Blog Posts in Florida Hotel Industry

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  • FL Sales Tax Notice of Assessment Personal Liability: What is it and what to do!
    FL Sales Tax Notice of Assessment Personal Liability: What is it and what to do!

    If a business has any experience owing money to the Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR), then it likely knows that as an open business it faces a serious risk of having its bank account being frozen. ...

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  • FLORIDA SALES TAX AUDITS PROCESS AND TRAPS
    FLORIDA SALES TAX AUDITS PROCESS AND TRAPS

    The Florida Department of Revenue is increasing the amount of audits conducted and those being assessed. Many times, the Florida Department of Revenue makes an assessment and tells their victim that ...

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  • 2023 Florida Sales Tax Rate on Commercial Rent
    2023 Florida Sales Tax Rate on Commercial Rent

    2023 Florida Sales Tax Rate on Commercial Rent Florida is the only state in the United States to impose a sales tax on commercial rent. For years now, the state of Florida has considered itself at a ...

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  • FLORIDA SALES TAX AUDITS USING 1099-Ks
    FLORIDA SALES TAX AUDITS USING 1099-Ks

    As a business owner, you can be doing everything right with running your business. One day you may open your mail to find an audit notice from the Florida Department of Revenue. While fear may come to ...

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  • 2022 Florida Sales Tax Rate on Commercial Rent
    2022 Florida Sales Tax Rate on Commercial Rent

    NEED 2023 RATES? CLICK HERE Florida is the only state in the United States to impose a sales tax on commercial rent. For years now, the state of Florida has considered itself at a competitive ...

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  • STOP Collecting Hillsborough County 1% Sales Surtax
    STOP Collecting Hillsborough County 1% Sales Surtax

    On February 25, 2021, the Florida Supreme Court struct down Hillsborough County’s 1% surtax earmarked for transportation originally enacted in 2018. Business owners have been in a state of limbo ...

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  • 2021 Florida Sales Tax Commercial Rent
    2021 Florida Sales Tax Commercial Rent

    Looking for the 2022 Florida sales tax rate on commercial rent - CLICK HERE Florida is the only state in the United States to impose a sales tax on commercial rent. For years now, the state of Florida ...

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  • Are Gratuities Subject to Florida Sales Tax?
    Are Gratuities Subject to Florida Sales Tax?

    The taxability of gratuities depends on whether the gratuity is part of the sale of the good or service. The answer is not a simple yes or no, it’s more situational. Let’s look at two different ...

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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: How To Settle with the Tax Man - Part 1
    FL Sales Tax: How To Settle with the Tax Man - Part 1

    Understanding settlement authority of the Department of Revenue when there is doubt as to liability Part I of 2 The statutory framework for compromise of taxes, interest and associated penalties. This ...

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  • Florida Sales and Use Tax Audits
    Florida Sales and Use Tax Audits

    Things to know before starting a Florida sales and use tax audit A Florida sales and use tax audit can be a very stressful and complicated event. I would like to go over some basic facts you should be ...

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  • FL Sales and Use Tax Audits – Audit Notices Are Coming
    FL Sales and Use Tax Audits – Audit Notices Are Coming

    Everyone is aware that the recent pandemic has impacted businesses and the overall economy. This necessarily has impacted the amount of tax revenue going to the state of Florida and its counties. What ...

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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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  • FL DEPT OF REVENUE AUDIT VS LIMITED SCOPE AUDIT
    FL DEPT OF REVENUE AUDIT VS LIMITED SCOPE AUDIT

    The Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) has traditionally issued two different types of sales and use tax audit notices. These are the DR-840 “full” audit notice that was traditionally issued from a ...

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  • FL Sales and Use Tax for Pandemic Closed Business
    FL Sales and Use Tax for Pandemic Closed Business

    The coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone’s lives. Included in this, it has impacted Florida tax revenue and its businesses significantly. Tourism and the hospitality industry provide a ...

