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1997 Florida Statutes
Sales, storage, use tax.
1212.05 Sales, storage, use tax.--It is hereby declared to be the legislative intent that every person is exercising a taxable privilege who engages in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail in this state, including the business of making mail order sales, or who rents or furnishes any of the things or services taxable under this chapter, or who stores for use or consumption in this state any item or article of tangible personal property as defined herein and who leases or rents such property within the state.
(1) For the exercise of such privilege, a tax is levied on each taxable transaction or incident, which tax is due and payable as follows:
(a)
1.
a. At the rate of 6 percent of the sales price of each item or article of tangible personal property when sold at retail in this state, computed on each taxable sale for the purpose of remitting the amount of tax due the state, and including each and every retail sale.
b. Each occasional or isolated sale of an aircraft, boat, mobile home, or motor vehicle of a class or type which is required to be registered, licensed, titled, or documented in this state or by the United States Government shall be subject to tax at the rate provided in this paragraph. The department shall by rule adopt any nationally recognized publication for valuation of used motor vehicles as the reference price list for any used motor vehicle which is required to be licensed pursuant to s. 320.08(1), (2), (3)(a), (b), (c), or (e), or (9). If any party to an occasional or isolated sale of such a vehicle reports to the tax collector a sales price which is less than 80 percent of the average loan price for the specified model and year of such vehicle as listed in the most recent reference price list, the tax levied under this paragraph shall be computed by the department on such average loan price unless the parties to the sale have provided to the tax collector an affidavit signed by each party, or other substantial proof, stating the actual sales price. Any party to such sale who reports a sales price less than the actual sales price is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. The department shall collect or attempt to collect from such party any delinquent sales taxes. In addition, such party shall pay any tax due and any penalty and interest assessed plus a penalty equal to twice the amount of the additional tax owed. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Revenue may waive or compromise any penalty imposed pursuant to this subparagraph.
2. This paragraph does not apply to the sale of a boat or airplane by or through a registered dealer under this chapter to a purchaser who, at the time of taking delivery, is a nonresident of this state, does not make his or her permanent place of abode in this state, and is not engaged in carrying on in this state any employment, trade, business, or profession in which the boat will be used in this state, or is a corporation none of the officers or directors of which is a resident of, or makes his or her permanent place of abode in, this state. This exemption shall not be allowed unless:
a. The purchaser removes a qualifying boat, as described in sub-subparagraph f., from the state within 90 days after the date of purchase or the purchaser removes a nonqualifying boat or an airplane from this state within 10 days after the date of purchase or, when the boat or airplane is repaired or altered, within 20 days after completion of the repairs or alterations;
b. The purchaser, within 30 days from the date of departure, shall provide the department with written proof that the purchaser licensed, registered, titled, or documented the boat or airplane outside the state. If such written proof is unavailable, within 30 days the purchaser shall provide proof that the purchaser applied for such license, title, registration, or documentation. The purchaser shall forward to the department proof of title, license, registration, or documentation upon receipt.
c. The purchaser, within 10 days of removing the boat or airplane from Florida, shall furnish the department with proof of removal in the form of receipts for fuel, dockage, slippage, tie-down, or hangaring from outside of Florida. The information so provided must clearly and specifically identify the boat or aircraft;
d. The selling dealer, within 5 days of the date of sale, shall provide to the department a copy of the sales invoice, closing statement, bills of sale, and the original affidavit signed by the purchaser attesting that he or she has read the provisions of this section;
e. The seller makes a copy of the affidavit a part of his or her record for as long as required by s. 213.35; and
f. Unless the nonresident purchaser of a boat of 5 net tons of admeasurement or larger intends to remove the boat from this state within 10 days after the date of purchase or when the boat is repaired or altered, within 20 days after completion of the repairs or alterations, the nonresident purchaser shall apply to the selling dealer for a decal which authorizes 90 days after the date of purchase for removal of the boat. The department is authorized to issue decals in advance to dealers. The number of decals issued in advance to a dealer shall be consistent with the volume of the dealer's past sales of boats which qualify under this sub-subparagraph. The selling dealer or his or her agent shall mark and affix the decals to qualifying boats in the manner prescribed by the department, prior to delivery of the boat.
