“Floridians are required by law to pay online sales taxes, but most are unaware; and even if they know about it, the process is remarkably tedious. Enacting legislation to shift the burden to out-of-state retailers would protect these hard-working men and women, who are already dedicated taxpayers, while also providing for a more efficient process that puts over $1.3 billion back in local and state government coffers every year. Florida TaxWatch is grateful to Rep. Clemons for supporting this issue – which has been an organizational priority for almost two decades – and working tirelessly to see House Bill 15 through.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, comments from Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro were delivered to the Honorable Ed Hooper, Chair, and members of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee in support of SB 50 (Sales and Use Tax). The proposed legislation follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling (South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc.) that states can apply reasonable requirements for remote vendors to collect sales and use taxes on sales to residents even if the vendor does not have a physical presence in the state. Currently, Florida is one of only two states that has not taken the steps to implement these requirements. Not collecting sales taxes on remote sales not only costs Florida governments millions in legally owed revenue, it also puts Florida retailers at a competitive disadvantage, distorts purchasing decisions, is unfair to Floridians that do pay the tax, and makes millions of Floridians – often unwittingly – lawbreakers.