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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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  • FL DCA Says No Airbnb Tourist Development Tax
    FL DCA Says No Airbnb Tourist Development Tax

    The internet rental industry recently received an important victory relating to Tourist Development Tax. TDT is a tax, which can be imposed by counties, on persons who rent lodging accommodations for ...

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  • FL Sales Tax – Coronavirus Late Payment Forgiveness
    FL Sales Tax – Coronavirus Late Payment Forgiveness

    The Florida Department of Revenue just announced a small bit of tax relief for businesses affected by the economic effects coronavirus pandemic. Big picture, the Florida Department of Revenue will ...

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  • FL DOR – Prosecuting Criminally Based on IRS 1099 Data
    FL DOR – Prosecuting Criminally Based on IRS 1099 Data

    Business owners and managers are required to collect and remit sales tax for transactions subject to sales tax in Florida. We routinely hear from business owners who are behind in sales tax. This ...

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  • New Taxpayer Favorable Doc Stamp Case - Part II
    New Taxpayer Favorable Doc Stamp Case - Part II

    Considering “consideration” in taxing mortgages, notes and other financial instruments, Part II. [i] Examining the decisions in 1701 Collins Miami Owner, LLC v Department of Revenue, Case Nos. 19-1879 ...

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  • FLORIDA SALES TAX RATE ON COMMERCIAL RENT 2020
    FLORIDA SALES TAX RATE ON COMMERCIAL RENT 2020

    Looking for 2021 sales tax rates on commercial rent? Click HERE. Florida is the only state in the nation that subjects commercial rent to sales tax, which puts Florida at a competitive disadvantage ...

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  • FL Tax Alert - New Taxpayer Favorable Doc Stamp Case
    FL Tax Alert - New Taxpayer Favorable Doc Stamp Case

    Considering “consideration” in taxing mortgages, notes and other financial instruments [i] Part I History and focus of the tax Florida imposes a tax on most real estate conveyances. Generally, it is ...

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  • Levy County FL - Tourtist Development Tax Rate Increased to 4%
    Levy County FL - Tourtist Development Tax Rate Increased to 4%

    The government finds ways to tax things multiple ways. Florida is no different. On the rental or lease of accommodations (e.g., hotels, motels, RV parks, etc.) for a term of six months or less, sales ...

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  • Pasco County Tourist Development Tax Reported to County: November 1, 2019
    Pasco County Tourist Development Tax Reported to County: November 1, 2019

    Effective November 1, 2019, Pasco County, Florida, will begin administering its local tourist development tax. Taxpayers will be required to report and pay their 4% tourist development taxes from the ...

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  • Shipping: An Overlooked Florida Sales Tax Exemption
    Shipping: An Overlooked Florida Sales Tax Exemption

    In a modern economy, virtually everything is purchased and sold over the internet. Even groceries can now be ordered on demand from local Whole Foods. While sales tax has always been a charge ...

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  • Technology: Overlooked Florida Sales Tax Exemption
    Technology: Overlooked Florida Sales Tax Exemption

    Technology and Florida’s sales and use tax laws have been playing a game of cat and mouse for decades. As new technology enters the market, Florida tries to capture that new technology under its ...

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  • FL Sales Tax: Occasional Isolated Sales Exemptions
    FL Sales Tax: Occasional Isolated Sales Exemptions

    Florida exempts both occasional sales and isolated sales from sales and use tax. While, most people are familiar with the principle that sales of tangible personal property at retail are subject to ...

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  • 2019 Hillsborough County Commercial Rent Tax Rate: 8.2%
    2019 Hillsborough County Commercial Rent Tax Rate: 8.2%

    Florida is the only state in the country to subject commercial rent to sales tax. There has been a push at the state level to lower and eventually repeal this tax, with the state tax rate on ...

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  • Florida Sales Tax: Nursing Homes
    Florida Sales Tax: Nursing Homes

    The purpose of this article is to discuss the Florida sales and use tax treatment for rent between (1) the nursing home and its landlord and (2) the nursing home and its tenants. A popular state for ...