(I) The department is hereby authorized to charge dealers a fee sufficient to recover the costs of decals issued.
(II) The proceeds from the sale of decals will be deposited into the administrative trust fund.
(III) Decals shall display information to identify the boat as a qualifying boat under this sub-subparagraph, including, but not limited to, the decal's date of expiration.
(IV) The department is authorized to require dealers who purchase decals to file reports with the department and may prescribe all necessary records by rule. All such records are subject to inspection by the department.
(V) Any dealer or his or her agent who issues a decal falsely, fails to affix a decal, mismarks the expiration date of a decal, or fails to properly account for decals will be considered prima facie to have committed a fraudulent act to evade the tax and will be liable for payment of the tax plus a mandatory penalty of 200 percent of the tax, and shall be liable for fine and punishment as provided by law for a conviction of a misdemeanor of the first degree, as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(VI) Any nonresident purchaser of a boat who removes a decal prior to permanently removing the boat from the state, or defaces, changes, modifies, or alters a decal in a manner affecting its expiration date prior to its expiration, or who causes or allows the same to be done by another, will be considered prima facie to have committed a fraudulent act to evade the tax and will be liable for payment of the tax plus a mandatory penalty of 200 percent of the tax, and shall be liable for fine and punishment as provided by law for a conviction of a misdemeanor of the first degree, as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(VII) The department is authorized to adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce this subparagraph and to publish the necessary forms and instructions.
(VIII) The department is hereby authorized to adopt emergency rules pursuant to s. 120.54(4) to administer and enforce the provisions of this subparagraph.
If the purchaser fails to remove the qualifying boat from this state within 90 days after purchase or a nonqualifying boat or an airplane from this state within 10 days after purchase or, when the boat or airplane is repaired or altered, within 20 days after completion of such repairs or alterations, or permits the boat or airplane to return to this state within 6 months from the date of departure, or if the purchaser fails to furnish the department with any of the documentation required by this subparagraph within the prescribed time period, the purchaser shall be liable for use tax on the cost price of the boat or airplane and, in addition thereto, payment of a penalty to the Department of Revenue equal to the tax payable. This penalty shall be in lieu of the penalty imposed by s. 212.12(2) and is mandatory and shall not be waived by the department. The 90-day period following the sale of a qualifying boat tax exempt to a nonresident may not be tolled for any reason.
(b) At the rate of 6 percent of the cost price of each item or article of tangible personal property when the same is not sold but is used, consumed, distributed, or stored for use or consumption in this state.
(c) At the rate of 6 percent of the gross proceeds derived from the lease or rental of tangible personal property, as defined herein, except the lease or rental of a commercial motor vehicle as defined in s. 316.003(66)(a) to one lessee or rentee for a period of not less than 12 months when tax was paid on the acquisition of such vehicle by the lessor, when the lease or rental of such property is an established business or part of an established business or the same is incidental or germane to such business.
(d) At the rate of 6 percent of the lease or rental price paid by a lessee or rentee, or contracted or agreed to be paid by a lessee or rentee, to the owner of the tangible personal property.
(e)
1. At the rate of 6 percent on charges for:
a. All telegraph messages and long-distance telephone calls beginning and terminating in this state, telecommunication service as defined in s. 203.012, and those services described in s. 203.012(2)(a), except that the tax rate for charges for telecommunication service is 7 percent.
b. Any television system program service.
c. The installation of telecommunication and telegraphic equipment.
d. Electrical power or energy, except that the tax rate for charges for electrical power or energy is 7 percent.
2. For purposes of this chapter, "television system program service" means the transmitting, by any means, of any audio or video signal to a subscriber for other than retransmission, or the installing, connecting, reconnecting, disconnecting, moving, or changing of any equipment related to such service. For purposes of this chapter, the term "telecommunication service" does not include local service provided through a pay telephone. The provisions of s. 212.17(3), regarding credit for tax paid on charges subsequently found to be worthless, shall be equally applicable to any tax paid under the provisions of this section on charges for telecommunication or telegraph services or electric power subsequently found to be uncollectible. The word "charges" in this paragraph does not include any excise or similar tax levied by the Federal Government, any political subdivision of the state, or any municipality upon the purchase or sale of telecommunication, television system program, or telegraph service or electric power, which tax is collected by the seller from the purchaser.
