Blog Posts in Florida Alcohol Beverage & Tobacco

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  • FL DOR’s 2022 Legislative Package - VETOED
    FL DOR’s 2022 Legislative Package - VETOED

    On December 29, 2021, we began posting a series of articles concerning the Florida Department of Revenue’s Legislative Package that was known as SB 1382 “Tax Administration”. We posted a total of ...

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  • Part 3 - FL DOR's Bad Legislative Package 2022
    Part 3 - FL DOR's Bad Legislative Package 2022

    On December 29, 2021, we posted an article on our website entitled, “Florida DOR’s 2022 Legislative Package BAD for Florida Business”, which included a link to the twenty proposed ideas prepared by ...

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  • Florida – Restaurant Sales and Use Tax Audits
    Florida – Restaurant Sales and Use Tax Audits

    Businesses across the board have taken a huge hit as a result of COVID. This pandemic was and still continues to be something no one could have planned for that’s for sure. As restaurants reopen or ...

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  • FL SALES TAX AUDIT - UNDERSTANDING AUDITOR'S PERSPECTIVE
    FL SALES TAX AUDIT - UNDERSTANDING AUDITOR'S PERSPECTIVE

    If you get chosen to be audited by the Florida Department of Revenue you should understand how most auditors think and operate. Auditors are taught two main concepts that drive most audits. ALL ...

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  • FLORIDA SALES TAX AUDIT HELP
    FLORIDA SALES TAX AUDIT HELP

    There are a lot of firms out there claiming to be able to help you with your sales tax audit. Hiring someone to represent your company during a sales tax audit is a serious decision. You should ...

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  • FLORIDA SALES TAX BRACKET SYSTEM
    FLORIDA SALES TAX BRACKET SYSTEM

    If you or your client collect Florida sales tax and do not know about the “bracket system,” then you may have a potential costly problem waiting to be discovered during your next Florida sales and use ...

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  • FLORIDA SALES TAX INFORMAL WRITTEN PROTEST
    FLORIDA SALES TAX INFORMAL WRITTEN PROTEST

    If you are here reading about your right to file a FLORIDA SALES TAX INFORMAL WRITTEN PROTEST, then you have just been through a Florida sales and use tax audit, a mind numbing experience in which a ...

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  • Restaurant Basics to Avoid Sales and Use Tax Audits
    Restaurant Basics to Avoid Sales and Use Tax Audits

    As there are so many moving parts to running a business, especially a restaurant, proper sales tax collection is oftentimes overlooked. When restaurant owners call us and tell us they need help with ...

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  • JACKSONVILLE CONVENIENCE STORES GET SALES TAX AUDITS
    JACKSONVILLE CONVENIENCE STORES GET SALES TAX AUDITS

    If you are a convenience store owner, then you are most likely aware that the Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR) has been auditing your industry aggressively the last six or seven years. ...

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  • Florida Sales Tax - Voluntary Disclosure Program
    Florida Sales Tax - Voluntary Disclosure Program

    The purpose of this article is to discuss one of the most beneficial areas of Florida sales tax law – The Florida Voluntary Disclosure Program. Florida’s sales tax laws are endlessly complicated. ...

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  • FLORIDA CPAs - YOUR CLIENT OWES SALES TAX AND THEY WILL BLAME YOU
    FLORIDA CPAs - YOUR CLIENT OWES SALES TAX AND THEY WILL BLAME YOU

    Whether your client is obsessive about taxes, remits every penny of tax collected, or doesn’t even sell tangible personal property – I guarantee you that your client missed something that should have ...

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  • FL DBPR ABT DECLARES BLUNT WRAPS NOT TAXABLE!!!
    FL DBPR ABT DECLARES BLUNT WRAPS NOT TAXABLE!!!

    FLORIDA TOBACCO WHOLESALER UPDATE – DBPR DECLARES WRAPS NOT TAXBALE Following the Brandy’s decision on April 6, 2016, the taxing agency, Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Division of ...

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  • FL LITIGATION UPDATE - BLUNT WRAPS NOT TAXABLE IN FLORIDA
    FL LITIGATION UPDATE - BLUNT WRAPS NOT TAXABLE IN FLORIDA

    It would be an understatement to say our firm has been involved with Florida’s wholesale tobacco tax for several years. Since Micjo in 2012, the Florida wholesale tobacco tax area has been fraught ...

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  • BURDEN OF PROOF & PERSUASION IN FL TAX CASES
    BURDEN OF PROOF & PERSUASION IN FL TAX CASES

    Understanding the Burden of Proof and the Burden of Persuasion in Tax and Administrative Cases The best place to start to consider evidentiary issues concerning the burden of proof and the burden of ...

