Insights

A recent ruling by the Florida Department of Revenue indicates when sales tax will be imposed on leasehold improvements required to be made by a tenant pursuant to a commercial lease. In Technical Assistance Advisement 13A-023, the Department concluded that such leasehold improvements would be considered rent subject to sales tax…

Governor Rick Scott recently signed legislation providing for three separate sales tax holidays in 2014 for purchases of hurricane supplies, school supplies, and energy-efficient appliances. The sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies runs from May 31 through June 8, 2014, and covers (a) portable self-powered light sources selling for $20…

Foreigners, especially Canadians, continue to comprise a significant percentage of Florida real estate purchases. The National Association of Realtors reported that during the recent 12-month period ending July 2013 the total sales volume of Florida residential real estate purchases by foreigners was $6.4 billion (9% of total Florida residential sales volume)….

Treasury recently finalized Regulations under Code Section 83, which governs the taxation of the transfer of property (such as shares of stock, partnership interests, options, or warrants) to persons in exchange for services. Under these rules, the taxable event to the recipient generally occurs upon the earlier of the property…

The Florida Department of Revenue published the discretionary sales surtax rates for 2014 (http://www.floridasalestax.com/documents/FL-Discretionary-Sales-Tax-Rates-2014.pdf). Florida imposes a state-wide 6% sales tax, but most Florida counties impose an additional local sales tax rate known as the “discretionary sales surtax” or “local option county sales tax.” The discretionary sales surtax rates currently…