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  • FL Sales Tax - GBR Case Holds DOR Rule Invalid
    FL Sales Tax - GBR Case Holds DOR Rule Invalid

    UPDATE: The FL DOR filed a notice of appeal in the GBR case. Stay tuned! The Florida Department of Revenue promulgates many administrative rules interpreting Florida’s Chapter 212 sales and use tax ...

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  • FL SALES TAX 10% PENALTY FOR LATE FILING
    FL SALES TAX 10% PENALTY FOR LATE FILING

    If you are registered with the Florida Department of Revenue (“Department”) for sales and use tax purposes, you most likely have a requirement to file a Sales and Use Tax Return, Form DR-15. ...

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  • Florida Notice of Final Assessment (NOFA) | FL Dept. of Revenue
    Florida Notice of Final Assessment (NOFA) | FL Dept. of Revenue

    The Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR) loves to send out mailings to taxpayers. In many cases, the FDOR’s computer system sends out the “good” news automatically when there is an amount that is due. ...

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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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  • FL Sales Tax vs Restaurant Management Agreements
    FL Sales Tax vs Restaurant Management Agreements

    Florida imposes sales tax on commercial rent. But did you know that the Florida Department of Revenue often takes the position that certain management agreements are commercial rentals subject to ...

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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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  • Disney Victorious in Property Tax Debate
    Disney Victorious in Property Tax Debate

    DISNEY EMERGES THE VICTOR IN PROPERTY TAX DEBATE, A WIN FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY APPRAISALS Property taxes represent one of the biggest areas of exposure for commercial property owners. Changing laws, ...

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  • Scholarship Donations in Lieu of FL Sales Tax on Rent?
    Scholarship Donations in Lieu of FL Sales Tax on Rent?

    Does your business make donations to help fund scholarships? Does your business also pay sales tax on commercial rent? As of October 1, 2018, Florida businesses can apply to reduce the sales tax on ...

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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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  • FL Reemployment Tax: An Employer's Perspective, Part II
    FL Reemployment Tax: An Employer's Perspective, Part II

    An Employer’s Perspective: Florida “Reemployment Tax” aka, Unemployment Tax, Part II By James F. McAuley, Esq. BCS. Introduction Part I of this article focused on how an employer can distinguish ...

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  • RESTAURANT FLORIDA SALES TAX HANDBOOK
    RESTAURANT FLORIDA SALES TAX HANDBOOK

    FLORIDA SALES TAX ON RESTAURANTS Restaurant owners and managers know the challenges of daily operations. From the stresses of employees being unable to make a shift to ensuring you have enough product ...

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  • FLORIDA SALES TAX ATTORNEYS and CPAs - Moffa Sutton Donnini
    FLORIDA SALES TAX ATTORNEYS and CPAs - Moffa Sutton Donnini

    If your business has a sales tax problem with the Florida Department of Revenue, then you DON’T want to hire a “tax resolution” firm that specializes in IRS collections work. You want a law firm whose ...

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  • Cleaning Services Are Taxable In Florida
    Cleaning Services Are Taxable In Florida

    It happens more often then I’d like. Despite a long day at the office, a last minute phone call or email has kept me at work until my car is the only one I see in the parking lot when I leave. But ...

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  • Florida FINALLY Reduces the Sales Tax on Commercial Rent
    Florida FINALLY Reduces the Sales Tax on Commercial Rent

    Effective January 1, 2018, Florida has (finally) reduced the sales tax rate on commercial rent. Because Florida is the only state in the country that has a sales tax on commercial rent, many people ...

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  • FL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION RISKED RENTING ON AIRBNB
    FL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION RISKED RENTING ON AIRBNB

    Florida County Property Appraisers take hard line on the rental of property through the popular Airbnb service. It is a longstanding tradition for technology and law to be at odds. Technology moves at ...

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  • FL SALES TAX AUDIT - HOTELS & EXTENDED STAY MOTELS
    FL SALES TAX AUDIT - HOTELS & EXTENDED STAY MOTELS

    Are you a hotel owner/operator facing a Florida sales tax audit? Did you try to handle the audit yourself thinking nothing was wrong? Or have you heard enough horror stories about sales tax audits ...

