Standard rate
The standard rate in Florida for sales tax for 2024 is 6%.
Reduced rate
The reduced rate in Florida for sales tax ranges for 2024 from 4% to 5.5%.
Sales of tax-free products and services
- If you transfer custom or electronic software, you do not need to pay sales tax.
- New machinery and equipment are not taxed in Florida.
Who must register sales tax in Florida
If you are selling in Florida, have nexus in Florida, and your buyers are required to pay sales tax, you must register to collect and pay sales tax in Florida.
Threshold
Starting July 1, 2021, Florida set a $100,000 sales threshold for remote sellers of tangible goods, requiring sales tax collection if this limit is exceeded. However, digital services and products (like streaming or software) are not taxable in Florida, so companies offering only digital services don’t need to register for sales tax unless they sell taxable physical goods.
Marketplace thresholds by state
The special rules are applicable to the SAAS business.
Software as Service Tax Thresholds by state.
Online Marketplaces
As of July 1, 2021, marketplace facilitators like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy are required to collect and remit sales tax on behalf of sellers using their platforms. These facilitators must collect sales tax on taxable items sold to Florida customers, regardless of the seller’s location. Marketplace sellers do not need to register separately for sales tax if all their sales are made through a platform that complies with this requirement.
Registration procedure
You can register online through the Florida Department of Revenue. The information required for registration is determined depending on the type of business.
Sales tax payment and filing date
Based on your tax liability, determine your filing frequency – either monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual:
- Annual – $100 or less;
- Semiannual – $101 – $500;
- Quarterly – $501 – $1,000;
- Monthly – More than $1,000.
Returns and payments are due the from 1st to 20 days of the month following each reporting period. If the 20th falls on a day off or state or federal holiday, returns are, timely if filed online, postmarked, or hand-delivered on the first workday following the 20th.
Penalty and interest
- Late Filing Penalty – 10% of any unpaid tax if failure is up to 30 days, and an additional 10% of any unpaid tax for each additional 30 days, or fraction thereof, not to exceed 50%.
Discounts
If you file online (e-file) your return and electronically pay (e-pay) tax in time, you are entitled to receive a collection allowance. The collection allowance is 2.5% (0.025 of the first $1,200 of the Amount Due (Line 10), not more than $30.
Florida Sales Tax Holiday
In Florida, there are several sales tax holidays scheduled for 2024:
Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday: This occurs twice in 2024, from June 1 to June 14 and from August 24 to September 6. It allows residents to purchase items like portable generators, tarps, batteries, and coolers without paying sales tax, helping them prepare for hurricane season.
Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday: This month-long holiday runs from July 1 to July 31. It covers a wide array of items including tickets to various events, state park admissions, boating and water activity supplies, camping gear, and more.
Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: Scheduled from July 29 to August 11, this holiday exempts sales tax on clothing, footwear, and backpacks costing $100 or less, school supplies priced at $50 or less, and personal computers or accessories priced at $1,500 or less.
Tool Time Sales Tax Holiday: This occurs from September 1 to September 7 and focuses on tools and equipment used by skilled trade workers, such as power tools, work boots, and safety equipment.
Florida Sales Tax Nexus
- Physical Nexus: Physical Nexus in Florida is established when a business has a physical presence in the state. This includes owning or leasing property, maintaining an office or place of business, or having employees or agents conducting business activities in Florida. Businesses meeting these criteria must register with the Florida Department of Revenue and comply with state tax regulations.
- Economic Nexus: Florida requires remote sellers to collect sales tax if they have made $100,000 or more in sales of taxable goods or services into the state in the previous calendar year. This rule applies to out-of-state sellers who do not have a physical presence but meet the economic threshold.