Taxes

The House bill (HB 7063) would offer shoppers a series of expanded sales-tax “holidays” on back-to-school items, hurricane-preparedness supplies, summer activities and tool purchases. As an example, the state would offer two back-to-school holidays, after offering one in the past.

A plan proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis and backed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner would be the largest tax relief proposal in Florida history and is being touted as saving Florida families up to $2 billion during the 2023–2024 fiscal year.

A new web site for the Lee County Tax Collector puts into play an artificial intelligence customer service agent called Edison. Customers can interact with Edison 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The state's gas tax holiday expires on Nov. 1, meaning Florida drivers will be paying an extra 25 cents a gallon.

The Florida Department of Revenue has extended the deadline for hotels and businesses to remit any bed taxes collected in Lee County. After Hurricane Ian, the agency issued an emergency order to extend September and October due dates to November 23, 2022.

The properties affected includes real property, homes or businesses destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by Ian's impacts.

The proposal would require approval from lawmakers during the 2023 legislative session. It includes sales-tax exemptions for a year on books for readers under age 17, toys for children between ages 2 and 12 and athletic equipment for kids under 18.

Past proposals failed because of concerns by Republicans that they could be viewed as increasing taxes on consumers.

It would require out-of-state retailers to collect and remit Florida’s sales tax, producing an estimated $1 billion a year in revenue.

Senate President Wilton Simpson says it will prove "probably the single largest tax break for small businesses."