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  • NURSING HOME SALES TAX REFUND ON ELECTRICITY
    NURSING HOME SALES TAX REFUND ON ELECTRICITY

    NURSING HOME SALES TAX REFUND ON ELECTRICITY When thinking of assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and the like, memories of friends and loved ones living there are brought to mind. ...

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  • FL TAXABLE RENTAL VS NONTAXABLE SERVICE
    FL TAXABLE RENTAL VS NONTAXABLE SERVICE

    FL TAXABLE RENTAL VS NONTAXABLE SERVICE We have been getting an usually high number of calls from companies that are being audited and assessed Florida sales tax when using equipment to provide a ...

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  • ARE CLEANING SERVICES TAXABLE IN FLORIDA?
    ARE CLEANING SERVICES TAXABLE IN FLORIDA?

    ARE CLEANING SERVICES TAXABLE IN FLORIDA? I get calls several times a month from nervous owners of cleaning companies and suspicious customers of cleaning companies, both asking the same question: Are ...

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  • Even Walt Disney Wants to Pay Less Property Tax
    Even Walt Disney Wants to Pay Less Property Tax

    Every year, millions of people come to Central Florida to experience the magic of the theme parks. Tourist dollars roll in, and an entire industry exists to cater to those who descend on the sunshine ...

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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 Taxpayer Wins! Reservation & Cleaning Fees NOT Taxable!
    FL Taxpayer Wins! Reservation & Cleaning Fees NOT Taxable!

    Florida’s hotel reservation industry claimed another victory this week against the county Tourist Development Tax and Florida Sales Tax. This time we were dealing with Sarasota County trying to impose ...

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  • 2016 FL SALE TAX RESALE CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD NOW
    2016 FL SALE TAX RESALE CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD NOW

    If your business buys products or materials in Florida to resell, then having a Florida Department of Revenue issued annual resale certificate is an essential part of your business. The resale ...

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  • FL Sales & Use Tax Audits - The Sunshine State Exempts a Solar Energy System
    FL Sales & Use Tax Audits - The Sunshine State Exempts a Solar Energy System

    Despite Florida's rainy and occasionally cloudy summers, the Sunshine State provides residents the opportunity to "go green" with its abundantly available sunshine for alternative energy purposes. To ...

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  • BRANDON FL RESTRAUNT OWNER ARRESTED FOR SALES TAX
    BRANDON FL RESTRAUNT OWNER ARRESTED FOR SALES TAX

    BRANDON RESTAURANT OWNER – FACING 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SALES TAX THEFT On July 23, 2015, [ name omitted ], former owner of BCGB Unit 1, Inc. (doing business as Big City Grill Co.), located at 2490 ...

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  • FL REEMPLOYMENT TAX AUDT: INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR vs EMPLOYEE
    FL REEMPLOYMENT TAX AUDT: INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR vs EMPLOYEE

    Florida Reemployment Tax Audit The Big Question: Employee or Independent Contractor? Many employers classify employees as independent contractors to receive economic and business benefits, one of them ...

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  • FL SALES TAX + MERGER = COMPLICATIONS
    FL SALES TAX + MERGER = COMPLICATIONS

    CARE FOR A MERGER? THINK ABOUT SALES TAXES 1 ST ! Business owners often elect to consolidate their businesses through some form of a corporate merger. Although there are several essential aspects to ...

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  • INTERIOR DESIGNERS: FL SALES TAX PLANNING
    INTERIOR DESIGNERS: FL SALES TAX PLANNING

    INTERIOR DESIGNERS: FL SALES TAX PLANNING The sales tax rules in Florida are, in whole, founded on a fairly simple notion—tax is imposed at a rate of 6% on the sale of tangible personal property (plus ...

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  • FL TAX - Online Travel Companies Win at Florida Supreme Court
    FL TAX - Online Travel Companies Win at Florida Supreme Court

    FL TAX – Online Travel Companies Win at Florida Supreme Court The never-ending national battle between the various counties and the Online Travel Companies (OTC's) over the Tourist Development Tax ...

