ownership to car ownership, suggesting it should be taxed at “point of sale,” but then, apparently, maybe never again. In Orlando on Sept. 2, DeSantis laid out what he described as his “vision.” It began with, “Your personal home, we really believe, should not be subject to tax,” he said. “You buy a home, you own it outright, free and clear, and yet you have to continue to pony up money to the government, just for the courtesy of using your own property,” DeSantis said during an appearance earlier this year.

Vaping Taxes by State, 2025

The Florida Sales Tax is administered by the Florida Department of Revenue. You can learn more by visiting the sales tax information website at dor.myflorida.com. “Goods” refers to the sale of tangible personal property, which are generally taxable. “What I think taxpayers want from local governments is—we want education, 100 percent. We want law enforcement, fire and other first respondents. 100 percent. But we don’t need some of this stuff that’s been spent money on,” DeSantis said. The total tax collected is $470, which is the sum of the discretionary surtax ($50) and the statewide tax ($420). Florida sales tax registration is easy and you have a couple of options for doing so.

You can consult with the Florida Department of Revenue to find out more, as well as file a return online. For a list of local option transient rental taxes, visit the Department’s Local Option Taxes webpage. Retail florida tax rate sales taxes are an essential part of most states’ revenue toolkits, responsible for 24 percent of combined state and local tax collections. Florida has a 38.6 cents per gallon gas tax rate and a $1.339 cigarette excise tax rate. The State of Florida collects $4,339 in state and local tax collections per capita.

Who has to file Florida state taxes?

The Florida sales tax rate is 6% statewide for the sale of most taxable goods and services, but certain types of special purchases may have a different rate. For example, retail sales of new mobile homes are subject to a 3% sales tax rate instead of the statewide 6%. See the Florida Department of Revenue website for a list of special purchases and sales tax rates. Look up sales tax rates in Florida by ZIP code with the tool below.Note that ZIP codes in Florida may cross multiple local sales tax jurisdictions. For customers, sales tax is added automatically to your purchases, and there’s not much else you need to worry about. However, for businesses, you need to make sure you charge and pay the correct Florida sales tax rates in case you are selected for a Florida sales tax audit.