The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Community Affairs
BILL: SB 1030
INTRODUCER: Senator Rodriguez
SUBJECT: Taxation
DATE: January 12, 2024
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Hackett Ryon CA Pre-meeting
2. FT
3. AP
I. Summary:
SB 1030 makes various changes to statutes relating to the Department of Revenue (Department).
The bill:
Deletes obsolete language referring to pollutants tax registration fees;
Revises administration of certain taxes related to the purchase of boats, trailers, and aircrafts;
Allows the Department to reopen a final assessment for the purpose of adjusting liability
under certain circumstances;
Allows the Department to include all taxes, penalties, interest, costs, and fees authorized by
law in a garnishment or levy;
Increases the threshold for underpayment penalties on corporate income tax; and
Provides rulemaking and emergency rulemaking authority.
The bill also permits counties and school boards to forego imposing local discretionary sales
surtaxes on commercial rent.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
II. Present Situation:
The present situation for each issue is described below in Section III, Effect of Proposed
Changes.
REVISED: BILL: SB 1030 Page 2
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Pollutants Tax Registration Fees
Current Situation: Any entity intending to produce or import pollutants, liquid commodities
made from petroleum products, pesticides, ammonia, chlorine, perchloroethylene, or solvents,
1
must register and become licensed to do so.
2
Statute provides that an entity must pay a $30
registration fee when requesting a pollutants tax license.
3
However, these registration fees were
previously repealed.
4
Proposed Changes: Section 1 amends s. 206.9931, F.S., to remove obsolete language related to
pollutants tax registration fees.
Local Discretionary Sales Surtax on Commercial Rentals
Present Situation: In addition to the state sales and use tax, s. 212.055, F.S., authorizes counties
and school boards to impose nine local discretionary sales surtaxes.
5
A surtax applies to “all
transactions occurring in the county which transactions are subject to the state tax imposed on
sales, use, services, rentals, admissions, and other transactions by [ch. 212, F.S.], and
communications services as defined in ch. 202”
6
The discretionary sales surtax is based on the
tax rate imposed by the county where the taxable goods or services are sold, or are delivered.
Sales Tax on Commercial Rent
Since 1969, Florida has imposed a sales tax on the total rent charged for the rental, lease, or
license to use commercial real property.
7
Sales tax is due at the rate of 4.5 percent of the total
rent paid
8
and local discretionary sales surtaxes may apply.
9
If the tenant makes payments such
as mortgage, ad valorem taxes, or insurance on behalf of the property owner, such payments are
also classified as rent and are subject to the tax.
10
Commercial real property includes land, buildings, office or retail space, convention or meeting
rooms, airport tie-downs, and parking and docking spaces. It also includes the granting of a
license to use real property for placement of vending, amusement, or newspaper machines.
However, there are several commercial rentals that are not subject to tax, including:
Rentals of real property assessed as agricultural.
1
Florida Dept. of Revenue, Pollutants Tax, available at https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/taxesfees/Pages/pollutants.aspx (last
visited Jan. 10, 2024).
2
Section 206.9931, F.S.
3
Id.
4
Chapter 2017-36 s.17, L.O.F.
5
These include the Charter County and Regional Transportation System Surtax, the Local Government Infrastructure Surtax,
the Small County Surtax, the Indigent Care and Trauma Center Surtax, the County Public Hospital Surtax, the School Capital
Outlay Surtax, the Voter-Approved Indigent Care Surtax, the Emergency Rescue Services and Facilities Surtax, and the
Pension Liability Surtax. See section 212.055, F.S.
6
Section 212.054, F.S.
7
Chapter 1969-222, Laws of Fla.
8
Section 212.031, F.S. See Reviser’s note.
9
Section 212.055, F.S.
10
Rule 12A-1.070, F.A.C. BILL: SB 1030 Page 3
Rentals to nonprofit organizations that hold a current Florida consumer's certificate of
exemption.
Rentals to federal, state, county, or city government agencies.
Properties used exclusively as dwelling units.
Public streets or roads used for transportation purposes.
11
Proposed Changes: Section 2 amends s. 212.031, F.S., to provide that a county or school board
imposing a discretionary sales surtax may exclude rent or license fees on commercial real
property from discretionary sales surtaxes. The exclusion must be approved by majority vote of
the members of the board of county commissioners or school board, and does not require
referendum approval. The exemption must be initiated on the January 1 following such approval.
Affidavit for Non-Resident Purchasers of Boats and Aircrafts
Current Situation: Nonresident purchasers of boats and aircraft are exempt from paying state
sales taxes. Among other requirements relating to the purchase and subsequent removal from the
state of the boat or aircraft, such purchasers are required to sign an affidavit attesting that they
have read the provisions of s. 212.05, F.S., in its entirety, in order to claim the exemption.
Section 212.05, F.S., is lengthy and includes many provisions that are not applicable to the
purchaser of a boat or aircraft.
Proposed Changes: Section 3 amends s. 212.05(1)(a)2.d., F.S., by removing the requirement that
a purchaser attests to having read statutory provisions and replacing that language with the
requirement that the nonresident purchaser complete an affidavit that affirms that the nonresident
purchaser qualifies for exemption from sales tax pursuant to s. 212.05(1)(a)2., F.S., and attesting
that the nonresident purchaser will provide the documentation required to substantiate the
exemption claimed under s. 212.05(1)(a)2., F.S.
Imposition of Surtax Limitation on the Purchase of Boats and Trailers
Present Situation: Local discretionary sales surtaxes may only be charged on the first $5,000 of
the sales amount of any item of tangible personal property.
12
If two or more taxable items are
sold to the same purchaser at the same time and would generally be sold in bulk or compromise
pieces of a unit, such items must be considered a single item.