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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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  • FL Sales Tax - Cash or Accrual Basis?
    FL Sales Tax - Cash or Accrual Basis?

    FL Sales Tax – Cash or Accrual Basis? While the age old question of what comes first – the chicken or the egg – gets much more press, the question of whether Florida sales tax should be accounted for ...

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  • IS RENT SUBJECT TO FLORIDA SALES TAX?
    IS RENT SUBJECT TO FLORIDA SALES TAX?

    FLORIDA SALES TAX ON RENT Many corporate attorneys advise their clients that own real estate, to segregate the business operations into its own legal entity separate from the real estate. The reason ...

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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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  • 2015 FLORIDA HOTEL TAX RATES BY COUNTY
    2015 FLORIDA HOTEL TAX RATES BY COUNTY

    Florida enjoys a very robust tourism industry with its beaches, fishing, diving, and a seemly endless supply of good restaurants, theme parks, and yes – hotels. Long before my time on earth, Florida's ...

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  • FL DOR Sales Tax Audits - Beware of Electronic Records Requests
    FL DOR Sales Tax Audits - Beware of Electronic Records Requests

    As has been noted by our firm and in other comments in articles and message boards, the FL DOR has experienced much attrition in its auditor ranks over the last few years. There are a number of ...

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  • JACKSONVILLE RESTAURANT OWNER - FACING 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SALES TAX THEFT
    JACKSONVILLE RESTAURANT OWNER - FACING 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SALES TAX THEFT

    JACKSONVILLE RESTAURANT OWNER – FACING 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SALES TAX THEFT On October 1, 2014, [ name omitted ], former owner of The Grape at St Johns Town Center, located at 10281 Midtown Parkway, ...

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  • FL SALES TAX - TAA 14A-020 - NAICS CODES VERSUS NONRESIDENTIAL CLEANING SERVICES
    FL SALES TAX - TAA 14A-020 - NAICS CODES VERSUS NONRESIDENTIAL CLEANING SERVICES

    FL SALES TAX – TAA 14A-020 - NAICS CODES VERSUS NONRESIDENTIAL CLEANING SERVICES Ever since the Department of Revenue began taxing "non-residential cleaning services" in the 1990's under Sec. ...

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  • FL DOR SALES TAX EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE MOBILE APP
    FL DOR SALES TAX EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE MOBILE APP

    FL DOR SALES TAX EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE MOBILE APP What do Angry Birds, Wonderlists, Starbucks, Groupon and the Florida Department of Revenue all have in common? As of a few weeks ago, they all have ...

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  • WHEN A CLOSED BUSINESS ISN'T CLOSED TO FL DOR
    WHEN A CLOSED BUSINESS ISN'T CLOSED TO FL DOR

    When a Closed Business Isn't Closed to the DOR According to the Small Business Administration, about 50% of businesses close within 5 years of starting. This means that a significant number of company ...

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  • FL DOR VS SEMINOLE TRIBE - INDIANS WIN SALES TAX CASE
    FL DOR VS SEMINOLE TRIBE - INDIANS WIN SALES TAX CASE

    DON'T MESS WITH THE SEMINOLES – FLORIDA LOSES SALES TAX CASE AGAINST SEMINOLES Few attorneys or tax professionals have heard of, let alone practice in the area of Native American Taxation. While ...

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  • ST PETERSBURG SALES TAX ATTORNEY | SALES TAX AUDIT HELP
    ST PETERSBURG SALES TAX ATTORNEY | SALES TAX AUDIT HELP

    ST PETERSBURG SALES TAX ATTORNEY | SALES TAX AUDIT DEFENSE If you are in the St Petersburg/Clearwater area and the Florida Department of Revenue is focused on your business or your client's business ...