3. Telegraph messages and telecommunication services which originate or terminate in this state, other than interstate private communication services, and are billed to a customer, telephone number, or device located within this state are taxable under this paragraph. Interstate private communication services are taxable under this paragraph as follows:
a. One hundred percent of the charge imposed at each channel termination point within this state;
b. One hundred percent of the charge imposed for the total channel mileage between each channel termination point within this state; and
c. The portion of the interstate interoffice channel mileage charge as determined by multiplying said charge times a fraction, the numerator of which is the air miles between the last channel termination point in this state and the vertical and horizontal coordinates, 7856 and 1756, respectively, and the denominator of which is the air miles between the last channel termination point in this state and the first channel termination point outside this state. The denominator of this fraction shall be adjusted, if necessary, by adding the numerator of said fraction to similarly determined air miles in the state in which the other channel termination point is located, so that the summation of the apportionment factor for this state and the apportionment factor for the other state is not greater than one, to ensure that no more than 100 percent of the interstate interoffice channel mileage charge can be taxed by this state and another state.
4. The tax imposed pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed $50,000 per calendar year on charges to any person for interstate telecommunications services defined in s. 203.012(4) and (7)(b), if the majority of such services used by such person are for communications originating outside of this state and terminating in this state. This exemption shall only be granted to holders of a direct pay permit issued pursuant to this subparagraph. No refunds shall be given for taxes paid prior to receiving a direct pay permit. Upon application, the department may issue a direct pay permit to the purchaser of telecommunications services authorizing such purchaser to pay tax on such services directly to the department. Any vendor furnishing telecommunications services to the holder of a valid direct pay permit shall be relieved of the obligation to collect and remit the tax on such service. Tax payments and returns pursuant to a direct pay permit shall be monthly. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "person" shall be limited to a single legal entity and shall not be construed as meaning a group or combination of affiliated entities or entities controlled by one person or group of persons.
5. If the sale of a television system program service, as defined in this paragraph, also involves the sale of an item exempt under s. 212.08(7)(j), the tax shall be applied to the value of the taxable service when it is sold separately. If the company does not offer this service separately, the consideration paid shall be separately identified and stated with respect to the taxable and exempt portions of the transaction as a condition of the exemption, except that the amount identified as taxable shall not be less than the cost of the service.
(f) At the rate of 6 percent on the sale, rental, use, consumption, or storage for use in this state of machines and equipment, and parts and accessories therefor, used in manufacturing, processing, compounding, producing, mining, or quarrying personal property for sale or to be used in furnishing communications, transportation, or public utility services.
(g) Any person who purchases, installs, rents, or leases a telephone system or telecommunication system for his or her own use to provide himself or herself with telephone service or telecommunication service which is a substitute for any telephone company switched service or a substitute for any dedicated facility by which a telephone company provides a communication path is exercising a taxable privilege and shall register with the Department of Revenue and pay into the State Treasury a yearly amount equal to 6 percent of the actual cost of operating such system, notwithstanding the provisions of s. 212.081(2)(b). "Actual cost" includes, but is not limited to, depreciation, interest, maintenance, repair, and other expenses directly attributable to the operation of such system. For purposes of this paragraph, the depreciation expense to be included in actual cost shall be the depreciation expense claimed for federal income tax purposes. The total amount of any payment required by a lease or rental contract or agreement shall be included within the actual cost. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to the use by any local telephone company or any telecommunication carrier of its own telephone system or telecommunication system to conduct a telecommunication service for hire. If a system described in this paragraph is located in more than one state, the actual cost of such system for purposes of this paragraph shall be the actual cost of the system's equipment located in Florida.
(h) At the rate of 6 percent on the retail price of magazines sold or used in Florida.
(i)
1. Beginning January 1, 1995, a tax is imposed at the rate of 4 percent on the charges for the use of coin-operated amusement machines. The tax shall be calculated by dividing the gross receipts from such charges for the applicable reporting period by a divisor, determined as provided in this subparagraph, to compute gross taxable sales, and then subtracting gross taxable sales from gross receipts to arrive at the amount of tax due. The divisor is equal to 1.04, except that for counties with a 6.5 percent sales tax rate the divisor shall be equal to 1.045, and for counties with a 7.0 percent sales tax rate the divisor shall be equal to 1.050. When a machine is activated by a slug, token, coupon, or any similar device which has been purchased, the tax is on the price paid by the user of the device for such device.
