
Tourist Development Tax
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5/1/2007
the tourist tax rate increased to 4%. This is in addition to
the 7% state sales tax paid to the Florida Department of Revenue. |
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General
Information
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Forms |
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TOURIST
DEVELOPMENT TAX REPORTS |
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Current Collection Reports
(Collections as of 6/30/2008) |
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Publications |
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Location Report
(Compares collections in geographic
locations by report period for current fiscal year)
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What is the Tourist
Development Tax?
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| The tourist
development tax is a 4% (effective 5/1/07) charge on the revenue from rentals of six months
or less. This tax is in addition to the state sales tax (7% in
Sarasota County). The state sales tax is sent to the Florida
Department of Revenue. The 4% tourist development tax is sent to the
Sarasota County Tax Collector |
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What
is a taxable rental? |
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What
is a transient accommodation? |
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How is the Tourist Tax
is Used?
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| The greatest percentage of revenue
is used for beach maintenance, preservation, restoration, erosion control
and capital improvements. Funds are also used to advertise and promote
tourism in Sarasota County as well as funding grants for cultural and fine
arts entertainment, festivals, programs and activities which promote
Sarasota County tourism. For more information contact Sarasota County
Fiscal Planning and Budget office at (941) 861-5294. |
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How do I collect the
tax from my tenants?
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| First, you must register. A
registration form can be obtained from the Sarasota County Tax Collector.
An application must also be obtained from the Florida Department of
Revenue for the collection of state sales tax. The Department of Revenue
can be contacted at 1-800-FLA-DOR1 (1-800-352-3671) or locally at
361-6001. |
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Registration
Information |
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When is the Tax due?
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The tourist development tax is due
to the Tax Collector’s office by the 20th day of the month following the
collection. If the postmark is the 21st day of the month or after,
delinquent interest and penalties must be added. The reporting month is
the month in which the rent is collected.
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Who Must Pay?
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| Any person who
rents or leases any accommodation for six months or less must pay 11%
(state sales tax and tourist development tax) on the rent payment. This
tax applies to hotels, motels, apartment buildings, single or multi-family
dwellings, mobile home parks, condominiums and vessels. |
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What
Happens if the Renter Doesn't Pay the Tax? |
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Who is Exempt?
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Anyone who has entered into a bona
fide written lease in excess of six months is exempt from sales tax and
tourist development tax on the lease payments.
If there is no written agreement,
the owner is required to collect and remit the state sales tax and tourist
development tax for the first six months. The seventh month and every
month thereafter will be exempt provided the renter continues to reside at
the same location.
Anyone who is exempt from paying
state sales tax is also exempt from the tourist development tax. These
exemptions include full-time students, active duty military personnel,
churches and non-profit organizations that have a sales tax exemption
number from the Florida Department of Revenue. Contact the Tax
Collector’s Office for further information. |
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What
is a bona fide written lease? |
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What do owners
receive for collecting the tax?
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| Owners are entitled to keep 2.5% of
the tourist tax collected (maximum of $30.00) as compensation for this
service. This collection allowance is subtracted from the tax on the
return form - only the difference is paid to the tax collector’s office. |
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What happens if the tax
becomes delinquent?
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| If the return and payment are not
postmarked by the 20th of the month following the reporting period, the
collection allowance is forfeited. In addition, penalty and interest are
assessed. The penalty is 10% of the tax due for each delinquent month or fraction of
a month. The minimum penalty is $50. The interest rate is variable.
You will need to contact our office at (941) 861-8383 for instructions. |
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What records must be kept?
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| Any business dealing in
guest/tenant/ transient accommodations is responsible for collecting and
remitting this tax and for maintaining records such as guest checks,
general ledgers, tax payments and federal income tax returns. All tourist
development tax records must be kept for five years and made available for
audit at the place of business. Any records located outside the county
must be returned to the audit site prior to an audit. |
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What
about records maintained outside Sarasota County? |
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How
long do I have to keep the records? |
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Are
my tax records confidential? |
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If I rent my
property, what else must I do?
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Tangible Personal Property Tax
In addition to collecting the 4% (effective
5/1/07) tourist tax and the
7% state sales tax, an owner is required to pay tangible personal property
taxes annually on the value of the rental furnishings. A return is filed
each year with the Property Appraiser’s Office declaring the value of
the furnishings and appliances. Any questions about filing a tangible tax
return can be directed to the Property Appraiser’s Office at (941)
861-8200. The tangible tax bills are mailed each year in November at the
same time as the real estate tax bills.
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Local Business Tax - formerly known as
Occupational License
(click here for more
information)If a rental unit is available for
rent for one month or less at a time, the owner is required to pay a
Local Business Tax
(formerly known as an Occupational License) at the Tax Collector’s Office.
The tax for a rental unit is $1.57 per sleeping room, with a
minimum of $15.75. Registration for the Local Business Tax is available at
the Tax Collector’s office. If your property is located in the city
limits, you may also need a city occupational license. Contact your city hall for more
information.
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What if I sell or no
longer rent the property?
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| If you sell or no
longer rent property, please notify the Tax Collector and the Property
Appraiser immediately. |
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