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  • SARASOTA SALES TAX ATTORNEY | SALES TAX AUDIT
    SARASOTA SALES TAX ATTORNEY | SALES TAX AUDIT

    Sarasota Sales Tax Attorney | Sales Tax Audit Help If you are in the Sarasota/Bradenton area and the Florida Department of Revenue is focused on your business or your client's business for Florida ...

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  • ORLANDO SALES TAX ATTORNEY | SALES TAX AUDIT
    ORLANDO SALES TAX ATTORNEY | SALES TAX AUDIT

    Orlando Sales Tax Attorney | Sales Tax Audit If you are in the Orlando/Maitland area and the Florida Department of Revenue is focused on your business or your client's business for Florida sales and ...

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  • FL Supreme Court - Online Travel Company Hearings - 11:30 on April 30th
    FL Supreme Court - Online Travel Company Hearings - 11:30 on April 30th

    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 ...

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  • FLORIDA SALES & USE TAX AUDITS: DUELING PERSPECTIVES
    FLORIDA SALES & USE TAX AUDITS: DUELING PERSPECTIVES

    FLORIDA SALES & USE TAX AUDITS: DUELING PERSPECTIVES As one of the few Florida licensed attorneys to have ever worked as both a Sales and Use Tax Auditor for the Florida Department of Revenue (FL DOR) ...

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  • FL SALES AND USE TAX - AUDIT TIMELINE FROM THE DOR'S PERSPECTIVE
    FL SALES AND USE TAX - AUDIT TIMELINE FROM THE DOR'S PERSPECTIVE

    FL SALES AND USE TAX – AUDIT TIMELINE FROM THE DOR'S PERSPECTIVE Given how stealthily complex Florida sales and use tax can be for most businesses, a sales and use tax audit can be a very expensive ...

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  • FICPA - FL DOR LIAISON MEETING 2013 SUMMARY
    FICPA - FL DOR LIAISON MEETING 2013 SUMMARY

    FLORIDA BAR TAX SECTION / FL DOR LIAISON MEETING 2013 On November 14, 2013, about 40 members of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("FICPA") participated in a meeting with high ...

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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 BAR TAX SECTION / FL DOR LIAISON MEETING 2013
    FL BAR TAX SECTION / FL DOR LIAISON MEETING 2013

    FLORIDA BAR TAX SECTION / FL DOR LIAISON MEETING 2013 On October 25, 2013, about 17 members of the Florida Bar Tax Section met with high ranking officials from the Florida Department of Revenue ("FL ...

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  • FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - Leon County Loses Again
    FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - Leon County Loses Again

    EXPEDIA AND ORBITZ WIN AGAIN AGAINST FLORIDA COUNTIES Over the past year, there has been significant action on the controversy front involving the Online Travel Companies (OTC's) challenging the ...

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  • FLORIDA SALES TAX AUDIT HELP
    FLORIDA SALES TAX AUDIT HELP

    If your company received a Form DR-840 Notice of Intent to Audit Books and Records for Sales and Use Tax from the Florida Department of Revenue, then you probably have a lot of questions. Whether you ...

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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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  • COMPUTERS & TABLETS IN 2013 FL SALES TAX HOLIDAY!!!
    COMPUTERS & TABLETS IN 2013 FL SALES TAX HOLIDAY!!!

    COMPUTERS & TABLETS INCLUDED IN 2013 FL SALES TAX HOLIDAY!!! Most Florida residents and clothing retailers are familiar with that magic weekend every year when the Florida legislature and governor ...

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  • FL TAX ALERT: ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANY CASE CERTIFIED TO FL SUPREME COURT
    FL TAX ALERT: ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANY CASE CERTIFIED TO FL SUPREME COURT

    For the past two years, various counties in Florida have been battling the on-line travel companies for local tourist development taxes on the portion of the fee paid by hotel guests but never paid to ...

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  • FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - HUGE VICTORY for Online Travel Companies
    FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - HUGE VICTORY for Online Travel Companies

    FL tax controversy ALERT – HUGE VICTORY for Online Travel Companies Over the past year or so, there has been significant controversy in Florida involving the Online Travel Companies (OTC's) ...