2. As used in this paragraph, the term "operator" means any person who possesses a coin-operated amusement machine for the purpose of generating sales through that machine and who is responsible for removing the receipts from the machine.
a. If the owner of the machine is also the operator of it, he or she shall be liable for payment of the tax without any deduction for rent or a license fee paid to a location owner for the use of any real property on which the machine is located.
b. If the owner or lessee of the machine is also its operator, he or she shall be liable for payment of the tax on the purchase or lease of the machine, as well as the tax on sales generated through the machine.
c. If the proprietor of the business where the machine is located does not own the machine, he or she shall be deemed to be the lessee and operator of the machine and is responsible for the payment of the tax on sales, unless such responsibility is otherwise provided for in a written agreement between him or her and the machine owner.
3.
a. An operator of a coin-operated amusement machine may not operate or cause to be operated in this state any such machine until the operator has registered with the department and has conspicuously displayed an identifying certificate issued by the department. The identifying certificate shall be issued by the department upon application from the operator. The identifying certificate shall include a unique number, and the certificate shall be permanently marked with the operator's name, the operator's sales tax number, and the maximum number of machines to be operated under the certificate. An identifying certificate shall not be transferred from one operator to another. The identifying certificate must be conspicuously displayed on the premises where the coin-operated amusement machines are being operated.
b. The operator of the machine must obtain an identifying certificate before the machine is first operated in the state and by July 1 of each year thereafter. The annual fee for each certificate shall be based on the number of machines identified on the application times $30 and is due and payable upon application for the identifying device. The application shall contain the operator's name, sales tax number, business address where the machines are being operated, and the number of machines in operation at that place of business by the operator. No operator may operate more machines than are listed on the certificate. A new certificate is required if more machines are being operated at that location than are listed on the certificate. The fee for the new certificate shall be based on the number of additional machines identified on the application form times $30.
c. A penalty of $250 per machine is imposed on the operator for failing to properly obtain and display the required identifying certificate. A penalty of $250 is imposed on the lessee of any machine placed in a place of business without a proper current identifying certificate. Such penalties shall apply in addition to all other applicable taxes, interest, and penalties.
d. Operators of coin-operated amusement machines must obtain a separate sales and use tax certificate of registration for each county in which such machines are located. One sales and use tax certificate of registration is sufficient for all of the operator's machines within a single county.
4. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to coin-operated amusement machines owned and operated by churches or synagogues.
5. In addition to any other penalties imposed by this chapter, a person who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of this paragraph commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
6. The department may adopt rules necessary to administer the provisions of this paragraph.
(j)
1. At the rate of 6 percent on charges for all:
a. Detective, burglar protection, and other protection services (SIC Industry Numbers 7381 and 7382). Any law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10, who is performing approved duties as determined by his or her local law enforcement agency in his or her capacity as a law enforcement officer, and who is subject to the direct and immediate command of his or her law enforcement agency, and in the law enforcement officer's uniform as authorized by his or her law enforcement agency, is performing law enforcement and public safety services and is not performing detective, burglar protection, or other protective services, if the law enforcement officer is performing his or her approved duties in a geographical area in which the law enforcement officer has arrest jurisdiction. Such law enforcement and public safety services are not subject to tax irrespective of whether the duty is characterized as "extra duty," "off-duty," or "secondary employment," and irrespective of whether the officer is paid directly or through the officer's agency by an outside source. The term "law enforcement officer" includes full-time or part-time law enforcement officers, and any auxiliary law enforcement officer, when such auxiliary law enforcement officer is working under the direct supervision of a full-time or part-time law enforcement officer.
b. Nonresidential cleaning and nonresidential pest control services (SIC Industry Group Number 734).
2. As used in this paragraph, "SIC" means those classifications contained in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987, as published by the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President.
3. Charges for detective, burglar protection, and other protection security services performed in this state but used outside this state are exempt from taxation. Charges for detective, burglar protection, and other protection security services performed outside this state and used in this state are subject to tax.
