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FL Senator Pushing To Exempt Streaming Video From Taxes

Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg)
The Florida Channel
Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg)
Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg)
Credit The Florida Channel
Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg)

Florida levies a tax on communications services—things like cable and cell phones, but also streaming services.  Now one lawmaker wants to carve out internet video from the tax.

When Floridians sit down to binge the latest season of a show on Netflix or Hulu they’re probably not thinking about taxes, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t paying them.  In addition to sales tax, Florida charges about seven and a half percent on communications services—and that includes streaming.  Local governments can tack their own charges onto the tab as well. 

St. Petersburg Republican Senator Jeff Brandes wants to change that.  He’s filed a measure that would exempt internet video service from the tax and prohibit any other charge or fee being added to the bill.  

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Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.