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  • FL Tax Audits - Taxpayer Bill of Rights Protects No Rights
    FL Tax Audits - Taxpayer Bill of Rights Protects No Rights

    FL Tax Audits – Taxpayer Bill of Rights Protects No Rights I have seen a lot of information and discussions about the IRS mistreating taxpayers. Being in Florida, this made me think of protections ...

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  • Florida ABT Pushes to Amend Florida Wholesale Tobacco Tax Law
    Florida ABT Pushes to Amend Florida Wholesale Tobacco Tax Law

    Florida ABT Pushes to Amend Florida Wholesale Tobacco Tax Law Taxpayers throughout the state of Florida have been in a never ending battle with Department of Business and Professional Regulation, ...

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  • FLORIDA DBPR ABT LOSES BLUNT WRAPS TAXABILITY CASE
    FLORIDA DBPR ABT LOSES BLUNT WRAPS TAXABILITY CASE

    Over the past few years, we have been writing updates dealing with tax issues in connection with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and ...

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  • WHERE IS MY 2015 FL SALES TAX RESALE CERTIFICATE?
    WHERE IS MY 2015 FL SALES TAX RESALE CERTIFICATE?

    For many business owners in Florida, their annual Florida resale certificate is a key component to a profitable business. If the business had to pay sales tax when buying inventory, then the company's ...

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  • 2014 FICPA DOR LIAISON MEETING SUMMARY
    2014 FICPA DOR LIAISON MEETING SUMMARY

    2014 FICPA DOR LIAISON MEETING For more than 30 years, the FICPA and the Florida Department of Revenue have meet once a year to discuss that state of affairs between our state's taxing authority and ...

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  • FL DOR CONTINUES C-STORE ONSLAUGHT FOR FLORIDA SALES TAX
    FL DOR CONTINUES C-STORE ONSLAUGHT FOR FLORIDA SALES TAX

    FL DOR CONTINUES C-STORE ONSLAUGHT FOR FLORIDA SALES TAX Since 2011, our firm has been writing and warning any business that sells beer, liquor, and/or cigarettes, that the Florida sales and use tax ...

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  • FL DOR Denying Your Sales Tax Registration?
    FL DOR Denying Your Sales Tax Registration?

    FL DOR Denying Your Sales Tax Registration? As a Florida sales and use tax attorney, it never ceases to amaze me the number of shocking stories I hear on a regular basis. Some stories are brought on ...

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  • FL TOBACCO DISTRIBUTOR UPDATE - ANOTHER REFUND OPPORTUNITY
    FL TOBACCO DISTRIBUTOR UPDATE - ANOTHER REFUND OPPORTUNITY

    FL TOBACCO DISTRIBUTOR UPDATE – ANOTHER REFUND OPPORTUNITY Just over two years ago, the well-known Micjo decision came down from the 2 nd District Court of Appeal. In Micjo, the court ruled that ...

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  • FL WHOLESALE TOBACCO TAX UPDATE - MIAMI HOOKAH SUES FL DBPR
    FL WHOLESALE TOBACCO TAX UPDATE - MIAMI HOOKAH SUES FL DBPR

    FL BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO TAXES UPDATE – MIAMI HOOKAH JUMPS ON BANDWAGON On February 1, 2012, a case named Micjo was decided that would change the alcohol and beverage tax world in Florida forever. Many ...

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  • FL DOR DISCLOSES CONFIDENTIAL TAXPAYER INFO?
    FL DOR DISCLOSES CONFIDENTIAL TAXPAYER INFO?

    FL DOR DISCLOSES CONFIDENTIAL TAXPAYER INFO? Our comrades in Tallahassee never cease to amaze. Apparently if your business gets behind in remitting sales tax, then the collections arm of the Florida ...

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  • SARASOTA PUB OWNER ARRESTED FOR SALES TAX
    SARASOTA PUB OWNER ARRESTED FOR SALES TAX

    On October 29, 2013, [ name omitted ], owner of O'Connor's Irish Pub Company dba The Irish Pub and Grille on Main, located 1359 Main St., Sarasota, Florida was arrested by the Sarasota County ...

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  • FL BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO TAXES UPDATE - GET YOUR REFUNDS!
    FL BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO TAXES UPDATE - GET YOUR REFUNDS!

    On February 1, 2012, a case was decided that would change the alcohol and beverage tax world in Florida. Many of you in the industry are familiar with the Micjo decision. In Micjo, the taxpayer did ...