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  • FL LITIGATION ALERT - COWBOYS (FL DOR) vs INDIANS
    FL LITIGATION ALERT - COWBOYS (FL DOR) vs INDIANS

    FL controversy Alert: Seminole Tribe Takes on Florida Department of Revenue Under Federal Native American Taxation Law Grounds Few attorneys or tax professionals practice in the area of Native ...

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  • 2013 FL SALES TAX RATES FOR HOTELS - BY COUNTY
    2013 FL SALES TAX RATES FOR HOTELS - BY COUNTY

    [Need 2015 Hotel Rates? Go HERE ] Sales and Use Tax Rates by County 1-Jan-13 Florida has a base tax rate of 6%. Local taxes are in addition to this base rate. Below is a list by County that includes ...

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  • FL LITIGATION ALERT - HOTELS LIABLE FOR TAX ON EXEMPT GUESTS
    FL LITIGATION ALERT - HOTELS LIABLE FOR TAX ON EXEMPT GUESTS

    Florida's largest industry is tourism, with hotels, restaurants, and car rentals being a constant source of revenue for both Florida's tourism industry as well as the state of Florida from the sales ...

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  • FL TAA ALERT- SALES TAX ON RENT - INVERSE PYRAMIDING?
    FL TAA ALERT- SALES TAX ON RENT - INVERSE PYRAMIDING?

    FLORIDA REAL PROPERTY LEASE FOR RE-LEASING - EXEMPT FROM SALES TAX? Arnold Palmer once said, "Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated." The same can be said of sales taxes and a recent ...

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  • DeFUNIAK SPRINGS HOTELIER FACES 15 YEARS FOR SALES TAX THEFT
    DeFUNIAK SPRINGS HOTELIER FACES 15 YEARS FOR SALES TAX THEFT

    DeFUNIAK SPRINGS HOTELIER FACES 15 YEARS FOR SALES TAX THEFT On October 2, 2012, Lawrence Wright, former owner of TW Hospitality, LLC was arrested by the Walton County Sheriff's Department on second ...

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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 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 LITIGATION ALERT - Online Travel Companies Win In Broward County
    FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - Online Travel Companies Win In Broward County

    EXPEDIA AND ORBITZ DEAL ANOTHER BLOW TO FLORIDA COUNTIES Over the past six months, there has been significant action on the controversy front involving the Online Travel Companies (OTC's) challenging ...

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  • FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - Online Travel Companies Win in Orange County
    FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - Online Travel Companies Win in Orange County

    EXPEDIA AND ORBITZ DEAL ANOTHER BLOW TO FLORIDA COUNTIES In the never-ending national battle between the various counties and the Online Travel Companies (OTC's) over the Tourist Development Tax, the ...

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  • FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - Online Travel Companies Successful in Leon County
    FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - Online Travel Companies Successful in Leon County

    In the ongoing battle between the various counties and the Online Travel Companies (OTC's) over the Tourist Development Tax, the OTC's won a major battle in Leon County on April 26, 2012. ...

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  • FL Condo/Transient Rental Industry - Sales and  Use Tax Issues and Savings Opportunities
    FL Condo/Transient Rental Industry - Sales and Use Tax Issues and Savings Opportunities

    The vacation rental market is a thriving and lucrative business here in Florida, and on a national level, that caters to seasonal residents and the tourism industry alike. Unfortunately, due largely ...

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  • FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - FL LEGISLATURE SUES ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES
    FL TAX LITIGATION ALERT - FL LEGISLATURE SUES ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES

    FL tax controversy ALERT – FL Legislature Sues ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES In early December 2011, I blogged about controversy involving Online Travel Companies (OTC's) such as Expedia, Travelocity, and ...

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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 UPDATE - ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES SETTLE WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY
    FL TAX LITIGATION UPDATE - ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES SETTLE WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY

    FLORIDA tax controversy UPDATE - ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES SETTLE WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY In early December 2011, I blogged about controversy involving Online Travel Companies (OTC's) such as Expedia, ...

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