13
Proposed Changes: Section 4 amends s. 212.054, F.S., to clarify that the sale of a boat and
corresponding boat trailer must be taxed as a single item when sold to the same purchaser, at the
same time, and in the same invoice.
11
See s. 212.031(1)(a)1.-13., F.S.
12
Section 212.054(2)(b)1., F.S.
13
Id. BILL: SB 1030 Page 4
Event Impacting Timely Audit Challenges
Current Situation: After a state audit
14
reaches its conclusion, a taxpayer may contest the legality
of any assessment or denial of refund of taxes and fees.
15
Such contest may be filed by circuit
court action or by petition under administrative law.
16
No action may be brought more than 60
days after the date the assessment becomes final.
17
Current law does not provide the Department
with the authority to reopen a final assessment for purposes of adjusting or compromising the
liability, other than to resolve the outstanding liability for collectability.
18
Proposed Changes: Section 5 creates s. 213.21(11), F.S., to provide that, following the
expiration of time for a taxpayer to challenge an assessment or a denial of a refund issued by the
Department, the Department may consider a request to settle or compromise any tax, interest,
penalty, or other liability under s. 213.21, F.S., if the taxpayer demonstrates that the failure to
initiate a timely challenge was due to:
The death or life-threatening injury or illness of the taxpayer or an immediate family
member of the taxpayer;
The death or life-threatening injury or illness of the responsible party that controlled,
managed, or directed the affected business entity;
Acts of war or terrorism; or
Natural disasters, fire, or other catastrophic loss.
The Department may not consider a request received more than 180 days after the expiration of
time allowed under s. 72.011, F.S. Any decision by the Department regarding a taxpayer’s
request to compromise or settle a liability under this subsection is not a final order subject to
review under ch. 120, F.S.
Garnishment
Present Situation: The Department has the authority to issue a levy upon credits, other personal
property, or debts belonging to a delinquent taxpayer.
19
The Department may levy for any taxes,
penalties, and interest; however, the Department does not have the authority to levy for fees (e.g.,
administrative collection processing fee, warrant filing fees, or any other fee or cost that might
be enacted into the Florida Statutes), additional daily accrued interest, or the authority to issue
notices to levy (garnishments) by electronic means.
20
As a result, the Department typically
continues with collection efforts for these additional fees after the initial levy is complete.
Proposed Changes: Section 6 amends s. 213.67, F.S., to authorize the Department to include all
taxes, penalties, interest, costs, and fees authorized by law to be included in a garnishment or
levy, which has the effect of avoiding multiple collection efforts for additional amounts. The bill
allows the executive director of the Department, or his or her designee, to give notice of the
14
Section 72.011(1), F.S., refers and applies to many types of audits which the state may conduct.
15
Section 72.011, F.S.
16
Id.
17
Section 72.011(2)(a), F.S.
18
Section 213.21, F.S.
19
Section 213.67, F.S.
20
Id. BILL: SB 1030 Page 5
amount of such delinquency by certified mail. The bill also allows the Department to deliver its
notices of levy by certified mail, personal service, or electronic means.
Corporate Income Tax Extension Threshold
Present Situation: Florida levies a 5.5 percent tax on certain income of corporations and financial
institutions doing business in Florida.
21
Taxpayers may be granted up to 6 months of extensions
of time within which to file corporate tax returns, provided they have filed a tentative tax return
and paid the amount estimated to be the proper tax balance.
22
If the payment of tentative tax
underpays the actual balance due by more than the greater of $2,000 or 30 percent of the total tax
due, such extensions are invalidated, and the taxpayer may be liable for penalties due to late
payment.
23
Proposed Changes: Section 7 raises the dollar threshold for underpayment following extension
of time to file from $2,000 to $6,000.
Section 8 provides that the Department shall have emergency rulemaking authority to implement
this act.
Section 9 provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
Article VII, s. 18(b) of the Florida Constitution provides that except upon the approval of
each house of the Legislature by a two-thirds vote of the membership, the Legislature
may not enact, amend, or repeal any general law if the anticipated effect of doing so
would be to reduce the authority that municipalities or counties have to raise revenue in
the aggregate, as such authority existed on February 1, 1989. The section of the bill
regarding the combined sale of boats and trailers may have the effect in certain
jurisdictions, depending on current administration of these provisions, of collapsing two
sales into one, thus reducing discretionary sales surtax collections. The mandate
requirement does not apply to laws having an insignificant impact,
24
which for Fiscal
Year 2024-2025 is forecast at approximately $2.3 million.
25
The Revenue Estimating Conference has not reviewed the bill at this time.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
21
Section 220.11(2), F.S.
22
Sections 220.222(2) and 220.32, F.S.
23
Section 220.222(2)(c), F.S.
24
FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 18(d).
25
An insignificant fiscal impact is the amount not greater than the average statewide population for the applicable fiscal year
times $0.10. See FLA. SENATE COMM. ON CMTY. AFFAIRS, Interim Report 2012-115: Insignificant Impact (Sept. 2011),
available at: http://www.flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Session/2012/InterimReports/2012-115ca.pdf. BILL: SB 1030 Page 6
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
The bill provides that the sale of a boat and trailer together will be treated as a single
purchase, which may benefit taxpayers to the extent it changes administration of those
taxes.
The bill allows the Department to reopen audits under certain circumstances to consider
settlement, and raises the threshold before corporate taxpayers may face certain penalties.
These provisions may benefit taxpayers.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The provision related to the sale of a boat and trailer may reduce discretionary surtax
revenues to the extent it changes administration of those taxes.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
The bill substantially amends sections 206.9931, 212.031, 212.05, 212.054, 213.21, 213.67, and
220.222 of the Florida Statutes. BILL: SB 1030 Page 7
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.