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  • FL DOR REQUIRES TAX PAYMENT TO PROTEST AN ASSESSMENT
    FL DOR REQUIRES TAX PAYMENT TO PROTEST AN ASSESSMENT

    Our comrades in Tallahassee have crossed the line yet again. In a newly revised pamphlet given to taxpayers at the end of an audit, the Florida Department of Revenue is demanding taxpayers pay the ...

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  • CLOSE BUSINESS TO AVOID LARGE FL SALES TAX ASSESSMENT?
    CLOSE BUSINESS TO AVOID LARGE FL SALES TAX ASSESSMENT?

    CLOSE BUSINESS TO AVOID LARGE FL SALES TAX ASSESSMENT? Are you facing a large Florida sales tax assessment? Are you considering shutting your doors and walking away from your business to avoid the ...

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  • FLORIDA 2013 DISCRETIONARY SALES SURTAX RATES
    FLORIDA 2013 DISCRETIONARY SALES SURTAX RATES

    Florida's state 6% sales tax rate is the starting point for businesses and consumers to determine the proper sales tax rate to charge for the sale of tangible personal property in Florida. A majority ...

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  • FL TAX ALERT - LIQUOR STORE OWNERS TARGETED!!!!
    FL TAX ALERT - LIQUOR STORE OWNERS TARGETED!!!!

    LIQUOR STORE OWNERS ARE BEING AUDITED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AT UNPRECIDENTED LEVELS. HERE IS THE REASON WHY… If you own a liquor store (or convenience store) in Florida, then you have ...

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  • FL TAX - VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE CAN BE THE PERFECT SOLUTION
    FL TAX - VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE CAN BE THE PERFECT SOLUTION

    Upside Down with Your Florida Sales Tax? Why Not Voluntarily Disclose? During a down economic market, it is all too easy for a business to pay the power bill, employee salaries, rent, etc. and not ...

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  • FL RESTAURATEUR FACING 30 YEARS FOR SALES TAX THEFT
    FL RESTAURATEUR FACING 30 YEARS FOR SALES TAX THEFT

    CLEAWATER FL RESTAURANT OWNER FACES 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR 1ST DEGREE FELONY SALES TAX THEFT On September 5, 2012, [ name omitted ], former owner of The Venue Restaurant, located 2675 Ulmerton Road ...

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  • FL TAX ALERT - CONVENIENCE STORE OWNERS TARGETED!!!!
    FL TAX ALERT - CONVENIENCE STORE OWNERS TARGETED!!!!

    CONVENIENCE STORE OWNERS ARE BEING ASSAULTED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE. HERE IS THE REASON WHY… AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT If you or someone you know owns a convenience store in Florida, ...

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  • FT. MYERS BUSINESS OWNER ARRESTED FOR FAILING TO REMIT ONLY $8,000 IN SALES TAX COLLECTED
    FT. MYERS BUSINESS OWNER ARRESTED FOR FAILING TO REMIT ONLY $8,000 IN SALES TAX COLLECTED

    On July 31, 2012, Munaf M. Rashid was arrested by the Lee County's Sheriff's Department on a 3rd degree felony charge related to a mere $8,000 of collected but unremitted Florida sales tax, according ...

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  • FL DOR'S GREATEST WEAPON - REVOCATION OF DEALER'S SALES TAX CERTIFICATE
    FL DOR'S GREATEST WEAPON - REVOCATION OF DEALER'S SALES TAX CERTIFICATE

    One of the Florida Department of Revenue's ("FL DOR") weapons against business owners (and licensed professionals) in Florida is that if you do not agree to pay whatever tax the FL DOR claims you owe, ...

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  • CRIPPLING PENALTIES UNDER FLORIDA SALES AND USE TAX LAW
    CRIPPLING PENALTIES UNDER FLORIDA SALES AND USE TAX LAW

    People often talk about how complicated government regulation is getting these days and how it makes it very hard for businesses to operate in our great country. One would think that our government ...

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  • FL Tax Alert - ALCOHOL & TOBACCO RETAILERS BEWARE!
    FL Tax Alert - ALCOHOL & TOBACCO RETAILERS BEWARE!

    FL LEGISLATIVE ALERT - ALCHOHOL & TOBACCO RETAILERS BEWARE! A little noticed new law went into effect on May 31, 2011 that requires manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors who sell alcohol ...

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  • FL Tax Litigation Alert - FL 2nd DCA AB&T's Rules on Wholesale Sales Price Definition
    FL Tax Litigation Alert - FL 2nd DCA AB&T's Rules on Wholesale Sales Price Definition

    What was the AB&T Smoking? - FL 2 nd DCA Rules on AB&T's Wholesale Sales Price Definition When a taxpayer disagrees with an assessment by the Florida Department of Revenue ("FL DOR") or the Division ...

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