4. If a transaction involves both the sale or use of a service taxable under this paragraph and the sale or use of a service or any other item not taxable under this chapter, the consideration paid must be separately identified and stated with respect to the taxable and exempt portions of the transaction or the entire transaction shall be presumed taxable. The burden shall be on the seller of the service or the purchaser of the service, whichever applicable, to overcome this presumption by providing documentary evidence as to which portion of the transaction is exempt from tax. The department is authorized to adjust the amount of consideration identified as the taxable and exempt portions of the transaction; however, a determination that the taxable and exempt portions are inaccurately stated and that the adjustment is applicable must be supported by substantial competent evidence.
5. Each seller of services subject to sales tax pursuant to this paragraph shall maintain a monthly log showing each transaction for which sales tax was not collected because the services meet the requirements of subparagraph 3. for out-of-state use. The log must identify the purchaser's name, location and mailing address, and federal employer identification number, if a business, or the social security number, if an individual, the service sold, the price of the service, the date of sale, the reason for the exemption, and the sales invoice number. The monthly log shall be maintained pursuant to the same requirements and subject to the same penalties imposed for the keeping of similar records pursuant to this chapter.
(k)
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, there is hereby levied a tax on the sale, use, consumption, or storage for use in this state of any coin or currency, whether in circulation or not, when such coin or currency:
a. Is not legal tender;
b. If legal tender, is sold, exchanged, or traded at a rate in excess of its face value; or
c. Is sold, exchanged, or traded at a rate based on its precious metal content.
2. Such tax shall be at a rate of 6 percent of the price at which the coin or currency is sold, exchanged, or traded, except that, with respect to a coin or currency which is legal tender of the United States and which is sold, exchanged, or traded at a rate in excess of its face value, the tax shall be at a rate of 6 percent of the difference between the price at which it is sold, exchanged, or traded and its face value.
3. There are exempt from this tax exchanges of coins or currency which are in general circulation in, and legal tender of, one nation for coins or currency which are in general circulation in, and legal tender of, another nation when exchanged solely for use as legal tender and at an exchange rate based on the relative value of each as a medium of exchange.
(l) At the rate of 6 percent of the sales price of each gallon of diesel fuel not taxed under chapter 206 purchased for use in a vessel.
(2) The tax shall be collected by the dealer, as defined herein, and remitted by the dealer to the state at the time and in the manner as hereinafter provided.
(3) The tax so levied is in addition to all other taxes, whether levied in the form of excise, license, or privilege taxes, and in addition to all other fees and taxes levied.
(4) The tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be due and payable according to the brackets set forth in s. 212.12.
History.--s. 5, ch. 26319, 1949; s. 3, ch. 59-289; s. 4, ch. 63-526; ss. 5, 6, ch. 68-27; ss. 8, 9, ch. 69-222; s. 4, ch. 71-360; s. 1, ch. 76-6; s. 2, ch. 78-74; s. 114, ch. 81-259; s. 4, ch. 82-154; s. 2, ch. 83-3; s. 7, ch. 85-174; s. 6, ch. 85-348; ss. 80, 81, ch. 86-152; ss. 6, 7, ch. 86-155; s. 3, ch. 86-166; ss. 10, 83, ch. 87-6; ss. 2, 9, ch. 87-99; ss. 12, 52, ch. 87-101; s. 7, ch. 87-402; ss. 7, 8, 9, ch. 87-548; s. 18, ch. 90-132; s. 89, ch. 90-136; s. 86, ch. 91-45; s. 1, ch. 91-66; s. 171, ch. 91-112; s. 239, ch. 91-224; ss. 10, 13, 16, ch. 92-319; s. 1, ch. 93-86; ss. 8, 17, ch. 94-314; s. 8, ch. 94-353; s. 1495, ch. 95-147; ss. 1, 2, ch. 95-302; s. 4, ch. 95-403; s. 3, ch. 95-416; s. 112, ch. 95-417; ss. 22, 28, ch. 96-397; s. 35, ch. 96-410; s. 12, ch. 97-54; s. 20, ch. 97-94; s. 28, ch. 97-96; s. 20, ch. 97-99; s. 1, ch. 97-121; s. 3, ch. 97-283.
1Note.--Section 4, ch. 97-283, provides that "[i]t is the intent of the Legislature that this act is remedial and is intended to clarify existing law."