The Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee today approved legislation to help collect sales taxes on taxable Internet and mail order sales.
The move drew immediate applause from Kurt Wenner, Florida TaxWatch vice president for tax research.
"This tax has always been due, but federal inaction has freed non-Florida retailers from collecting the tax, leaving the onus on Florida consumers to remit the tax themselves," Wenner said. "As a result, the state of Florida has been losing hundreds of millions of dollars every year in non-compliance. The bill would require more out-of-state sellers to collect the tax themselves and remit the money to the state."
The legislation was amended by the Committee to make the bill revenue-neutral - meaning other taxes would be reduced to offset increased sales tax collections.
The bill specifies reducing the Communications Services Tax, which nearly all Floridians pay on wireless phones, cable and other services, as well as expanding the sales tax exemption for manufacturing machinery and equipment.
"Florida TaxWatch commends state Sens. Nancy Detert and Gwen Margolis for their long work on this legislation," said Dominic Calabro, Florida TaxWatch pesident and CEO.
