Florida Senate - 2009 SB 618 By Senator Altman 24-00404-09 2009618__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the tax on sales, use, and other 3 transactions; amending s. 212.02, F.S.; defining the 4 term “fractional aircraft ownership program”; amending 5 s. 212.08, F.S.; providing tax exemptions on the sale 6 or use of aircraft primarily used in a fractional 7 aircraft ownership program and for the parts and labor 8 used in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of such 9 aircraft; creating s. 212.0597, F.S.; providing a 10 maximum tax on the sale or use of fractional aircraft 11 ownership interests; providing an effective date. 12 13 WHEREAS, Florida has identified the aviation and aerospace 14 industries for economic development, and 15 WHEREAS, Florida has determined that the synergy in the 16 space, aerospace, and aviation industries attracts the world's 17 leading businesses to the state, and 18 WHEREAS, Florida employs approximately 80,000 people in the 19 aviation and aerospace industries at an average annual wage of 20 $52,000, and 21 WHEREAS, Florida has the third-largest aviation 22 maintenance, repair, and overhaul cluster in the United States 23 and has strategies directed toward expanding these aviation 24 support services, and 25 WHEREAS, Florida intends to remain competitive with other 26 states as additional innovative commercial air transportation 27 products are developed, NOW, THEREFORE, 28 29 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 30 31 Section 1. Subsection (34) is added to section 212.02, 32 Florida Statutes, to read: 33 212.02 Definitions.—The following terms and phrases when 34 used in this chapter have the meanings ascribed to them in this 35 section, except where the context clearly indicates a different 36 meaning: 37 (34) “Fractional aircraft ownership program” means a 38 program that meets the requirements of 14 C.F.R part 91, subpart 39 K, relating to fractional ownership operations, except that the 40 program must include a minimum of 25 aircraft owned or leased by 41 the business or affiliated group, as defined by s. 1504(a) of 42 the Internal Revenue Code, providing the program. Such aircraft 43 must be used in the fractional aircraft ownership program 44 providing the program. 45 Section 2. Paragraph (ggg) is added to subsection (7) of 46 section 212.08, Florida Statutes, to read: 47 212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and 48 storage tax; specified exemptions.—The sale at retail, the 49 rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the 50 storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following 51 are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this 52 chapter. 53 (7) MISCELLANEOUS EXEMPTIONS.—Exemptions provided to any 54 entity by this chapter do not inure to any transaction that is 55 otherwise taxable under this chapter when payment is made by a 56 representative or employee of the entity by any means, 57 including, but not limited to, cash, check, or credit card, even 58 when that representative or employee is subsequently reimbursed 59 by the entity. In addition, exemptions provided to any entity by 60 this subsection do not inure to any transaction that is 61 otherwise taxable under this chapter unless the entity has 62 obtained a sales tax exemption certificate from the department 63 or the entity obtains or provides other documentation as 64 required by the department. Eligible purchases or leases made 65 with such a certificate must be in strict compliance with this 66 subsection and departmental rules, and any person who makes an 67 exempt purchase with a certificate that is not in strict 68 compliance with this subsection and the rules is liable for and 69 shall pay the tax. The department may adopt rules to administer 70 this subsection. 71 (ggg) Fractional aircraft ownership programs.—Also exempt 72 from the tax imposed by this chapter is the sale or use of 73 aircraft primarily used in a fractional aircraft ownership 74 program, and any parts or labor used in the completion, 75 maintenance, repair, or overhaul of such aircraft. The exemption 76 is not allowed unless the purchaser or lessee furnishes the 77 dealer with a certificate stating that the lease, purchase, 78 repair, or maintenance to be exempted is for aircraft primarily 79 used in a fractional aircraft ownership program and that the 80 purchaser or lessee qualifies for the exemption. If a purchaser 81 or lessee makes tax-exempt purchases on a continual basis, the 82 purchaser or lessee may allow the dealer to keep the certificate 83 on file. The purchaser or lessee must inform the dealer that has 84 the certificate on file if the purchaser or lessee no longer 85 qualifies for the exemption. The department shall determine the 86 format of the certificate. 87 Section 3. Section 212.0597, Florida Statutes, is created 88 to read: 89 212.0597 Maximum tax on fractional aircraft ownership 90 interests.—The tax imposed under this chapter, including any 91 discretionary sales surtax under s. 212.055, is limited to $300 92 on the sale or use in this state of a fractional ownership 93 interest in aircraft pursuant to a fractional aircraft ownership 94 program. This maximum tax applies to the total consideration 95 paid for the fractional ownership interest, including any 96 amounts paid by the fractional owner as monthly management or 97 maintenance fees. The maximum tax applies only if the fractional 98 ownership interest is sold by or to the operator of the 99 fractional aircraft ownership program, or if the fractional 100 ownership interest is transferred upon the approval of the 101 operator of the fractional aircraft ownership program. 102 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.